Lacking towing guts
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Lacking towing guts
I have a 99 F250 PS 7.3L w/ approximately 280k miles. I tow a 22' bay boat that weights approximately 2500-2500 lbs with trailer included. I have gradually noticed a "lack of guts" when towing the boat. I have done most of the regular maintenance on the vehicle (oil,trans fluid,water pump, alternator, etc.) I was curious if 1) is there any special maintenance that this particular motor requires (glow plugs, valve clearance, turbo etc.) 2) what would cause a slight lack of power under tow? Thanks
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I'm not seeing any smoke, but when I stop the truck, sometimes I can catch a funny odor coming from the engine compartment...hard to describe what it smells like. I'll check the boots and post the outcome. Thanks.
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I changed the trans fluid and filter about a year/7K miles ago. No signs of excessive wear. It's holding fluid well and doesn't have a burnt smell. I did notice this past winter that on cold mornings after letting the engine warm up some, that as I would accelerate and the trans shift up to third gear the engine would run rough. I could give it gas and accelerate to cause the engine to downshift into second and then accelerate for a bit and then when I let off the gas and the engine would shift back into third, the shaking would go away. I'm no mechanic, but worried it could be something with the engine and not drivetrain. I will apologize before showing my ignorance, but what is the "up-pipe"?
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From: Glen Rose,Texas
I changed the trans fluid and filter about a year/7K miles ago. No signs of excessive wear. It's holding fluid well and doesn't have a burnt smell. I did notice this past winter that on cold mornings after letting the engine warm up some, that as I would accelerate and the trans shift up to third gear the engine would run rough. I could give it gas and accelerate to cause the engine to downshift into second and then accelerate for a bit and then when I let off the gas and the engine would shift back into third, the shaking would go away. I'm no mechanic, but worried it could be something with the engine and not drivetrain. I will apologize before showing my ignorance, but what is the "up-pipe"?
WELCOME....On that vibration.Have you checked all u-joints even on the front shaft if it is 4x4?
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I did have a rear end vibration and replaced the rear U joing (was pretty bad) and it cured that problem. It feels like what I would potentially consider a misfire?? skip?? compression issue? Again...its strange how it doesn't do it in first or second gear while accelerating. And more peculiar that when jumping on the gas for about 5 seconds and getting the truck to shift from 3rd, accelerate in second, back to third, will cause it to go away. Only does it when the engine hasn't had adequate time to extensively warm up. Rarely an issue during the summer, much more previlant in the winter and I'm usually saved by the block heater.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Paramount, Ca
Feels like a mis, lack of power. I think it sounds kind of like you may have a loose injector plug or maybe a bad injector. Worth a shot to check the under valve cover harness.
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From: Twin Falls Idaho
hard miss when cold? mine did this for awhile. miss like a pig and as soon as the engine warmed up, say 2-3 miles, it would smooth out and run great the rest of the day. turned out to be a bad injector. at 280K plus miles I would recommend looking into some injectors. you'll be amaized at how much better your truck runs with some fresh sticks.
just my experience
Barney
just my experience
Barney
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
hard miss when cold? mine did this for awhile. miss like a pig and as soon as the engine warmed up, say 2-3 miles, it would smooth out and run great the rest of the day. turned out to be a bad injector. at 280K plus miles I would recommend looking into some injectors. you'll be amaized at how much better your truck runs with some fresh sticks.
just my experience
Barney
just my experience
Barney
But the first thing that comes to my mind when you mention no pulling power is clogged fuel pickup screens.
It's a very common problem with these trucks.
You have to drop the tank to get at it.
Unfortunately you have to do this first to remove all doubt.
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From: Paramount, Ca
Don't just replace injectors, be sure you test them. It may be a clogged pick up line. It's not to difficult to test, I think it took me less than an hour to replace my harness when I had a leak.