Got Some Weird Power Issues
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Got Some Weird Power Issues
I got a 92 7.3 with a banks turbo in my 89 F350 I just bought. Tonight it was having a hard time pulling itself down the highway at 65, wide open that's all I could get. This hasn't happened since i've owned the truck. Also within the last couple days at cruising speeds anywhere from about 1700 to 2000 rpms in 3rd or 4th gear it feels like I pushed the pedal to the floor when I didn't move it at all. Just kind of a power surge which last for a couple seconds and if I let off the gas it'll sorta chug. I'm new to diesels and turbos so i'm lost here.
Also my turbo really doesnt make any noise at all (whistle). I know nothing about the turbo I have but I know the filter is pretty dirty and needs to be changed, not sure if maybe that's why I dont hear it or if this turbo should be quiet? My boost gauge is in question too. Max that I've gotten it to is 6 lbs and thats accelerating 4th an 5th gear highway with my foot in it for a few seconds otherwise it never really moves from 0. I'm not really sure what to expect from this motor and turbo, this is my first diesel.
My turbo has a huge box on top of the motor that says banks if that helps, I read in another thread that means it would be a non-waste gated turbo right? I'm thinkin something is screwy with the turbo, possibly fuel, what do you guys think?
Also my turbo really doesnt make any noise at all (whistle). I know nothing about the turbo I have but I know the filter is pretty dirty and needs to be changed, not sure if maybe that's why I dont hear it or if this turbo should be quiet? My boost gauge is in question too. Max that I've gotten it to is 6 lbs and thats accelerating 4th an 5th gear highway with my foot in it for a few seconds otherwise it never really moves from 0. I'm not really sure what to expect from this motor and turbo, this is my first diesel.
My turbo has a huge box on top of the motor that says banks if that helps, I read in another thread that means it would be a non-waste gated turbo right? I'm thinkin something is screwy with the turbo, possibly fuel, what do you guys think?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1
From: back in SE Iowa
well with it surging you have a serious air intrusion somewhere.how much fuel is in the tank?if your around 1/4 your pickup tube in the tank may have broken off.as far as the turbo not spooling if your filter is clogged that could be part of the problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Peterborough, Ontario
First off, if you've just got the truck, have you changed air and fuel filters? When you change fuel filters, fill the new one with diesel kleen, start the truck for about 15-20 seconds, shut it off,a nd let it sit overnight. Next morning take it for a good run on the highway. This will help loosen up and clean out the injector pump.
The surging you are describing does sound like air intrusion, if it's starting up quick after sitting a few hours or overnight, it's likely in the supply side. Either a rusty line, or the lift pump is starting to go. (They will develop a pinhole, which can then leak into the oil pan, or out a vent hole on the lift pump.) As mentioned already, another issue is the pickup tubes breaking off in the tanks, which will cause grief around the 1/4 tank mark.
The surging you are describing does sound like air intrusion, if it's starting up quick after sitting a few hours or overnight, it's likely in the supply side. Either a rusty line, or the lift pump is starting to go. (They will develop a pinhole, which can then leak into the oil pan, or out a vent hole on the lift pump.) As mentioned already, another issue is the pickup tubes breaking off in the tanks, which will cause grief around the 1/4 tank mark.
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How do I go about tracking down an air intrusion? After it sits overnight it usually starts kinda hard, it takes about 5 seconds or a little more of cranking before it fires up. Otherwise it starts good. The PO said he replaced a couple glow plugs to try to fix this problem.
This weekend I planned on changing all the fluids and filters. I'll give the diesel kleen a go. Is there any air filters i can get from the parts stores or do I have to go through banks to get the air filters?
How much boost should I expect to get out of this turbo and should it have a noticable whistle like newer diesels?
This weekend I planned on changing all the fluids and filters. I'll give the diesel kleen a go. Is there any air filters i can get from the parts stores or do I have to go through banks to get the air filters?
How much boost should I expect to get out of this turbo and should it have a noticable whistle like newer diesels?
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,579
Likes: 5,611
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
you can try to get a new air filter from banks or a parts store, but it is gonna be pricey, in the area of $40-$50.
those filters are designed to be washed with mild soapy water, dried, and re installed after spraying with a light oil film.
as far as boost goes, you will only see around 8-10 lbs boost max with a muffler, and 12-14 lbs without a muffler. with muffler you will not hear turbo whistle. you only get that without a muffler.
those filters are designed to be washed with mild soapy water, dried, and re installed after spraying with a light oil film.
as far as boost goes, you will only see around 8-10 lbs boost max with a muffler, and 12-14 lbs without a muffler. with muffler you will not hear turbo whistle. you only get that without a muffler.
Methanoholic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 8
From: Maine (NorCal Native)
Does it start then die or is it just hard starting and stays running???
From your description (you don't say it dies) I would suspect Glow Plugs to be the issue, test all the Glow Plugs, Toss any that are not Motorcraft/Beru ZD9's and replace with Motorcraft/Beru ZD9's.
*** Glow Plug Test. ***
Test light test of the glow plugs:
Test that you get power to the glow plugs:
******** The following is a work in progress, any comments ??? ********
*** Post 86 Controller, Relay test. ***
This is a solid state controller and works on a grounding system.
The relay is attached to the top of the controller and has 4 terminals. (same relay as the 83-86)
Ensure there is 12v+ to the relay Input Terminal at all times. (yellow wire)
Ensure there is ignition switched 12v+ to the relay Power Terminal. (red wire)
Ensure that the controller is well grounded. (black wire)
To test relay:
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
From your description (you don't say it dies) I would suspect Glow Plugs to be the issue, test all the Glow Plugs, Toss any that are not Motorcraft/Beru ZD9's and replace with Motorcraft/Beru ZD9's.
*** Glow Plug Test. ***
Test light test of the glow plugs:
- Unplug the Glow Plugs.
- Attach one end of a test light to 12v+ battery.
- Touch the other end to the terminal on the end of the Glow Plug (where you unplugged the harness)
Does it light up?- Yes, Chances are it's good.
- No, Replace with Motorcraft/Beru ZD1A for 83-86, ZD9 for 87-94.5.
To do a positive test use a volt/ohm meter and test the ohms between the terminal and base. Should be .5 to 1 ohm resistance.
Test that you get power to the glow plugs:
- Unplug a glow plug.
- Attach one end of a test light to the glow plug wire.
- The other end to ground.
- Momentarily turn the key on while watching the test light.
Does it light up?- Yes, test Glow Plugs.
- No, test Controller, Relay.
******** The following is a work in progress, any comments ??? ********
*** Post 86 Controller, Relay test. ***
This is a solid state controller and works on a grounding system.
The relay is attached to the top of the controller and has 4 terminals. (same relay as the 83-86)
- 1 large terminal (Input Terminal) goes to full time 12v+. (battery)
- The other large terminal (Output Terminal) goes to the glow plugs.
- 1 small terminal (Power Terminal) is Ignition Switched 12v+ relay power. (red wire)
- The other small terminal (Ground Terminal) goes to the controller and is a controlled ground. (white wire)
- The controller grounds the Ground Terminal to activate the relay turning on the glow plugs.
Ensure there is 12v+ to the relay Input Terminal at all times. (yellow wire)
Ensure there is ignition switched 12v+ to the relay Power Terminal. (red wire)
Ensure that the controller is well grounded. (black wire)
To test relay:
- Disconnect the white wire on the relay.
- Attach test light to Output Terminal on relay.
- The other end to ground.
- Turn key on.
- Momentarily ground the relay Ground Terminal (where the white wire was) while watching the test light.
- Yes, relay MAY BE good.
- Test voltage at the battery and the Output Terminal on the relay while relay is energized. BE QUICK, don't burn your Glow Plugs up.
- Voltages should be close to the same. If not replace relay.
- No, relay is failed. (replace with one from a 83-86)
- Disconnect the White wire from the relay.
- Attach one end of test light to 12v+. (Input Terminal)
- Attach the other end to the White wire.
- Turn the key on while watching the test light.
- Yes, controller is good.
- No, controller is failed.
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
I would start with fuel and air filter either one can cause what you are describing and you know the air filter is dirty. When you mash on it and it doesn't respond are you getting any black smoke.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
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I get black smoke whenever I jump on it but it clears up with in a couple seconds.
Thanks for the glow plug tests, ill be using em
Thanks for the glow plug tests, ill be using em
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,579
Likes: 5,611
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if your glow plugs were not working you would know it, and be asking how to start the truck. bad glow plugs will require either pluging the truck in overnight to cold start it, or cranking the starter till the batteries are almost dead before it starts.
it sounds to me like you just need to clean your air filter, and change your fuel filter.
fuel filter can be purchased from any good parts house, at a cost of around $35.
as mentioned before, fill it up with diesel kleen white bottle, and fire it for 10-15 seconds then shut it off and let it sit overnight.
while you are at the parts store, get a can of PB Blaster. after you wash the air filter with warm soapy water and let it dry overnight, give the filter element paper a misting with the PB blaster. this will trap any dust particles keeping them from going through the filter.
i used to clean the filter yearly, but i did almost all on road driving, so the filter did not get dirty.
i change the oil every 4-5 thousand miles, and the fuel filter every second oil change.
so far my truck has either 392 or 492, 000 miles on it, i cant remember if the odometer has rolled 3 or 4 times.
it sounds to me like you just need to clean your air filter, and change your fuel filter.
fuel filter can be purchased from any good parts house, at a cost of around $35.
as mentioned before, fill it up with diesel kleen white bottle, and fire it for 10-15 seconds then shut it off and let it sit overnight.
while you are at the parts store, get a can of PB Blaster. after you wash the air filter with warm soapy water and let it dry overnight, give the filter element paper a misting with the PB blaster. this will trap any dust particles keeping them from going through the filter.
i used to clean the filter yearly, but i did almost all on road driving, so the filter did not get dirty.
i change the oil every 4-5 thousand miles, and the fuel filter every second oil change.
so far my truck has either 392 or 492, 000 miles on it, i cant remember if the odometer has rolled 3 or 4 times.
