I have a 2004 excursion with 6.0. On my way home from a crabbing trip with a 6,000lb boat in tow. All is well until I start up a mountain pass. Truck seems to run fine but I notice a slight loss of power, kinda like a small hesitation a couple times. As the grade gets larger, fan kicks in like normal. At this point I am at about 60 mph. I continue to the steeper part of the pass and now the fan is contantly on (Outside air is 80 degrees). I try to accelerate as I am slowing because of the grade and there is no more go in it, so I try to keep it at about 50mph.

I now notice the engine temp starting to rise at the steepest part of the pass (about 6-7% grade) so I slow to thirty five and gauge drops to normal.

About 300 yards from the top of the pass, I hear a "pop" and then an immediate squealing noise coming from the engine compartment, somethong like metal on metal or dry bearings. I did not notice any smoke at all nor did my passenger who said that is what he was looking for in the side mirror.

After the "pop" I pretty much lost all power and was barely able to crest the top to pull over. Ther is no liquid leaking and the turbo hoses appeared to be tight and in place (although oily on the outside). When I shut it off, the engine sounded normal but the squeal continued to slowly stop. I let it sit for a few minutes and restarted. engine fired right up and so did the squeal. Sounds like it is coming from the turbo housing?. Again, when I shut it down, the squeal slowly wound down

Any Ideas? Its at the dealer now, but they are closed till monday. I am just trying to get an idea of what it might be.

Thanks

 

Sounds like the turbo to me...... we can speculate all day, nothing like a real LOOK SEE! BTW, do you have the stock air cleaner on it?

 

It is hard to know what is going on w/ the engine using the factory gauges - they are basically useless IMO. It really is helpful to have aftermarket EOT and ECT (and others actually). They can tell you a lot. IMO, it really isn't normal for the fan to come on at 80 degrees ambient - even while towing (although I will admit that I have not towed my 9k lb trailer on grades quite that steep).

Is your truck basically stock?

 

All stock and factory air cleaner. I agree with the gauges. I had them on my 7.3 but do not really tow that much anymore. Except this time!!!

Thanks

 

+1 for a turbo melted.

 

What I am wondering is if the oil cooler is plugged and the oil got quite hot and the reduced lubrication contributed to the turbo failure .......

 

Prob both! Agree?

 

Kinda what I was thinking. Thanks for the input. I will know more on Monday.