97 V10 Power Loss
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2007
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97 V10 Power Loss
Hi, My 97 E350 Super V10 Lazydaze motorhome had a couple of instances of rapid power loss chugging up a couple of steep inclines on I-70 in Utah. I'm running close to 18000 lbs towing a Jeep. The rig has headers, cold air intake and a Five Star Tune. Running up in 3rd gear around 3500 RPM, the motor would very rapidly drop to around 1500 RPM. I would change gears to neutral and back into drive and hit it again, no problem. Of course, losing momentum. This occurred again on another steep climb. Weirdly, no problem climbing to 11300 feet to the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70. Seems like I'm reaching some type of fuel flow limit. No codes set. The motor has 175K, with regular scheduled maintenance. She's been a good motor and I hope she goes another 100K.. Thoughts?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2023
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Symptoms could be the PCM going into limp mode. Google search the possible causes. You must have a full service scan tool to read DTCs. Forscan works great with a Windows laptop. Autel makes many versions but $350 gets you a usable tool.
Last edited by Don Ridley; Mar 22, 2026 at 09:11 AM.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
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Hi, My 97 E350 Super V10 Lazydaze motorhome had a couple of instances of rapid power loss chugging up a couple of steep inclines on I-70 in Utah. I'm running close to 18000 lbs towing a Jeep. The rig has headers, cold air intake and a Five Star Tune. Running up in 3rd gear around 3500 RPM, the motor would very rapidly drop to around 1500 RPM. I would change gears to neutral and back into drive and hit it again, no problem. Of course, losing momentum. This occurred again on another steep climb. Weirdly, no problem climbing to 11300 feet to the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70. Seems like I'm reaching some type of fuel flow limit. No codes set. The motor has 175K, with regular scheduled maintenance. She's been a good motor and I hope she goes another 100K.. Thoughts?
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,718
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I respectfully disagree with this. My 1999 F-53 has the same driveline and starts at about 17,000 pounds "empty", or around 18,000 pounds loaded plus the dinghy at around 5,000 pounds. It has done all of these same climbs without on the same road without issue many times. Yeah, it slows down and shifts down, but still does fine.
If the engine runs fine otherwise, especially on the same grade at nearly the same moment after a "reset" as described, then the motor is able, just has some kind of issue.
If the engine runs fine otherwise, especially on the same grade at nearly the same moment after a "reset" as described, then the motor is able, just has some kind of issue.
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2007
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Thanks for the thoughts guys. The reason I jump out of gear and back is to make sure I am in D (drive) and not 2nd or 3rd or whatever. The motor comes right back up to power, and I finish the climb with no issues. I have put about 140K miles on this motor and it has happened 4 times since 2006. It just seems I hit a limit of some sort. This has occurred with both the OEM and Five Star Tune. Like I already mentioned, the climb up to the western end of the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 was done without issue. Just kinda weird to me. Next time I'm out that way, I will disconnect the tow Jeep and see what happens then.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2023
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Read this service bulletin. It explains that your V10 does not measure barometric pressure and has to estimate fuel trims at higher altitudes to account for the thinner air. Your MAF may be faulty and if so, it is not properly calculating air flow at low rpm. When at high throttle, the system goes into open loop mode and uses faulty fuel trims calculated at low rpm resulting in a lean condition. This will definitely affect power.
You need a scan tool to read PIDs. Fuel trim and Baro are key. If you replace the MAF you must use OEM or equivalent. Many aftermarket MAF are junk
https://v8sho.com/SHO/TSB982310MassA...tamination.htm
You need a scan tool to read PIDs. Fuel trim and Baro are key. If you replace the MAF you must use OEM or equivalent. Many aftermarket MAF are junk
https://v8sho.com/SHO/TSB982310MassA...tamination.htm
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