Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - Local help wanted in Milwaukee WI

I just do not have time to do everything myself anymore. I am trying to find someone local that knows the 7.3l PS. I want a professional, not a parts changer.

Here is the background;

I have a 2002 F-250 7.3l 4X4, crew cab, short box, 4R100 trans, C1 axels, Lariat. I purchased the truck new and have put on 85,000 miles. This has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. In 11 years I have put $2500 into this truck, this includes tires, oil changes, brakes ect.

The truck is 100% stock, I installed a boost and EGT gauge in 2003 or 04 but never did ANY mods. The truck always ran 8 lbs of boost at 800 deg at 80 MPH, getting 16-17 MPG empty, 12.9 MPG pulling a 5K trailer.

In 2007 the truck had 62,000 miles and needed tires. I took it back to the dealership. They said there was a free "computer flash upgrade" for my truck that would improve the shifting characteristics of the transmission.

The next time I pulled the trailer the EGT starting acting erratic, jumping from 800 to 1600 Deg F and back in 1 or 2 seconds.... bad gauge. funny thing is it only does this when the engine is under load. My empty fuel economy also dropped to 15 MPG. For other reasons I sold the trailer and drove the truck very little until 2010.

The additional 20,000 miles has been in the last 2 years. MPG has stayed about 15, I thought it had something to do with low sulfur fuel. I never replaced the crazy gauge. Then in September, while driving to Atlanta and back my truck started to get 18 MPG for 3 tanks of fuel. Then it suddenly dropped to 13-14 empty.

I purchased another trailer in December and drove from WI to FL and back. The new trailer weights 2,000 lbs less. The truck was getting 9.8 MPG at 70 MPH. This is considerably less than I was getting pre 2007.
(12.9 @80 pulling 2K more!)

Last weekend I replaced rotors, pads, oil and every filter on the truck. From the trans down the truck rolls like a dream. MPG still mid 13's empty.

The truck seems to run fine; however there is something amiss here. I just don't have the time or tools to figure it out. I have talked to 2 self proclaimed 7.3 experts that have recommended putting a chip in the truck to fix it..... Professional wanted.

Steve