7.3 runs rough sometimes and smooth sometimes
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
7.3 runs rough sometimes and smooth sometimes
Ok I have a 7.3L I just changed the injectors, there are no leaks anywhere. Sometimes the truck will idle smooth as silk sometimes it will rock your fillings out of your teeth, could it be the fuel filter? Also I bought a filter for the year and size engine I have but the filter I have on my truck has the petcock built into the bottom and the filter i bought has openings at both ends? Auto parts store says there giving me the right filter what now?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The bottom of the filter on your truck will screw off and screw onto the filter they gave you.
Yes, it sounds like you may have some water or dirt in the filter.
Get a can of clean diesel fuel and fill the filter before you install it, could save you an expensive starter.
Yes, it sounds like you may have some water or dirt in the filter.
Get a can of clean diesel fuel and fill the filter before you install it, could save you an expensive starter.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Panther Branch, NC
Yes the parts store is giving you the right filter. 3 different filters fit that engine- 86217 is what the store gave you, this is what it came with from ford. It has a bottom piece that you take off and put on a new filter. I'm guessing you don't have this piece. You have on your truck a 86417. this filter eliminates the bottom piece and just gives you a drain. probably the owner before you changed it and still has the bottom piece. The third filter 86617 is the same as 86417 just with a water sensor port. all the filters have a 12 micron rating just depens on your preferance. (i speak carquest filter Numbers thats what i use for a wix # just change 86 to 33)
As for the problem with your truck change the fuel filter if that doesn't work it sounds like there's air gitting in the system. my fuel tank selector when bad and caused air to get in the system if switched it.
As for the problem with your truck change the fuel filter if that doesn't work it sounds like there's air gitting in the system. my fuel tank selector when bad and caused air to get in the system if switched it.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by IHdieselfan
all the filters have a 12 micron rating just depens on your preferance. (i speak carquest filter Numbers thats what i use for a wix # just change 86 to 33).
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: Northeastern Pa - USA
give it a good dose of power service. this may help you out by cleaning the fuel system and injectors. You may have an injector getting weak and the higher rpms is making up for the problem at this time. hope this helps you out.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Panther Branch, NC
Sounds like ip problems , is there any smoke when its rough. What kind of miles on the ip. either your not getting enough fuel to the ip, theres air somewhere,or the ip needs checking
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I second the Diesel Kleene, run a double dose through it for a couple of tanks of fuel then change the filter again. If it has any crud in the fuel system it will clean it out. You may want to carry a spare filter and a can of fuel to fill the filter with you till you run a couple of tanks of fuel with cleaner in them through it.
If it cuts a bunch of dirt in the tank loose it may stop the filter up.
If after a couple of tanks of Diesel Kleene it is still acting up you may have air intrusion into the fuel system.
If it cuts a bunch of dirt in the tank loose it may stop the filter up.
If after a couple of tanks of Diesel Kleene it is still acting up you may have air intrusion into the fuel system.
Last edited by Dave Sponaugle; Nov 8, 2005 at 10:37 PM.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
I’m still having some inconsistencies in the idling, sometimes I can start the engine and she runs nice and smooth, other times she rocks and rolls, in the morning I also noticed that I’m hearing some chattering coming from under the hood during acceleration but most of it goes away after its warmed up, and there is no smoke and anytime,,,sometimes i ready to put a for sale sign in the window and other days i don't know what i would do without my ole ford
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
soobad, when the fast idle is on the timing advance solenoid also has the timing advanced. This can cause the rattling you are hearing.
It is a good idea to not stomp on the throttle and put a big load on the engine with the timing advance solenoid energised. When she is chattering like a power stroke the timing is over advanced.
That is also good thing to know though, when it is warmed up and the advance kicks off the timing is set about as advanced as it can be, so it ought to run pretty good.
It is a good idea to not stomp on the throttle and put a big load on the engine with the timing advance solenoid energised. When she is chattering like a power stroke the timing is over advanced.
That is also good thing to know though, when it is warmed up and the advance kicks off the timing is set about as advanced as it can be, so it ought to run pretty good.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
ok Dave you were just talking Greek to me,,lol, now when i changed out the enjectors i had to lay on my engine to reach the back of the engine could i have damaged something doing this and what do i do to correct the problem that you just wrote about..thanks for all your help , john
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
Also (just for kicks) check your fuel lines from the tank. I found mine on the 93 leaking ever so little at one of the frame clamps. replaced with a fuel hose ( line not available) runs great now.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
There is a coolant temp switch that advances the timing and kicks in the high idle till the coolant reaches 110 degrees.
This can take a mile or so when the engine is cold.
Untill the engine reaches operating temp, throttle application should be kept to a minimum.
When you were laying on the engine you could have put excess pressure on something. Check all fuel lines and wires in that area for damage.
Most of the wiring is down in the engine valley far enough to protect it except for a few in the IP area.
As far as fuel lines, did you replace all the o rings in the bleed off caps when you did the injector swap?
Also did you inspect the cross over lines between the injectors for cracks?
When I replaced the O rings in my caps I just bought a length of diesel rated fuel line and replaced all the cross over lines at the same time. I also replaced the funky clip clamps with stainless screw clamps. It was only about 40 dollars for parts to do the entire job. I never had air intrusion problems after that.
Do you notice the stuttering being related to how you park the truck?
Front down the hill it don't.
Front up the hill it stutters.
This can take a mile or so when the engine is cold.
Untill the engine reaches operating temp, throttle application should be kept to a minimum.
When you were laying on the engine you could have put excess pressure on something. Check all fuel lines and wires in that area for damage.
Most of the wiring is down in the engine valley far enough to protect it except for a few in the IP area.
As far as fuel lines, did you replace all the o rings in the bleed off caps when you did the injector swap?
Also did you inspect the cross over lines between the injectors for cracks?
When I replaced the O rings in my caps I just bought a length of diesel rated fuel line and replaced all the cross over lines at the same time. I also replaced the funky clip clamps with stainless screw clamps. It was only about 40 dollars for parts to do the entire job. I never had air intrusion problems after that.
Do you notice the stuttering being related to how you park the truck?
Front down the hill it don't.
Front up the hill it stutters.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
i did repace the o rings cause they came with the injectors but i didn't replace the lines and caps i handled them with kid glove but i do know that the lines and caps are original to the engine do you think i could have air intrusion in thos lines and caps with out seeing the wetness of diesel fuel? cause i started getting better mpg after changing the injectors but that when it started idling badly sometimes...you know you guys are the bomb, thaks for all your help
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The pressure on the return line is very small.
However when the engine is not running the suction on the line from the fuel trying to return to it's lowest level in the fuel tank can draw air into the system through leaks so small that they do not leak fuel.
That is why air intrusion into the fuel system is so hard to find sometimes.
Lots of trucks have problems when the truck is parked facing uphill but not when facing downhill. The only difference is the level of the fuel in the tank in relation to the engine level. The extra couple of feet down to the fuel level in the tank sucks air in the lines where it won't when parked with the engine downhill.
We have all been at the place you are right now at one time or another.
I wish I could point you exactly to the problem, but there are to many places the leak could be. Fortunately fuel line is cheap. Replacing the lines till you find the problem is not a big expense, just a big pain in the rear.
However when the engine is not running the suction on the line from the fuel trying to return to it's lowest level in the fuel tank can draw air into the system through leaks so small that they do not leak fuel.
That is why air intrusion into the fuel system is so hard to find sometimes.
Lots of trucks have problems when the truck is parked facing uphill but not when facing downhill. The only difference is the level of the fuel in the tank in relation to the engine level. The extra couple of feet down to the fuel level in the tank sucks air in the lines where it won't when parked with the engine downhill.
We have all been at the place you are right now at one time or another.
I wish I could point you exactly to the problem, but there are to many places the leak could be. Fortunately fuel line is cheap. Replacing the lines till you find the problem is not a big expense, just a big pain in the rear.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ernesteugene
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
11
Oct 28, 2017 12:48 PM
StangStang
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Aug 23, 2016 10:04 AM
