More crazy 6.0 stuff

[Robbie Hegwood]

Anyone ever heard of this. Cranked truck Saturday after finishing a job, truck had been sitting for 5 hours. Probable 50 degrees outside. Shortly after cranking it surged once and sounded like it went to high idle to warn up. I was loading my tractor so after that I'm not sure what it did. After leaving and driving up the road I encountered a hill, applied throttle and it would only make 20 psi of boost. I let off and tried again and the same thing. I finally topped the hill. After several short streets I was back on a major road and again only 20 psi. At the stoplight I put the truck in park and turned it off, waited 30 seconds and started it. Drove up the road and back to normal!!
My truck gets crazier by the day. Any idea about this?? Thanks Robbie

 

[Bird]

Robbie, I don't know anything about your truck, but I do know there are some things with the computers in them that can get out of kilter, and shutting them down and restarting them sometimes "resets" things back to normal. And that's what it sounds to me to be what happened.

 

[machmeter62]

Robbie, I don't know anything about your truck, but I do know there are some things with the computers in them that can get out of kilter, and shutting them down and restarting them sometimes "resets" things back to normal. And that's what it sounds to me to be what happened.

What is the maximum allowable boost on the 6.0 engine?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Normal running boost is about 30 psi or so. Maximum is 36-38 psi depending on what gear its in. When pulling 18k 20 psi will not cut it. Like Bird said I'm sure it was a computer think for it reset but what was the problem? This truck can really protect itself with the computer from harm. Pretty cool as long as I don't have to walk!!!!

 

[HGM]

What is the maximum allowable boost on the 6.0 engine?

Depening on the year and whether its been modified or not, normal is 24-28PSI.

Sounds like a sticking turbo Robbie. Take it to the dealer and let them verify, unfortunatly you wont get it fixed here.. Good luck. If you want a recomendation, PM me.. But you'll likely be the waranty company since its not factory..

 

[cp1969]

I'm thinking the lack of boost pressure is a symptom of low power, not a cause.

If you restrict the fuel to a turbo diesel, it will not make boost pressure. You will only notice that you have low power, nothing else.

If the correct amount of fuel is being supplied but boost is low, you will be billowing black smoke out the exhaust.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

My truck is not modified. Only has a banks exhaust and K&N filter. Ford did repipe the return intercooler line when it was there for a turbo boot problem. The mech said I might see a 1-2 psi increase from better flow.

But if I combine Hgm,your response and 1969 I believe I have seen a true defueling eppisode. It was not smoking so I feel it was defueling for some reason.

I had another problem that I posted as "mech advice needed" and several knowledgeable TBN members helped me figure what happened there. I used there comments on that issue to apply on this problem for that is where I learned about the "defueling saftey".

See, just by discussing it with ya'll i have come close to knowing what happened, just need to figure out why. Thanks Robbie

 

[machmeter62]

Depening on the year and whether its been modified or not, normal is 24-28PSI.

Sounds like a sticking turbo Robbie. Take it to the dealer and let them verify, unfortunatly you wont get it fixed here.. Good luck. If you want a recomendation, PM me.. But you'll likely be the waranty company since its not factory..

GREG: I have a 92' Ford F-350 with a BANKS TURBOCHARGER. I have two gauges to monitor engine performance. The boost gauge doesn't register until the normal aspiration is used at sea level (approximately 30"), then the boost gauge limit is a max. of 12'' more. However, the real limitations is the "piro gauge" at 1000 degrees F. to avoid "piston meltdown", which forces down shifting on long mountain pulls!! The calibration must be different??

 

[HGM]

GREG: I have a 92' Ford F-350 with a BANKS TURBOCHARGER. I have two gauges to monitor engine performance. The boost gauge doesn't register until the normal aspiration is used at sea level (approximately 30"), then the boost gauge limit is a max. of 12'' more. However, the real limitations is the "piro gauge" at 1000 degrees F. to avoid "piston meltdown", which forces down shifting on long mountain pulls!! The calibration must be different??

All bets are off with a modified truck, I agree that the temp is as big of a deal as boost even though they go hand in hand and different gauges read different ways, but this truck should come with one from the factory, and unless its bad, should never read over 28psi on a stock truck.. The 6.0L Is a TOTALLY different animal than most guy's realize though. It has a Variable Geometry Turbo which can be difficult to diag without the proper tools.It is operated off of the backpressure reading, as the back pressure changes, so does the turbo "size".. In Robbie's case, I still believe its a turbo that is sticking because the problem comes and goes..

Robbie, I would definitly get this truck to the dealer to check it out though. If in fact it did happen to be fuel related, you will wipe out your injectors($$$$$) by waiting and driving with low fuel pressure(45psi min. is critical). My reasoning for saying yours is modified, they dont bost 30+psi unless there is a problem, typicaly a turbo sticking(or modified ).

BTW, my recomendation would also include losing the air filter and returning to stock as well, any diesel tech will tell you that easily 90% of the dusted engines they replace use these type of filters... The stock Donaldson is a much better "filter" as well as flows just as well as these fabled "hi flow" filters.

 

[milkman]

BTW, my recomendation would also include losing the air filter and returning to stock as well, any diesel tech will tell you that easily 90% of the dusted engines they replace use these type of filters... The stock Donaldson is a much better "filter" as well as flows just as well as these fabled "hi flow" filters.

My sentiments exactly, you're the first in the profession to say it here, thanks, I think the two letter lable guys are making a killing with their inflated claims of hp increase, they are the same category as the gas mileage booster gimmicks.

 

[KICK]

The 6.0L Is a TOTALLY different animal than most guy's realize though. It has a Variable Geometry Turbo which can be difficult to diag without the proper tools.It is operated off of the backpressure reading, as the back pressure changes, so does the turbo "size".. In Robbie's case, I still believe its a turbo that is sticking because the problem comes and goes..

QUOTE]

I agree with HGM, I have no experience with Powerstrokes but I have quite a bitof experience with VNT's and EGr that are on Detroits and Cummins and this probleems sounds exactly like what HGM said.

the turbo itself could be sticking, or it could be as simple as a sensor giving the ECM a false reading here and there and adjusting the turbo accordingly.

 

[Lynkage]

I asked my ford tech the same question about the filter. I have one by AEM and he said that it looks pretty good because it is a dry filter. But he also said for me to try it fo 500mi and then let him look at it. If it looked like it was failing to go back to the factory box. He also said that you should get a minimum of 20k mi from the factory filter.

 

[firemanpat2910]

You guys are scaring me I just bought my 2007 250 yesterday, after 4 years with a durramax. And the first post I read today is about my new motor I thought they would have worked all these issues out by now.

 

[Lynkage]

Mine is doing just fine!!
I would not worry about it. If it fails you have a warranty. Just enjoy your purchase. It can happen to any of the big 3.

 

[HGM]

I asked my ford tech the same question about the filter. I have one by AEM and he said that it looks pretty good because it is a dry filter. But he also said for me to try it fo 500mi and then let him look at it. If it looked like it was failing to go back to the factory box. He also said that you should get a minimum of 20k mi from the factory filter.

Just a bit of FYI, unfortunatly, you'll have to take my word for it since I dont have it in print. But, there was a study done a year or so ago with the stock 6.0L air filter. It flowed verry similar numbers(cant quote them off hand, but I was impressed). Plus, it held 8 POUNDS of dirt before becoming restricted enough to hamper performance.. Sorry, but I find it hard to believe any "gauzz" style filter has enough surface area to even come close to that number.. I'd still be interested in how it looks.

BTW, dont forget to look at the real "tell tale", your turbo wheel. If it looks sand blasted, so do your cylinders. Its a slow occuring thing that you may not realize untill you start seeing smoke or having a hard time starting it..

 

[Lynkage]

here is the intake. AEM - Workhorse HD Diesel Intakes

My tech has seen it and told me he would take a look at the turbo after about 500mi. Otherwise I will put the stock unit back on. I am not knocking the OEM unit I was just trying to find a filter less expensive then $90.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I bought my filter just for the reusable factor. I second the good flow numbers from stock. I read in a diesel mag recently where they tested a stock diesel (i believe it was a 6.0) with a stock filter, after market filter, and then a whole intake and there was NO difference. A dyno doesn't lie. That was pretty interesting. Maybe one of you have read the same article.

I really think most of my problem lie with the EGR tube (whatever it does) for it's back to the surging crap and that was the cause last time. Busy right now so it will go to the shop april 2 while the tractor is in for service.

Thanks for the replies. Robbie

 

[cp1969]

At $90 a pop for an air filter (surely that price can be beat) it would be tempting to try a re-usable filter.

However, my advice is---don't. Not on anything other than a racing engine.

Nothing beats a pleated paper filter for efficiency and dirt holding ability and most will last much longer than people think. Does Ford not put a restriction indicator on the 6.0? If so, just follow it's recommendation; change when it says to.

Even at $90 apiece, you will spend amazingly little money on air filters over the life of the truck if you resist the urge to change filters too often.

 

[HGM]

However, my advice is---don't. Not on anything other than a racing engine.

Nothing beats a pleated paper filter for efficiency and dirt holding ability and most will last much longer than people think. Does Ford not put a restriction indicator on the 6.0? If so, just follow it's recommendation; change when it says to.

Even at $90 apiece, you will spend amazingly little money on air filters over the life of the truck if you resist the urge to change filters too often.

Precisely, Most guys change the filter WAY too early... Contrary to popular belief, the filter minder does work. If in doubt, check it with a vacuum pump.

 

[HGM]

I really think most of my problem lie with the EGR tube (whatever it does) for it's back to the surging crap and that was the cause last time. Busy right now so it will go to the shop april 2 while the tractor is in for service.

Thanks for the replies. Robbie

You didnt mention any smoke.. When this occurs, if it were the EGR, you would likely see a ton of black smoke. The PCM would be trying to fuel to make up for low backpressure caused by the exhaust leak. The turbo can sometimes cause smoke too, but the EGR most always does..

BTW,The EGR problems can be avaoided with good, clean fuel, addin a cetane booster and not letting the truck idle for more than 5min at a time..