water in fuel ? or?

[Soundguy]

info.. my 04 f250 w/ 6.0 PSD

never had any engine problems with her ( i know the early 6.0 had head issues )

mine is at 102000 riht now.

oil change every 5k ( or 3k if I tow alot or am in dusty conditions alot ). I use the motorcraft 15w40 power stroke oil, napa oil and fuel filters, and I have the conversion air filter box for the better / cheaper air filter.

starting 2 weeks ago I was going down the road and had just went over a dip and bump, truck lost power, could not maintain rpms, and started 'smoking' white heavilly. I pulled over and got out for a look. she idled real rough around 600 rpm.. 'smoke' as far as I can tell was steam the way it disipated. I didn't smell rich fuel or oil.

it cleared up in about 30 seconds or less.

all gauges ok.. oil, temp, etc. drove home and let her set to cool a bit so I could look under hood.

no oil in coolant, no coolant in oil, oil not low, coolant not low. drive back home was normal.. good power no smoke.. handled just like she always had.

i figured wet diesel, dumped in a can of seafoam and went on. we had just started the cool weather in florida, and truck had sat all weekend.. I figured either I got water at a pump.. or condensation on tank walls had washed down during the bump... then got sucked up.

fast forward a week, same deal.. exactly. again.. I was at 1/4 tank fuel like last time.. and we are still having cold weather.. fast forward another week, today.. did it again..

goes away in 10-20 seconds.. and still no milkshake or loss of fluids.

have not changed my fuel filter yet as I had just done it a month ago before all this started with my last oil change at 100000. I know I shoulda changed it first time I suspected water 2 weeks ago. will likely change it monday.

anyway.. dumped in another can of seafoam, and will run that tank low then fill her up again and see what happens and watch my fluids.

any opinions here? am I on the right track with wet fuel?

soundguy

 

[JESSE1]

Have you tried dumping water out of the frame mounted fuel pump? It's mounted on the frame about even with the driver's door. Yellow lever, just move it forward and let the fuel drain until it stops.

 

[Soundguy]

hadn't thought of a water trap.. say it's on the undercarriage around the drivers door.. lever to drain? I'll for sure take a look in the am.

thanks

soundguy

 

[JESSE1]

You said you changed the fuel filter. You realize that there are two filters and one is on the fuel pump on the frame rail? If you only changed the one on top of the engine, the filter on the fuel pump is probably clogged. If you buy Motorcraft filters, they come in a set with both filters.

When you change the filters, cycle the key to "on" until you hear the fuel pump under the cab shut off. Do this about six times to purge air out of the system before you try to start the engine.

Also, don't let the fuel tank get low, especially in winter. If your weather is like ours, we go through cycles of warm followed by a cold front. You'll really get a lot of condensation in your fuel tank.

 

[PoorMansCat]

I would think that if you were injecting enough water to see it vaporized out the exhaust, the injectors would have already blown the tips out of them,. I would lean more toward an inpending head gasket failure or possibly EGR cooler failure(if the 04 model 6.0L had an EGR)
Pull an oil sample and send it off. If its an intermittent coolant leak such as a head gasket... an oil sample may show some coolant trace in the oil..

 

[HHR]

I would put money on the EGR cooler being your problem.... If I had any.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Water or EGR could be the issue. I would drain the under cab fuel drain. I thought mine took a 10mm alllen wrench though. Check your manual.

Changing both filters can confirm or eliminate a fuel issue.

The EGR could be it. Funny thing is my good friend Barbie, yes that her name, had a 04 F-250 with just over 100,000 and the only problem she ever had was the EGR last summer. She got it fixed but there is also a EGR eliminate kit for the early 6.0's. I think it was only $400 or so to get it fixed. Anyway she totaled it a month later.

Chris

 

[JESSE1]

You're right about the allen wrench. I have the lever on my '08 but it's in the same location.

 

[Soundguy]

worked all day so didn't get to the rail filter yet. will post back when i see what comes out of it.

the egr cooler? is it a water cooled device?

soundguy

 

[wmonroe]

I agree with the others that if enough water was going through to cause steam that it probably woudn't run or would cause major injector issues. One thing to check is to make sure that a electrical connector isn't loose (cam or crank sensor?) causing the timing to be thrown out of wack causing white smoke. Just throwing ideas out there.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Has it tripped the CEL (check engine light)? Also, not sure about your truck but if I remember right mine has a water in filter light. It has never gone off but if I remember right there is a light on the dash that is tripped by water in the under cab filter on the frame rail. Check your manual.

If not look into the EGR thing. I know it caused issues on the 03's and 04's then they did away with it for 05 and later. There is a EGR eliminate kit for the 03's and 04's or you can simply replace it. I have heard it gives symptoms like you stated.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

the thing I find odd is that it has done this 3 time sin a period of about as many weeks. each time it did it it was on 1/4 tank or lower fuel.. and it has been cool for florida each time.. and then it goes away and acts fine.. I can drive it 6 more hours that day.. or each day that week and no issues. weird....


soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

Could be something just sticking? EGR valve, fuel pump, some solenoid, ect...

Without a CEL its going to be tough to trace for a DIY'er but a trained Ford 6.0 mechanic will figure it out.


Chris

 

[PoorMansCat]

the egr cooler? is it a water cooled device?

soundguy

YOu might be better suited to do some reading on one of the bigger Powerstroke forums... There are volumes of good information on the 6.0l and their "personalities". I know the EGR and cooler have been points of failure for the 6.0L that has lead into catostrophic engine failure... I would check/repair it soon.
The only 1st hand knowledge of a 6.0L failing was due to an EGR that started leaking coolant and hydro'ed the engine going down the road... Blew the head gaskets and busted one piston.
If you don't live in Ca, I would buy and install the EGR delete kit whether its currently leaking or not...

 

[leonz]

diesel fuel issues and fixes;

info.. my 04 f250 w/ 6.0 PSD

never had any engine problems with her ( i know the early 6.0 had head issues )

mine is at 102000 riht now.

oil change every 5k ( or 3k if I tow alot or am in dusty conditions alot ). I use the motorcraft 15w40 power stroke oil, napa oil and fuel filters, and I have the conversion air filter box for the better / cheaper air filter.

starting 2 weeks ago I was going down the road and had just went over a dip and bump, truck lost power, could not maintain rpms, and started 'smoking' white heavilly. I pulled over and got out for a look. she idled real rough around 600 rpm.. 'smoke' as far as I can tell was steam the way it disipated. I didn't smell rich fuel or oil.

it cleared up in about 30 seconds or less.

all gauges ok.. oil, temp, etc. drove home and let her set to cool a bit so I could look under hood.

no oil in coolant, no coolant in oil, oil not low, coolant not low. drive back home was normal.. good power no smoke.. handled just like she always had.

i figured wet diesel, dumped in a can of seafoam and went on. we had just started the cool weather in florida, and truck had sat all weekend.. I figured either I got water at a pump.. or condensation on tank walls had washed down during the bump... then got sucked up.

fast forward a week, same deal.. exactly. again.. I was at 1/4 tank fuel like last time.. and we are still having cold weather.. fast forward another week, today.. did it again..

goes away in 10-20 seconds.. and still no milkshake or loss of fluids.

have not changed my fuel filter yet as I had just done it a month ago before all this started with my last oil change at 100000. I know I shoulda changed it first time I suspected water 2 weeks ago. will likely change it monday.

anyway.. dumped in another can of seafoam, and will run that tank low then fill her up again and see what happens and watch my fluids.

any opinions here? am I on the right track with wet fuel?

soundguy

" I would strongly suggest you purchase a Racor fuel filter water separator for your truck as apparently you have a tremendous amount of water in your diesel fuel tank and the racor will strip the water out of your fuel tank quickly. Any large boat service center will have them in stock or you can order them from a retailer and install it yourself it is very easy to do."

 

[HHR]

Once you get your "water" issues squared away, I would install some type of coolant filter. During manufacturing, casting sand gets trapped in the water passages of the block. This sand will eventually end up trapped in your oil cooler, causing it to slowly plug up and fail.

 

[Soundguy]

I know if it does it again, I'm taking it to a local diesel shop.. they are rumored to be powerstroke specialists..

soundguy

 

[jonyyuma]

My old chevy 6.2 had a bypass on the fuel intake filter in the fuel tank.. If it tryed to clog at cold temperatures it would open. If less than 1/4 tank it would get air and smoke and mis- fire.You might check your owner's manual and see if there is a warning for Fords.??? Jy.