Diesel Engine Question

[CurlyDave]

My new to me 2004 F-250 with ~67000 miles runs very well once it has warmed up. But the engine is very sluggish and underpowered when it is cold. It has the 6.0 liter engine.

I have never owned a diesel truck before and need to know if this is normal or is something wrong? I have a 50-50 warranty on it for 30 days after purchase, so I want to be able to get it fixed if there is a problem.

 

[WilliamBos]

My new to me 2004 F-250 with ~67000 miles runs very well once it has warmed up. But the engine is very sluggish and underpowered when it is cold.

I have never owned a diesel truck before and need to know if this is normal or is something wrong? I have a 50-50 warranty on it for 30 days after purchase, so I want to be able to get it fixed if there is a problem.

Try here...

PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum

Good luck.

 

[timswi]

My new to me 2004 F-250 with ~67000 miles runs very well once it has warmed up. But the engine is very sluggish and underpowered when it is cold.

I have never owned a diesel truck before and need to know if this is normal or is something wrong? I have a 50-50 warranty on it for 30 days after purchase, so I want to be able to get it fixed if there is a problem.

My '89 Suburban was kind of like that..It certainly ran best and got the best MPG when it was hot...Ambient temperaure also helped...I was a long way from a 2004though.

 

[Dmace]

First, change the engine oil. Many of those problems are from sticking injectors from the 15w-40 oil, go to a good10w-30 and see if it changes. If that doesn't help, check the voltage at the FICM (Fuel Injection Control Module) since that is another common problem with the Ford 6.0l diesel...

 

[Marveltone]

Can't speak specifically of the Powerstroke, but I've read and experienced enough with my Cummins to gain perhaps a tiny bit of insight, although it may very well be wrong. It seems one consensus is to drive your diesel lightly while cold. Once you see the temp gauge start to move, the tolerances apparently begin to close up to where they're supposed to be and you can start to work it harder.

Like I said, this is just something I've gleaned from other forums, so this is how I treat mine... although, I've never experienced the sluggishness you describe. Hopefully some Powerstroke guys can chime in and be of more help than my pointless ramblings.

Joe

 

[newbury]

If you are planning on keeping it go to a good synthetic oil.

Also what is "cold"? I just about drive at idle until my needle shows about 180.

 

[CurlyDave]

If you are planning on keeping it go to a good synthetic oil.

Also what is "cold"? I just about drive at idle until my needle shows about 180.

The dealer claims to have just changed the oil (and what is on the dipstick looks new), I am planning to go to synthetic at the first oil change.

My temperature gauges aren't calibrated, but the transmission temp is starting to move up and the engine coolant is still at the bottom when this happens. I start it at my house and go to the bottom of the driveway which is about 1/2 mile long and about a 10-15% downslope all the way. Next comes a short ~1/8 mile of 7-8% upslope and the truck does not want to go up the hill without really putting my foot into it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You need to let it warm up some. This is common in diesel engines. I run 15W40 in both of my 6.0L Fords with great results. I would not put anything other unless its a 5W40 Synthetic.

As for the sluggishness the injectors are hydraulic driven by oil pressure. Its really a neat design because it will not allow the engine to run without oil pressure but has caused some issues with oil leak by and foaming in the oil. The foaming issue has or should have been by all major oil companies but when I first got my 04 Rotella was awful and all guys would run was Delvac or Dello along with Motorcraft (Ford) oil.

Try letting it warm up a bit and see how this changes things.

Chris

 

[rsewill]

My VW Diesels are designed to 'slip' the transmission while cold. Perhaps yours is similar? This lets the engine run more easily when cold. Diesels should be warmed a bit because of the tighter clearances in the engine. Being a hyper-miler, I drive fairly easy anyway. I back into my garage so I don't have to back into the street and start from there. Rather I roll out of my garage and just keep accelerating. It makes a big difference at -30 F. but also works well at +70F.

A big truck (Class 8) will run really, really well after hundreds of miles after everything warms up. I think it is most noticeable after 500 miles.

 

[dynasim]

I have a 2005 powerstroke. When I bought it(last year), it had 115000 miles on it. After I had given the guy a check, he told me he had run gas in it, but gotten it fixed. I am pretty sure he had run it for several months after getting it fixed.

It ran 7 miles(It started again, but stopped completely after 100 yards). I had been a bit heavy on the throttle. It turns out the fuel pump is hydraulically driven, and the computer won't let it fire if the pressure doesn't get high enough. I had it towed to a dealer, and after 1600 in labor, they replaced some orings in the fuel pump. It required removing the turbo, and a bunch of other stuff. They didn't replace the pump(400$).

It later turned out that they should have replaced the pump. They made it startable by making the computer skip the pressure fault, and the pump failed(in a parking lot, thank God). They had failed to do a thorough diagnostic the first time around, as the fault was detectable. The cost, again, was >2000.

The symptom for both of these incidents was as you described, rough running at initial startup, and no power until the engine was quite warm. The second set of mechanics claimed that half the pump was not firing. The gasoline contamination may have been the trigger, but these engines have a known issue with the fuel pumps that cause these symptoms.

I used to work around diesels a lot, and never had the -lack of power at initial startup- issue. We always let them warm up, but only for ~30 seconds. Power was never an issue.

Good luck.

Chris