Power Loss (Boost?)

[JimPat]

Ok, so I have read several posts on boost leaks and power loss so my assumption is that is where my problem lies. What I am hoping for is a little help with the progression of steps to locate the problem.

Here are my symptoms:

Regardless of the position of my DP Tuner 5 position chip I have close to the same shifting parameters.

1st to 2nd approx 10mph
2nd to 3rd approx 20mph
3rd to 4th approx 35mph
4th to OD approx 42mph

The problem is that as it shifts into OD at about 2000RPM and 42mph the RPM's drop down to about 1300. I manage this unloaded by using the OD button on the shifter to go into OD at 50mph and 2500RPM so that I only drop to about 2000RPM once in gear. If I don't do this manually and I keep my foot in it I just get black smoke and high egt's until the RPM's come up.

When loaded with my 7K lb boat it pulls like a dog even on very slight inclines. If I am in traffic on the freeway and have to slow down it is tough to get my speed back up without the smoke and high egt's. I cannot even begin to tell you how bad it is on a hill. I towed the boat up hwy 52 toward Santee and almost had to pull over because my egt's were at 1200 and still climbing. I backed off down to 4th gear and they went down. My floorboard gets real hot to so I know I need to crawl under and look for soot, but I don't see any. How else do you know if you have an exhaust leak?

Now to me this is not a heavy load for a 350 Dually with the 7.3 and unloaded on the freeway once I am up to 2000 RPM's the truck runs great and can accelerate with the best of them although I never see more than about 12lbs of boost.

Does this sound like a leak to you guys and if so what should I check first? Hoses coming off of the turbine? I saw some posts about a waste gate, but not sure where that is or what it looks like.

Sorry for being so long, but I am frustrated.

Jim

[mattymx]

There a few things to look at. Check your turbo up pipes for leaks. you can tell that they are leaking if you see black soot around the connections. Also for the intake side of things I made a tool to pressurize the system. I only fill it to 15PSI and spray soapy water on everything that is holding air at the connections like intercooler boots, plenums, and MAP line. Start there and see what happens.

Here is the tool I made. If you make one like it make sure you seal it with only JB Weld and nothing else. My first I sealed with silicone and it blew apart.

[JimPat]

Mattymx,

Are the turbo up pipes the metal to metal connections or the ford blue hoses? I have tried to look for posts and pictures but am at a lose. I went out and pulled one of the pipes off that connects the turbo to what i think is the intercooler behind the radiator. It had oil and soot on it so I cleaned up the pipe and the boots and reinstalled. I have to go pick up the boat in the morning so I will see then if it made a difference.

Where could I get a new set of all of the boots? I saw that Dieselsite had a pair for a late 99, but that is not me.

Thanks,
Jim

[mattymx]

The up pipes run up the back of the engine and feed the turbo. I run the dieselsite boots on my EX and I am sure that Bob could set you up with a set for your truck. The stock boots are junk and leak and slip off because of the crank case vent introduces oil into the intake system. You would be miles ahead if you make a tool like I did. It saves all kinds of time and will pinpoint the leak.

[JimPat]

While I was on DieselSite I saw that the have the same tool, although it is $60. Not knowing when I would get around to making one I just ordered the thing. My guess is it will come in handy for me now and I can possibly loan it to others who are local if they want to check their truck for leaks.

Thanks for the advice.

Jim

[mattymx]

I wish I would have offered to mail mine to you. I have done that a few times. Just dont fill the system up past 15PSI for safety. Trust me.

[JimPat]

No problem, I saw you were in Big Bear. Had you been closer I might have asked. Besides, I am one of those guys who likes to have a tool for everything. One thing I like that I saw on the one I am buying is that I can connect to my compressor and set it to 10psi and let it just run. I saw your post that said yours drains in 3-4 seconds, I think this way I will be able to find most of the leaks at one time.

Make sense?

Thanks,
Jim

[mattymx]

Cool... But if I remember correctly I think it was a leak down of about 1PSI every few seconds. This tool is one of the best things I have ever made. You will love yours.

[JimPat]

Ok, so I got the boost leak tool in the mail and finally had time to connect it today. I pressurize the system up to 15 PSI and listen to it slowly drain down. I spray everything and the only place that bubbles up is where the tube goes in for my Boost Gauge.

I hear what sounds like leaking behind the turbo, but cannot see or feel anything except some air escaping around the gold round piece that sits on top of the turbo.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Jim

[Demoes4x]

Sounds like the upipes or the boost fooler.
Check out these pics. John Wood link
I had the uppipes replaced. They sit above the tranny by the firewall.
I have additional pics in my sig.

http://www.socaps.comupgrades-afterm...john-wood.html

[JimPat]

I don't have a boost fooler, but was looking at them today on Dieselsite. In your opinion, do they just keep you from getting the SES for overboost? I didn't really see a performance benefit.

John Wood replaced my exhaust and turbo about 2 years ago and I think he put on a new up pipe, but not the international one that you got. He thinks that the problems I am having may be related to my chip so I am going out there on 10 August to get my tunes done and I assume he will figure out this problem.

I see we have the same truck. You say that you pull the 5er @ 15K, I have a 7K boat that I pull and the way my truck is running now, it is everything I can do to just pull it around town, much less up any significant grade. I am at my wits end.

Thanks for the advice,

Jim