Ford Repair: ford powerstroke, ford f 250, ford powerstroke

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a 1997 ford f-250 p/u with the 7.3 powerstroke diesel. The truck will start, but run terrible. It feels as a gas engine might feel with a bad miss. But the truck is starving for fuel. You can press the accelerator to the floor, and get almost no result. The rpm will increase slightly, but that's it. If you let it idle like that it will stall in under a minute. Any ideas? Thank you, Chris


ANSWER: Hello Chris, check to see how much fuel is in the fuel bowl. If it is aleast 3/4 I would say it is enough. When was the last time the filter was changed ? If it is more than 1 qt low on oil that can effect the way it runs also. Have you had a test run on the systems to monitor injectors ? Bad Fuel ? Did it start suddenly or has been doing it a while? Let me know Thanks Tony

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QUESTION: Hi Tony,
Thanks for your response. I change the filter once a month which has always worked out well for me as I don't put much mileage on the truck. The oil comment you made is interesting though. I went out this morning to pick-up a fuel filter figuring that would be the best place to start. Before I put it in though I started the truck, and it ran fine. Took it around the block, and had no power. When I brought it back, I noticed a substantial oil puddle where I had parked it yesterday. So I looked under my now nicely idling truck and saw oil coming out in a nice steady stream. I took a quick look underneath, but didn't have a lot of time. It's tough to tell exactly because of all the splatter, but it looks to be coming from an area on the drivers side of the engine, above the oil filter. The oil that was coming out while idling was pouring all over the front pumpkin, and then hitting the ground. Any advice would again be much appreciated. Thanks, Chris

Answer
Hello again Chris, Look down in the valley by the fuel bowl, you might have a high pressure oil pump line leaking(there are 2) or a blown high pressure oil pump gasket. The injectors rely on oil pressure to fire properly. Hope this helps Let me know Thanks Tony