Smoke and power questions

[southmsfiveo]

Hey guys. I joined here a little while back when I bought a 7.3 PSD and found the forum very helpful maintaining that truck. It died on me and found a new owner.

I now have an 05 F350 6.0 with 144K miles. Every now and then I pull a trailer with junk on it or my tractor (4000 lbs). The truck seems to be short on power. I don't know much about a diesel. But, 60mph on almost level ground requires about 2600 rpm at 20+pounds of boost on the stock gauge and the truck just seems to struggle. After I have done this (the trips are less than 100 miles total) the next morning I find a puddle about 24 inches in diameter under the engine, right side between the tranny and the font cross member. I can't tell where it is leaking from. It is coolant not diesel and not oil...

In the past few days, 45 degrees in the morning the truck smokes pretty good when I start it. It continues to smoke under acceleration (bad) for about 4 miles then it clears up. Smoke is mostly white with a ting of blue at first then it becomes a little more blue than white as it fades away.

I am almost flat broke. I have pretty descent mechanical skills but by no means a mechanic.

Lots of searching yesterday and last night of past post here. I want to update my post.

My coolant was mostly water. The way it was when I bought the truck 6 months ago. I flushed the system and added fresh coolant.
Smoke is mostly white with bluish tint. Smells like coolant not oil or fuel. No leaks visible top or bottom. (other than the puddle after towing mentioned above)
Smoke disappears after being in motion continuously for a few miles. Smoke returns as soon as I stop for traffic. Completely disappears after about ten miles only to return as soon as I am stopped for a minute or so.
No steam coming from the oil filler tube. No sign of water in the oil. No sign of oil in the coolant degas bottle.

I have ordered a EGR Delete and oil cooler kit.


Is it safe to drive, as is, short trips for a couple of days before the kit arrives?

How likely is it that the head gaskets are bad or will be bad soon?

If it needs to be parked, I'll walk or hitch hike a few days. If it can be run gently that's what I'll do.



Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[fireman2545]

i bet your head gasket is blown. not real pricey but could be a big project for the everage guy..make sure to do a head bolt kit..stock bolts are just not strong enough!

[southmsfiveo]

I started reading the similar post here today and all night tonight. I am pretty sure it's just the EGR Cooler and Oil Cooler at this point since it is intermittent. I am leaning toward a EGR Delete and new oil cooler. It is also time for front brakes, oil, air/oil/fuel filters and transmission service so I am stretched very thin $$$$.

[Errick NDA]

check out my blog it might help you !Here the link !Starting Autos
The second page is all powersroke ! Just scoll down you will see it !