Need Advice: Turbo Pedestal and ISP sensor

[Loopers]

We recently took our truck (97 F350 PSD) to the local Ford house because we noticed a huge decrease in fuel mileage. They "ran diagnostics" and said we need to replace the "turbo pedestal (waste gate) and the ISP Sensor and Connector". The quote was really high. They also said this could be just the beginning, maybe suggesting that the injectors were going out.

My husband LOVES his truck and has no intentions on replacing with a newer model. He and I are very mechanically inclined and can fix pretty much anything. We are not exactly sure which parts they are referring to when they talk about these two items. How do we know what to buy and replace? Are we jumping knee high into deep stuff? Can anyone show me the parts via a link or something and tell me where to find instructions on how to replace?

Note: This truck only has 180k miles on it and it has been properly kept. He has maintained the truck well.

Thank you for any help and/or guidance you can provide.

Wendy Looper

[bigcountrysg]

I suggest you get a different shop to look at the truck. I would go to an independent Diesel Shop.

What is the truck doing. What fuel mileage are you getting right now. To say you need all that stuff and possibilly injectors. Makes me think they are wanting money. I mean it is possible that some of that is bad but to have all of it bad with 180,000 on the clock. Just don't seem right what mods do you have done to the truck. Do you have gauges in it. Pyrometer, Boost gauges. I ask because wastegate ISP and connector. Those could cause low boost issues which could cause poor fuel mileage. But bad injectors could make the whole engine perform poorly.

[Loopers]

Poor fuel mileage, about 8 miles to the gallon - in the morning you can hear the turbo pressuring off and will not run over 20 miles an hour - feeling like it doesn't have as much power as it used (when loaded down with deer blinds, stands, campers, all the deer lease stuff he carries back and forth). Mods are downpipe and removed cadilatic converter and muffler and K&N air filter. No gauges.

We are worried about burning up the piston if we continue to drive. But we don't want to fork out $1800 for something that might be fixed with something else.

Thank you.
Wendy

[bigcountrysg]

Ok that is poor fuel mileage. As well as poor performance. I suggest you have a compression test, injector contribution test, and a diagnostic system check done. I am not the expert on this so lets see if we can get some techs to chime in on this.

I will say this, remove the intake from the turbo and look at the turbo itself. You will want to be looking at the turbo wheel it has fins on it. See if those are damaged at all. Also grab ahold of the turbo wheel and see if it has excessive play as well. This is a sign of a turbo being bad. You will want to attempt to move the turbo wheel up/down/left/right.

[popsmick12]

No wastegate on a 97 Powerstroke. There is however a Exhaust Back Pressure Valve or EBPV. If it is not operating properly it may be contributing to your problems. EBPV closes when it is cold to allow the engine to warm up quicker. The actuator rod extends out of the turbo pedestal and connects to the valve linkage. I don't deal with cold temps much so I deleted mine completely. You might want to watch the rod when you start the truck in the morning to see if it does in fact open the EBPV. The EBPV is on the exhaust side of the turbo between the turbo and the down pipe. If it does not open a simple quick fix is to disconnect the rod from the valve linkage and wire it open.

[pipelayerjdh]

Sounds like a stuck EBPV. Check to see if it is opperating, as mentioned above. If so, have the cylinder contribution and injector buzz tests done. Also, does the truck smoke, and will it rev up with no load?