'02' 7.3L smoking & missing

[larrypip]

Ours is an '02 f250 with aroung 94,000 miles. A week ago while driving on a highway at around 55, the truck suddenly started smoking & missing. I pulled off & stopped the engine. I started it back up after a couple minutes & it was worse, so I called for a tow to our shop. We started it again with the diesel tech present. It started rough & smoked, then smoothed out. He thought it was an injector problem. They kept the truck for a few days for testing & never found a code indicating a problem. They did add an injector cleaning agent to the fuel. Now we are about to start a long tow from Washington to Arizona hauling our 35' 5th wheel & we are concerned it may happen again. That is worrisome. The only other thought I had is the week before I had the fuel filter changed & thought perhaps a foreign particle may have gotten into an injector, burned through & that's why it's running smoothly again.

Is there anyone who's had a similar problem &/or have an idea regarding this mystery? Larrypip

[ProStarPony]

You might be under waranty dependinf on your warranty start date but ifyou want to look at this first, check the injector harness under the valve covers. They can come loose and make it run like crap.

[tonypagnano]

I have the same problem with my 99 F350. Does yours make dark grayish smoke? and it like Knocks/Ticks loudly?

[larrypip]

Actually, the smoke was fairly light grey. We drove it aproximately 100 miles yesterday & it ran perfectly fine. I hope it will not occur again. Good luck with yours. Larrypip

We recently traveled from Puget Sound to Yuma, AZ pulling our 35' 5th wheel & didn't a have a single problem. This trip included going over several passes in excess of 7,000'. My theory is it was a result of the fuel filter change made the week before the incident. I believe it either got air in the fuel line, or a foreign particle passed through & got in an injector. I also have been using an additive purchased at Wal-Mart, Diesel Kleen. My concern is that the new low sulpher fuel is not providing the proper amount of lubricant.

[tonypagnano]

i put some injector cleaner into my truck along with a new fuel filter and the smoke is actually lighter gray. Do you know how long it took for all of the smoke to go away? i havent ran it much because i dont know if i have a bigger problem. thanks.

[Bronconut]

I am currenty having this problem, driving me crazy!!! I replaced fuel filter, strainers in tank, fuel pump and piece of turd still acts up..

[tonypagnano]

What exactly is the problem? Is it just smoking badly and knocking? Is it sometimes hard to turnover?

[Quadrunner]

I am having the same issue on the knocking and stuttering but no smoke as I can see. Mine is in the shop as we speak.

[OK_Peninsulafirefighter]

my 96 did the same thing. I took it to the shop and they replaced the injector harness. said that it had gotten hot and almost burnt into. fixed the problem and now she runs like a charm..

[Bronconut]

Thx for the replies guys.