Engine knock and diagnostics?

[tractorsam]

Hello all, I have a 2000 F-250 with the 7.3l and about 160000miles on the truck. A couple of weeks ago I started to hear (after some heavy trailering) a very slight knock (to the point where I wasn't sure if I wasn't just imagining it). Anyway it's now becoming noticeably worse, especially when cold. You can hear it at idle and under slight load but it's not yet audible at higher revs. It sounds fairly solid. The truck otherwise starts and runs great but a friend tells me it smells noticeably dieselly when following it (more so than it used to).

I was thinking about doing a cylinder cutout test to try and either determine or eliminate an injector issue. My local Ford dealers (either of them) can't look at the truck for at least a week. I am familiar with the process (I work on CAT truck engines) but I don't have the necessary software/hardware. Does anyone know where I can find the software to do diagnostic tests on this engine? (bearing in mind I'm up in Canada)

Thanks all, Sam

[JSchuricht]

Check you flywheel. I spent a week chasing a similar knocking sound on mine and eventually found the flywheel was in the process of becoming a doughnut. Maybe you will get lucky.

[TommyBoy#1]

is there a diesel shop in your area besides just ford call around see if someone can do a buzz and contribution test on the injectors usually people think they have an engine knock but it turns out to be a injector knock

[tractorsam]

There is only one place that I think might have the gear to be able to do the buzz test and the cylinder cutout test. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they have to say.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to either determine the cause of the problem or eliminate the fuel system as the cause of the knock with the computer. I was just wondering if, considering the wait at the Ford dealer, there was anywhere I could get the software/hardware I'd need to do these tests at home.

Thanks, Sam

[tractorsam]

Well, I phoned around today and nobody other than Ford can do the necessary tests. So it looks like I'm waiting till next week for Ford to fit me in . Sam