Turbo guidance needed

[oldbuck]

Have a stock '07 F250 6.0 with BPD oil cooler installed. Truck has 109k miles on it.

Started it up the other day and it threw a P0299 turbo underboost DTC (Love my CTS!)

Took the truck out and hammered it as hard as possible on a 20 mile loop. Initially turbo was only getting up to 12lbs boost, but by the end of the trip was hitting 24 - 26.

Now when rolling along at 70mph the turbo sits at 0lbs boost (per dash & CTS guages). Under slight acceleration to maintain speed it'll come up to 1 or 2lbs. It will hit mid 20's under hard acceleration, but it seems like it just doesn't want to spin up unless I demand it ;-)

I'm guessing this means my turbo is on it's last legs?

Worth reconditioning or should I just replace it with 100k miles on it?

For a stock motor is the garrett GT3788VA the best unit to install? I'm looking for reliability, not performance.

tia!
-dave

[colo_dually]

You're turbo could be going out by a few different things. I would first verify that you don't have a boost leak of any type.

You have an '07, so I would avoid a Pmax at this point due to the need to dial in tuning.

What I would recommend for an upgrade is MTW Stage 1 (formerly the Durastroke). Excellent drop in replacement turbo for those not seeking performance gains, good improvement of response and fuel mileage. For reliability, these are being used hard by a trucking outfit in TX, with 30K on their Durastroke - zero issues, and they use the trucks to tow full DOT weights most of the time.

[SCUFFY828]

i would consider pulling the turbo and pull it apart and check and see if its sticking before just buying a turbo,may be fine with a good cleaning,and inspection

[SICKS-O]

sounds like the vanes are sticking. i would pull the vgt solenoid first and check the tip to see if its coked up, if it is clean it.

[colo_dually]

I forgot to mention the cleaning and operational checks first, in my initial post, along with the boost and exhaust leaks.

[oldbuck]

Thx guys! Not sure it helps any, but according to the CTS VGT%, it idles at ~75%. When driving 45mph - 65mph it varies from 55% - 65% with boost varying from 0 - 6lbs and under wot (on an incline from a standing start) I got 34% VGT and 27lbs boost.

Anything else I can look at in the CTS to help troubleshoot this, or just tear into the turbo and start cleaning?

Is there a technique to check for exhaust leaks? I can't imagine I could hear a leak with all the other racket going on under the hood...

-d

[SICKS-O]

when the up pipe bellows crack the leak is pretty noticable. at first it will be a high pitch whistle, the more they crack the noise turns into a big hissing sound.

75% at idle is a little high. an egr valve that is stuck open or opening to far can cause boost problems and high vgt percentage.

[oldbuck]

Thx sicks-o - I don't have any abnormal sounds that I can detect - nothing like hissing or whistling. Would it be present at idle or do I need someone in the cab givin her some throttle while I listen outside? Sounds like a really dumb question...

I replaced my EGR valve when I installed the BPD kit about 4k miles ago - doesn't mean it couldn't have gone bad in me I guess.

thx again for your help,
-d

[oldbuck]

Digging around putting together a parts list to clean my turbo - Am I on the right track here?

Qty 1 - 03-07 Ford 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel Turbo Re-Install Hardware Kit from Ford Motor Company [3C3Z-9T514-AJ]

Qty 2 - 3M/2 in. grinding sanding and finishing kit (03050NA) | | AutoZone.com (use one arbor @ 2", grind the 2nd arbor down to <1")

Instructions: DTS Articles - Turbocharger Reconditioning

[SICKS-O]

the hardware kit is good to have. that 3m kit may be a little to big in diameter to clean the turbine housing. i recommend a wire wheel you can use on a high speed drill or die grinder.