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dumb question; where's the power in powerstroke

E

ericlb

Well-known Member
ive got a 99 ford truck im looking at, power stroke, 6 soeed manual and tow package, crew cab, this was the bosses wife's personal truck and its low mileage and not a mark in, or on it, drove it home last nite,now im used to my 12 valve cummins' pulling power, and im not impressed with this ford, i realize that a 1 ton crew cab, is a big heavy pickup, but my old dodge has way more power i think, now, i got to thinking im driving this like i drive my dodge, where is the powerband on these fords? maybe im not winding the engine up enough
 
It will never have much power. I would be willing to buy it so you not get stuck with it.
Really! e-mail is open.
Truck may have something wrong or just need a small computer adjustment. Set up right it will pull with the Dodge but will be lacking at an idle and low rpms just like the difference in gas inlines and V-8s
 
thats what i needed to know, i was shifting it up at 2300 , so i guess i was lugging it, the cummins pulls hard from about 1700, i'll drive it again, this truck is just about as perfect as it gets especially for the year, already had one stop by to see if i was selling it as i hadnt taken the sign off,
 
My 01 was a Ok. I will say to keep the mileage at anything decent you have to keep it BELOW 2000rpms. When I was pulling with it, I didnt worry about the mileage. My Duramax outpulled the Powerjoke by leaps and bounds, but unfortunetly it was stolen a couple of weeks ago. I miss that truck, but because I couldnt afford a new, or even a used one with about the same miles and features I had with the check from the insurance company, I ended up going back to a gasser. Oh, for the boards so call nuclear scientist, I was getting better mileage with my Duramax, than I am with this gasser.
 
The 99s have a smaller turbo, smaller intake, smaller injectors and different computer than 2000 models., my brother has a 99 I have a 2000, he said yours takes of faster with the trailer than mine does by itself, he looked into it and this is what he found, I think you can get a computer for a 2000 and it will help.
 
(quoted from post at 14:37:35 03/02/13) It will never have much power. I would be willing to buy it so you not get stuck with it.
Really! e-mail is open.
Truck may have something wrong or just need a small computer adjustment. Set up right it will pull with the Dodge but will be lacking at an idle and low rpms just like the difference in gas inlines and V-8s
Click to expand...


There isn't any computer adjustments that I'm aware of.
 
This may not be your problem at all. Had a good buddy that bought one new back in 99. He was very disappointed with how it would pull. Had it back to the dealer many times. They would check it all out and say it was fine. After owning it about 3 years he was telling his story to a guy that had one just about like it and he said I bet I know what is wrong with it. He had it fixed in 5 mins.It had a bug deflector on the front of the hood and somehow it was restricting the air flow to the engine. Took it off an it was a different truck. The dealership most likly checked it out with the hood up and it ran fine like that.
 

bug deflector on the front of the hood and somehow it was restricting the air flow to the engine

Now that's a new one....who wooda thunk!
 
(quoted from post at 14:58:45 03/02/13) The 99s have a smaller turbo, smaller intake, smaller injectors and different computer than 2000 models., my brother has a 99 I have a 2000, he said yours takes of faster with the trailer than mine does by itself, he looked into it and this is what he found, I think you can get a computer for a 2000 and it will help.
Click to expand...



Not all 99's have the smaller turbo/injectors and intake, only the early 99's do. The late 99's have the bigger injectors/turbo/IC tubes/intakes/Hpop.


ericlb Do you know if this truck is a late or early 99? If not, look in the door jam of the drivers side door, there should be a build date, then look on the drivers side valve cover for a date, and tell both dates and I can tell you.
 
Not to be mean, but... you found out that those trucks are a joke. My dad has one, a 99, and a my duramax will out pull it very easily, and even though i am no dodge guy, a cummins would too. Powerjokes just dont have any power, and they over rev due to the poor transmission. Sell it and look at a duramax, you will never look back!!
 
Just put a mild chip on it it'll be a whole different truck I love mine early 99 6sp I updated mine to a ball bearing turbo pulls great gets good mileage
 

Where do you live Eric? I would hate you see you get stuck with that. I could buy just so you wouldn't have to.
 
im in central nm, the asking price is 13000, and this one is worth the money, if i dont take it its yours
 

I have a 2k 7.3 6-speed , 4x4 crew so similar truck other than the possible e99 differences.

The meat of the torque curve is 1500 rpm to 2500 rpm, peak is at 2000 rpm

The turbo doesn't really kick hard to 2000 rpm and HP peaks almost at redline.

2000 rpm is the spot where torque has peaked and the HP curve goes from a steep climb to a gradual one.

I usually shift 1750 or so empty, 2000 loaded unless I need the extra power, then I'll pull to near redline, the truck REALLY wakes up above 2k.

2k in 6th gives you about 65 MPH. Only time I drop to 5th on the highway is if I want to pass going uphill loaded.
 
Get a chip or a programmer for it. It will really wake it up.
I have an Edge programmer for my '96. Have been satisfied with it. Thinkin bout upgrading, however. Heard awful good things about Gearhead Automotive Performance. They give free re-burns for life on their chips should you ever get bit by the bug for more power.

Don't listen to the guys who say the Powerstroke isn't a good engine. They're just trying to compensate for the fact that the pickup wrapped around their Cummmins is a POS...

Ben
 
Had a friend that complained of low power a month after he got it, turns out is was a simple fuel filter, cheap fix.
 
(quoted from post at 09:43:05 03/02/13) Not to be mean, but... you found out that those trucks are a joke. My dad has one, a 99, and a my duramax will out pull it very easily, and even though i am no dodge guy, a cummins would too. Powerjokes just dont have any power, and they over rev due to the poor transmission.[color=red:8250b266cd] Sell it [/color:8250b266cd]and look at a duramax, you will never look back!!
Click to expand...

You should listen Ericlb,tractormiallis is the only one smart enough to know you own the truck while the rest of us think you are only looking at it.
Buy somthing else and give me the lady's phone # so I can help her get rid of it.
 
Cummins definatly has more low end lug than the powerstroke. But your comparing apples to oranges with comparing a v8 to a straight 6 for pulling and torque. Powerstrokes are a more top end motor because so many people that drive diesels these days just use them to haul there trash or boats on weekends. 7.3 powerstrokes are good engines. I had a 97,01 and unfortunatly an 04 with a 6.0. Now I have a cummins. The dodge part is a sorry excuse for a truck so I own a cummins not a dodge. I had mauals in all my diesels till this dodge but Ill say that my fords all did a good job pulling my 25'gooseneck with my 4020 or my backhoe on it but the cummins does it alot better. Take the cummins out of the dodge and put it in a ford and that would be a heck of a work truck.
 
Eric, keep in mind your looking at a 1999 vehicle. Its 14 years old! Its priced accordingly for its age and miles! Just because GM finally has something that can play in the same sandbox as an old Ford doesn't mean these guys are comparing apples to apples. When it takes a new Duramax or Dodge/Cummins to pick on an old Ford tells you how good those trucks are.

As far as the bug deflector, maybe you should check that he didn't mean to say a bug screen. Some guys put a screen on the grill or behind it but ahead of the radiator either way. If its doing its job it may be plugged and blocking air flow.
 

Just wondering. I have a 2007 Dodge Cummins DRW. Only 57K miles on it. Bought it new. Most of those miles pulling GVW of 32,000 lbs. with 32' Goose Neck. I work for a company that used Fords for company vehicles for 15 yrs. Repair bills and worn out trucks before their time caused a switch to Dodges. Repair bills and longevity on the job has proven Dodges to reduce operating costs drastically since the switch. Individual ownership is much different than rough company ownership though. This is an oilfield service company with drivers going balls to the wall on lease roads while loaded way too heavy and pulling way too heavy trailers.
 
We have always had fords on the farm and had really good luck with them until I got my 6.0 and that pretty well ruined me. Still like the fords but I didnt want to buy a new truck with all the emission garbage and I couldnt find a good 7.3 to go with and the 5.4 gas motor is pretty sorry for pulling anything heavier than a car trailor so I went dodge. Love the cummins hate the truck. I just dont think its built as heavy or as good as ford. Cant speak for the newer dodges. If I ever do decide to get a new truck for the farm gonna go with a ford and the 6.2 gas. dont want all the emission garbage that comes with the new diesels.
 
Exhaust back pressure sensor is likely plugged and this will keep the turbo from being used. It also may have a air leak in the turbo hoses.

Put some BG diesel treatment in it and make sure the oil is kept changed.
 
I have to weigh in on this one. I own an 96 PowerStroke and these engines are diffrent than any outher diesel out there bar non! With that said hears the deal. An inline 6 will have more low end get up than a V8, But the V8 has more top end than the 6 so its hard to compare the two. The bug shield on a powerstroke will choke off the air supply like a dampper on a wood stove, Close it and the fire gose down open it and it roars! Same thing on the engine. The most fickle thing about a powerstroke is the engine oil, The Powerstroke uses oil pressure to run the high pressure pump so the oil used needs to be able to stand up to hydrolic pressure and tempature as well as to lubrocate the engine and have a good anti-foaming agent in it. So the oil is so importante in theses engines in order to run right. I am not going to say what oil to use because I am tired of being told that I am full of it and I dont know what I am talking about. I can tell you that if you put the oil for a new Cummins or Duramax in the Powerstroke it WILL NOT RUN RIGHT. Thats enough said about oil. With any engine it makes a big diffrence on how they were maintaned, Not just oil and filters. If you are realy interested in the truck take it to someone and have them hook it to a good code scaner for a diesel and have them run a full diagnostic check on it and see if there is anything wrong with it. As with any truck you look at its up to you to make up your mind. Bandit
 
I sould have asked this guestion, Was the engine stone cold or was it pluged in before you drove it? And was it very cold out? It makes a big diffrence on how they run when its cold out. I keep mine pluged in at night or it takes 8 miles to warm up good enough to run right. Bandit
 
Some model diesel pickups, and I think some years of Powerstroke are among them, electronically derate the engine in the lower gears to lessen wear / breakage the driveline.

Is it doggy in all gears, or just the lower ones ?
 
well i took it out again and drove it like i stole it, from 2000 rpm up it runs great, just nneded a driver i guess, bought it and sort of lost it all in one day the better half layed a eyeball on it and decided it was her new ride, here it is, if the pic workes, not a mark on it and its a 99, b&w turnover ball hardly used, [ i pulled it and looked, p/o greased it so it wasnt stuck in the bed] new lighted headache rack and tool box,updated grill and headlites, the originals were available to prove the truck wasnt repaired, interior looks brand new, not a mark on it, handles great no squeaks , or rattles underside looks clean, nothing dripping or seeping, hopefully i can swipe it once in awhile and drive it, its now the newest truck on my place year model wise
kristytruck.jpg
 
If you're used to a Cummins, and you think the Ford is down in power, why would you buy it? Why don't you go find another Dodge?
 

He likes the Cummins engine, but don't like the Dodge Truck. So he's gonna put his Cummins into this Ford and have the perfect truck. But his wife has claimed the truck for her's, So back to the drawing board..........
 
hay man has it, i love the old 12 valve cummings but the !@#$ truck is falling down around it, ive took care of this thing but the top of the dash has actually fell into the instrument panel, the heater controles are all gone the seats are worn out, the chrome on the grill is bubbling, ect if i could put that engine in my old 83 chevy id have something, ive owned fords before, so i guess ill try another
 
not quite back to the drawing board, lol ive still got 4 trucks, and and married guy knows if you make her happy you'll be happy too
 
That's in great shape, Good freakin score! Wow no rust. That twinkle from the bumper and grill says bleep u chevy! I love it.
 
nobody around here will turn loose of a decent one the few for sale are either kid owned and screwed up ie pimp wheels and semi stacks up thru the bed, or ranch trucks whose bodies resemble one of those old claw foot bathtubs
 
NOPE! Use your favorite 15-40 diesel oil in any Powerstroke in warm weather and in cold weather, 10-30 diesel rated oil makes them start easier. CJ-4 low ash has absolutely no effects on the high pressure oil system on any 7.3 or 6.0. Only no no on a HEUI system is Lucas Oil Additive. Lucas will affect starting and running until the oil is warm.
Brian jasper co. Ia, Your Ford Certified Diesel Engine Master, GM Certified Duramax Specialist, Chrysler/Cummins Certified Diesel Engine Tech.
 
The turbo is not smaller on the 99's, just different A/R. The split shot generation 7.3 got intercooled as well as a 1.00 A/R turbo. This means it will take longer to build boost but is less restrictive (potential to build higher max boost) than the 0.88 A/R turbos of the earlier 7.3. Both turbos use a trim ratio of 0.56 on the compressor.
 
Nice truck!!!!


This is coming from a Dodge/Cummins guy too.

Maybe you will get it back after she tries to park it close to the mall a few times.
 
Something's not right. I don't think a 99 has clear signal lenses but I could be wrong. I'm thinking they should be amber colored. If I had to guess I'd say you have an '03 model or it had front end damage and the lights were replaced with the newer style. Nice looking truck whatever it is!
 



Those are the wrong lights, but he did say the original lights etc were swapped for newer ones (Common Super Duty mod) and it came with the original lights etc. to prove it wasn't a wreck thing.
 
(quoted from post at 22:43:44 03/02/13) Something's not right. I don't think a 99 has clear signal lenses but I could be wrong. I'm thinking they should be amber colored. If I had to guess I'd say you have an '03 model or it had front end damage and the lights were replaced with the newer style. Nice looking truck whatever it is!
Click to expand...

The O/P said "updated grill and headlights".
 
the lights and grill were replaced 3 weeks ago just for looks, the originals are in the toolbox, undamaged but the lite lenses turned yellow as most due, i like these from lmc trucks better
 
Sorry I glanced over that bit of info. I was reading the picture and looking at the words. The reason I noticed is I wanted to do the same with my '01. It really makes them look better with the clear lenses. Looks like you got a good one.
 
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