erratic idle and surge at very low speed
 

Wanted thoughts and opinions on this problem... My truck a month or so back started idling somewhat rough and would want to surge forward at red lights when stopped and on the brake. I changed oil and filters and added Rev X and the issues when away completely...for a month. Now after around 1000 miles they are resurfacing again along with somewhat of a surge in throttle at low speeds (around 5-10 miles and hour steady). I am thinking stiction in the injectors. Fuel additives dont seem help the issue, i have switched from XDP to REVX distance plus to Redline 85 etc... any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated. The truck is a 2003 F250 6.0, has 54,000 miles on it, was head studded, bulletproof diesel egr cooler'd, new oil cooler'd and turbo split and cleaned at Left Coast Diesel in Concord, CA just recently. No excessive black smoke, may be a little down on power at higher speeds but i am not positive because i am changing power programmer quite often.

This is a sensor issue, either ICP sensor I think, they had surge issues with this motor and I can't remember if they reflashed the computer or if they had to replace a sensor, it is common and very repairable, I'm sure someone else will chime in with the right fix. Bob

thanks bob for the input... check this update.. Added Redline 85 plus diesel fuel enhancer last night and today running smooth. The problem is intermitent so i'm not sure if it has actually stopped the idling problem, or if its just a good running day. I still want thoughts from anyone willing to respond. thanks

Intermittent issues like this are almost always electrical. It really needs to be hooked up to a scanner. If you added Rev-X and your problems went away though, it could be bad injectors as well. My guess is it's a combination of things at this point. Sticky injectors wont cause it to surge like that though, it will fall on it's face when injectors stick. If the spool valve is stuck and not moving, it's not spraying diesel in there correctly.

Just curious Mud.. You got plates on your truck like that? Something like Mudwizer? IM in W/C and see a truck wiht plates similair to that near daily. Been to left coast myself and so far they seem to have pretty good service. although I just bought Revx from them but I checked out the shop. But if ya take your truck to a dealer take it to Duprat in Dixon. Best service I have ever had from anyone. Went in about 3 weeks ago to have truck scanned for bad glowplugs. They replaced plugs and tested it. Found I had some bad injectors. Tested again and it ran rough so they went through the whole truck. Ended up replacing oil and egr coolers. glowplugs and injectors plus the harnesses. Reconditioned the turbo and a few other things. Thank god I still have my warranty.

Wish i could give ya some info for your surging problem.

no, im not running mudweiser plates... someone else. Cool to hear from someone in my area though... I'm out in Livermore. Trucks dark grey crew cab, 8"lift on 37's with black monster xds. Left coast has had the truck on scanner when this truck first started its sh*t. Nothing came up out of the ordinary, they said everything looked good, but could hear and feel the the stumbling idle. Thats when they recommended Rev X. It worked instantly. Today is day two with the Redline 85 plus fuel additive and still running smooth.... Im almost convinced its injector stiction now. But am still open to ideas. Thanks to the few that have responded. Wish I still had a warranty... Dumped about 11grand into the truck since December!

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

:s:

11 K? OUCH. Hope that redline stuff works out for ya. IM down in Livermore from time to time. have my 5th stored out there. So might have seen ya around. As for that other truck running some plates with Mudwizer or something. I think its a black or white F350. Ill probably see ti tomorrow during the mornhing comute. Oh and Welcome to Diesel Bombers!! Lots of great info here for these trucks.

Fuel additive and Rev-X oil additive are on two different sides of the injector. Rev-X is on the oil side, and is what will cure stiction. I've never had any fuel additive do that.

I don't know my self because I am new to the diesel world, but Im told the injector can stick on either side (oil side or fuel side) hence the redline is working. 4 days now and is still running smooth.

Update... still have occasional idle surging... happens a few times every couple of weeks... been running Amzoil diesel concentrate and Amzoil cetane boost with fill ups... Seems to help symptoms rather than running straight diesel... Anyhow, took truck twice now to Local diesel performance shop.... The did a balance test on the injectors etc... and don't see anything wrong...with anything. i have noticed no power loss. Boost is good. She chugs when put in drive and idling forward when cold started, otherwise runs great aside from idling rough every now and then. Surge at red lights in gear on the brake is starting again. No check engine lights, no DTC's found by STC programmer. What the hell is going on!!! Already running RevX