OK, I'm just a dumb girl and I don't know much about trucks. ;-) I bought a 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke a few months ago and just started pulling my 3 horse trailer with it. Sometimes when I am going uphill, in drive, not overdrive, my truck makes this wierd sound like it's downshifting but it's not. At least the RPMs are not changing and it doesn't loose power. It just sounds strange. Is this normal? Someone said it might be the turbo kicking in??? It's kind of like a surging sound but the truck doesn't surge. I know I am making no sense. Any advice?
Posted 2005-06-11 4:25 PM (#26380 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by barrelsnpcs on 2005-06-11 4:08 PM
OK, I'm just a dumb girl and I don't know much about trucks. ;-) I bought a 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke a few months ago and just started pulling my 3 horse trailer with it. Sometimes when I am going uphill, in drive, not overdrive, my truck makes this wierd sound like it's downshifting but it's not. At least the RPMs are not changing and it doesn't loose power. It just sounds strange. Is this normal? Someone said it might be the turbo kicking in??? It's kind of like a surging sound but the truck doesn't surge. I know I am making no sense. Any advice?
Sounds like,,,
could be,,,
The turbo winding up.
I'm not familiar with that model, but if it sounds a bit like a vacuum cleaner starting up - that could be it.
Another possibility is the fan clutch starting to lock, but that usually takes some temperature rise, i.e. not just a hill but a long climb in warm/hot weather.
Posted 2005-06-11 5:58 PM (#26386 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456 Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS
Usually the turbo makes a high pitched sound. Do you have a tow/haul option on the tranny? We have a '04 Dodge turbo and it will downshift on it's own when using the tow option. Probably the same thing with a Ford.
Posted 2005-06-11 7:23 PM (#26387 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Florida/Georgia
Turbos on diesel engines generally start to kick in ( produce boost ) around 1400-1600rpm. What you might be hearing is the turbo wastegate opening up. The wastegate vents out excess pressure ( boost ) from the turbo which usually occurs at higher rpm's pulling heavy loads. Now I don't hear it much on my 7.3 but the 5.9 Cummins in my F-800 does it alot
Posted 2005-06-11 9:51 PM (#26390 - in reply to #26387) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Veteran
Posts: 108 Location: TX
BillW
It seems like it happens more at around 2400-2500 RPMs. Usually when I am going up an incline for quite a while. I put it in the shop thinking it was my transmission and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Maybe what I hear is normal for a diesel. ??
Posted 2005-06-11 10:13 PM (#26391 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Florida/Georgia
I'm no expert but I'd think what your hearing is the wastegate opening and bleeding off excess boost pressure, depending on your load/driving conditions this could be normal. Click the link below, its a site for Ford Diesel trucks,its got a great forum which could help answer your question better.
Posted 2005-06-12 4:03 AM (#26393 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
If I were to guess I would say fan clutch, you say you hear it pulling a long grade. Engine is building enough heat to engage the fan clutch. Might want to check hoses going to aftercooler, they have a tendacy to work loose, hose connections need to be clean of oil, if not, no matter how much you tighten them they will leak or blow off. Still, my guess is fan clutch, let us know what you find.
Posted 2005-06-12 8:44 AM (#26394 - in reply to #26390) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by barrelsnpcs on 2005-06-11 9:51 PM
BillW
It seems like it happens more at around 2400-2500 RPMs. Usually when I am going up an incline for quite a while. I put it in the shop thinking it was my transmission and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Maybe what I hear is normal for a diesel. ??
What retento said...
"Usually when I am going up an incline for quite a while" is the clue.
On my D-Max it will someTIMES happen just as I clear the brow of such a long incline and the trans is about finding 5th again while I'm backing off the loud pedal. It can be a bit disconcerting to hear this fairly sudden rush of air.
This MIGHT also explain why the shop can't find anything wrong with the trans - incompetence being the other likely reason.
If it sounds like the other adult in your life has just started to vacuum clean in the room next to you - most likely the fan clutch. Those of us who do ALL the vacuuming, or whose houses are never vacuumed probably have never heard this sound from a room away (-:
Posted 2005-06-12 12:40 PM (#26402 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
I'm with Retento and Reg.....My Dodge does it. Turbo boost gives out a whine or whistle...and stays realative to the rpm Turbo whine doesn't change much unless the rpm varies. It sound to me like fan roar. It sounds like a fan pushing lots of air . The newer vehicles are electronicly controlled. When the operating temperature rises for any reason it will engage the fan to help cool the system. At 1900 rpm it will make noise!
Posted 2005-06-12 2:29 PM (#26405 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Florida/Georgia
xyzer
I wasn't talking about turbo whine, I was talking about the turbo WASTEGATE, and its obvious you guys have not heard a wastegate on a 7.3 open before, its not a whine its a whooshing sound!
Posted 2005-06-12 2:41 PM (#26407 - in reply to #26405) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Bill W on 2005-06-12 3:29 PM
xyzer
I wasn't talking about turbo whine, I was talking about the turbo WASTEGATE, and its obvious you guys have not heard a wastegate on a 7.3 open before, its not a whine its a whooshing sound!
i know what youre talking about. although the op said it happens when climbing a hill, so unless she released the throttle (which would be a strange thing to do while actually climbing the hill) i dont know if that is what it would be.
Posted 2005-06-12 5:16 PM (#26414 - in reply to #26391) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Veteran
Posts: 108 Location: TX
Originally written by Bill W on 2005-06-11 10:13 PM
I'm no expert but I'd think what your hearing is the wastegate opening and bleeding off excess boost pressure, depending on your load/driving conditions this could be normal. Click the link below, its a site for Ford Diesel trucks,its got a great forum which could help answer your question better.
I checked out the other forum. Here's what is happening, (someone described it exactly):
"If it sounds like it downshifts but the RPMs do not change, the first thing I would think is the fan clutch. When it kicks in it is loud (sounds like a downshift or a small jet under your hood) and if you aren't ready for it you will almost jump out of your seat (at least I do because I don't here it that often)."
It does sound like a jet engine under the hood and YES, I do jump out of my skin!
Posted 2005-06-12 5:24 PM (#26415 - in reply to #26408) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Bill W on 2005-06-12 4:00 PM
Chadsalt/xyzer..or whoever
The throttle does not have to be closed for the wastegate to open
true, but i didnt say it had to be. yes it will "waste" pressure any time it goes over a predetermined psi, however it would just be most noticeable if the throttle was released. if we are talking about the same piece, isnt it also known as a "pop off valve". popping off excess turbo pressure as the engine load decreases/throttle is lifted etc. thanks, but i dont need an auto/diesel tech class. and it looks like the op got her answer.
Posted 2005-06-12 6:25 PM (#26422 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
You all play nice, If she keeps this vehicle for a while she'll know more about these trucks than all of us put together. If you don't think so, go ask your wife, girlfriend or even your Ma Ma. Tomorrow is a monday, get some rest. BYE.
Posted 2005-06-12 7:29 PM (#26424 - in reply to #26422) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by retento on 2005-06-12 7:25 PM
You all play nice, If she keeps this vehicle for a while she'll know more about these trucks than all of us put together. If you don't think so, go ask your wife, girlfriend or even your Ma Ma. Tomorrow is a monday, get some rest. BYE.
Posted 2005-06-13 1:03 AM (#26436 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by barrelsnpcs on 2005-06-11 2:08 PM
OK, I'm just a dumb girl and I don't know much about trucks. ;-) I bought a 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke a few months ago and just started pulling my 3 horse trailer with it. Sometimes when I am going uphill, in drive, not overdrive, my truck makes this wierd sound like it's downshifting but it's not. At least the RPMs are not changing and it doesn't loose power. It just sounds strange. Is this normal? Someone said it might be the turbo kicking in??? It's kind of like a surging sound but the truck doesn't surge. I know I am making no sense. Any advice?
"Dumb girls" don't ask good questions! The key piece of information you gave is you maintained a steady rpm pulling a hill. As you can see here there are two posible reasons for this "noise"! Some of us vote "fan" and others vote "wastegate" The fan will activate if there is a tempeture rise maybe due to long pull or sitting in traffic, and the waste gate will open if the maximum factory set Turbo boost is exceeded. Would we all agree it takes more RPM to get more Boost? The good news I can see here is neither is a concern! If it does not over heat and the wastegate is working it ain't broke!
Hmmm and she figured it out for herself and she now knows what a wastegate is!
Posted 2005-06-13 7:53 AM (#26440 - in reply to #26379) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I heard the samething yesterday coming home from a show in my Ford PSD. Hot, humid day, going up hills and rather long, uphill grades. Now I have done this trip before ( only an hour and half form home) but this time I did hear the fan kick on. I am assuming it was due to the heat + terrain. Glad to read this thread....
Posted 2005-06-13 1:04 PM (#26459 - in reply to #26440) Subject: RE: Turbo kicking in,...
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Palmdale, CA
I vote for the fan. When I first got my truck, the noise worried me too. It usually happens on long grades. Watch your temp gauge for movement, when it starts to creep up, stand by .
Turbo kicking in,...
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