Need help!! How to set timing on Powerstroke

[JL penner]

I have a buddy with 95 powerstroke... ..... I don't know a whole lot about it, other than it's been rode hard and put away wet. The truck idles and runs rougher than anything I've ever been in. I know it shouldn't do that. I would think that the timing would be off, but aren't these truck computer controlled? Is there a way to check or set the timing? He's a little short on cash so we're trying to find a shade tree way of fixing the truck if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Oh and by the way, I told him the best way to fix it was to park it in front of the Dodge dealership and pick out a new truck, but the whole "short on cash" thing kinda gets in the way. .



Thanks for any help,

JL

 

[Scrappy]

rough idle

Does it smooth out at higher rpms? if so , the IPR (injection pressure regulater) might be bad . it might be the high pressur injector oil pump also. the IPR controlls the oil pressure that operates the injectors and are known to cause these symptoms.

 

[JL penner]

Thank you, we'll check those things out.



JL

 

[GerryDrake]

Check the oil level

Had one... a 95 in fact. The engine oil is used to fire off the injectors, and if you run a couple of quarts low (about 1. 75 quarts with mine) it gets air or 'foaming' and results in irregular fuel delivery. Mine did that twice and I added oil and it stopped. Kind of a nice feature that the engine won't run without oil because you'll lose fuel delivery... About the ONLY nice thing about that truck that I traded in on my CTD. .

 

[bmoeller]

What brand off oil are they running? You need one with lots of anti-foaming agents, like Rotella T 15-40 or Delo 400. If the oil foams at all, it will run like crap.



Plus, what Scrappy said.



What kind of shape are the grommets and/or wiring harnesses for injectors in? Some of the early engines had trouble with getting rubbed through. Same goes for the glow-plug wiring.



How old is the fuel filter?



Could have a bad injector or two. You can electronically shut down one cylinder at a time to see if one of the injectors is bad.

 

[EBottema]

I told him the best way to fix it was to park it in front of the Dodge dealership and pick out a new truck



Thanks for any help,

JL

Would not be a bad choice, but the best choice would be to get to trade up to a 94 non powerjoke or maybe a cummins 12v? Wouldnt life be great :-laf



Ya, check the oil like mentioned, he might have a bad IPR (internal pressure regulator). Thats the device that increases oil pressure to the injectors to activate them. Usually people that don't change their oil have problems with them since the IPR valve gets clogged and sticks. Replace it, how many miles on the engine again? But your right also, get rid of that thing