Help! Mess of problems.

[SethB]

I am no mechanic but am mechanicaly inclined.

anyway, 1989 F-350, 7.3 IDI
Torque converter locks and unlocks randomly
blows black smoke like a freight train (terrible fuel mileage)
and I think I am forgetting something here. I Will edit later

It has low compression, The engine is tired, due to previous owners overloading and abusing.

Does anyone have any advise for me? Are these issues related?
My end goal is to fix the torque converter locking problem, and limit the smoke a little. It will just be a daily beater, but this is pretty bad.

Thanks!

 

[Macrobb]

Honestly, if you can afford to replace the IP and injectors, you'll make a huge difference in power and smoke.

 

[gnathv]

Do you have compression numbers?

 

[Thewespaul]

Seth, the torque converter acting like that can be caused by an issue in your brake light circuit. Make sure all lights are working including the third brake light. Led lights are known to cause this issue.

For the smoke, make sure your air filter is clean and unrestricted. Most likely the pump has been turned up a bunch, so you can try turning the fuel down with the fuel screw, but it won’t fix a worn out engine.

 

[chris142]

My truck plugs air filters quickly. Is yours new?

 

[SethB]

Do you have compression numbers?

they were all around 300.

 

[SethB]

Seth, the torque converter acting like that can be caused by an issue in your brake light circuit. Make sure all lights are working including the third brake light. Led lights are known to cause this issue.

For the smoke, make sure your air filter is clean and unrestricted. Most likely the pump has been turned up a bunch, so you can try turning the fuel down with the fuel screw, but it won’t fix a worn out engine.

Thanks for the input, I will go though and test the lights, and replace the filter for starts.
Thanks!

 

[genscripter]

they were all around 300.

How did you conduct a compression test?

 

[SethB]

How did you conduct a compression test?

compression tester from amazon, via injector ports.

 

[SethB]

replaced the air filter, it wasn't that bad but made a huge difference in performance. The smoke is still the same, but i have gained power. next is the locking and unlocking issue.