Hybrid455
Full Access Member
Its been a long time since I found myself posting here. I've had this 86 F250 4x4 for probably 16 years. 14 or 15 years ago I pulled the tired 6.9 out and put a good 7.3 in it with an ATS Turbo. Its been a really great truck and I've done a lot of work on it.
A few weeks ago I went up to the Chama, NM to puchase a compact tractor and drag it back home. The elevation here at home is about 6,000 feet and its around 8,000 feet in Chama. There are a couple of pretty long and relatively steep grades. I didn't have any trouble on the way up empty but on the way back with the load the truck seemed low on power. I was using 3rd and 4th gear to engine brake down one of those grades when I noticed clouds of blue/gray smoke, no throttle just coasting and my heart sank. At the bottom of the hill it continued for a while but then under throttle the smoke seemed to clear up but it still seemed low on power. I got home and I haven't driven it since.I have my own ideas but I'm curious about what some of the gurus here think about it. Thanks in advance
A few weeks ago I went up to the Chama, NM to puchase a compact tractor and drag it back home. The elevation here at home is about 6,000 feet and its around 8,000 feet in Chama. There are a couple of pretty long and relatively steep grades. I didn't have any trouble on the way up empty but on the way back with the load the truck seemed low on power. I was using 3rd and 4th gear to engine brake down one of those grades when I noticed clouds of blue/gray smoke, no throttle just coasting and my heart sank. At the bottom of the hill it continued for a while but then under throttle the smoke seemed to clear up but it still seemed low on power. I got home and I haven't driven it since.I have my own ideas but I'm curious about what some of the gurus here think about it. Thanks in advance
