I recently purchased a 2003 F250, diesel with 123k on it. The truck came with an Airade intake, 4" straight piped exhaust w/no muffler or cats and a programmer. The truck was a local trade. I was hesitant at first then feel in love with it (so did my wife) since I've bought it the check engine light has come on twice; code P0272, P0275 and P0401. I drive the truck pretty easy, mostly highway and it will never see a drag strip. With this programmer it has Stock, Economy, Light trailer, heavy trailer and extreme. I've only used stock, economy and light trailer and noticed on light trailer its very responsive. To my knowledge this truck doesn't have any head work done. When i start the truck a small puff of blue smoke comes out the tail pipe (only seen that once) and it has a slightly rough idle but clears up quickly. I am curious as to what bullet proofing actually is, the cost and the down time. The truck is very clean and seems to have been taken care of. Reluctantly i ask, did i purchase a headache or are these issues small in comparison to others? Again I'm new to diesels, this site and hopefully this thread isn't too long.

 

The cost and downtime of BulletProofing really plays into how in depth you want to go and your level of mechanical skills...about $2500 for the basic (studs, gaskets, EGR, oil cooler and a few gauges) and a weekend if you have a good idea what you're doing and order all of the parts prior to even opening the hood...the same amount of work will run you close to triple that if you have the stealership do it and you'll have to give up your truck for at least a week. That price tag climbs rapidly if you do a remote oil cooler, bypass oil filter and FASS. The rough idle could likely be sticking injectors caused by FICM low voltage, or even an injector or 2 going bad. No matter what route you go PUT A COOLANT FILTER ON ASAP!!! (even if you plan on doing a full EGR delete and remote oil cooler, it will keep those coolers from clogging further while you get the money/parts ready)

 

Thank you for the response. I'll add a little more information. Yesterday i started the truck, the temp outside was roughly 40 degrees and the trucksounded like it had a cam in it and blowing blue smoke. i know that black smoke is unburned fuel...is the blue smoke oil? Fuel? I'm definitely buying the coolant filter first. That seems like an easy install. Again thank you. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

 

The blue smoke is oil likely coming through the seals on the injectors, once the engine warms up, everything expands and there-fore sealing the gap and stopping the blue smoke. As for the rough idle, I'm betting a sticking injector...but first check your FICM voltage. Here's a very easy to follow video.

 

Thank you!

 

Yes, have batteries load tested as well, then test FICM, and test it on a cold truck. Let us know what you find for FICM voltage.

 

I know my FICM is coming close to its last leg, she has rough starts about 3 or 4 times a month. She'll be i/o for a while while i'm in Guam so I'll take some leave and get the module sent the same time I send the turbo in

 

i notice you got a programer, exhaust and intake but no egr delete. i highly suggest it. when i got my truck it had a 3.5" turbo back and no egr delete and the egr went out at the most inconvenient time possible. and it if goes you take a chance warping the heads and warping studs.

my 2 cents

 

@dkapp, it was a sad day in the "Love's driveway" today as i pulled the egr valve out to clean it and noticed the carbon build up was not dry at all but in fact gooey. So I'm buying the egr delete kit, coolant filtration and train horns.

 

Navy?

Keith