Got a call today from Dealer saying truck is ready. He said they applied some update released last month (I don't have specifics yet) regarding the missing/shudder and not holding my breath on that as obviously it's not a known fix. They found some sensor in the steering column reading 28 degrees off center when steering wheel was centered and claim that was the culprit for the "Service AdvanceTrac" fault. And last but not least my brake controller is faulty. Aside from the above issues my truck fell on it's face on Easter with family in truck. Took off from a stop sign onto two-lane road ...truck went about 10 feet and basically lost all power for about 3-5 seconds. Had my foot the floor and nothing ...it was like it died but was still running. Wife was yelling at me asking "wtf are you doing!?" as an oncoming car was approaching quickly from around a corner ...then truck magically regained all power and took off like a scalded cat. Out of anything that's happened thus far that freaked me out the most. It was dry, overcast about 60 degrees here in sunny Oregon LOL

 

Who wants to be the first to try an aftermarket intercooler and piping? If Ford hangs us all out to dry this might be a viable option. Not that I wan to spend one cent fixing their engineering.

 

I'm more than a bit confused here? If the issue is condensation in the IC, why would they want you to "punch it about every 200 miles?" Where do they think all this water is coming from anyhow? Punching it just adds to the problem. More pressure from the turbos=more condensation from the compressed air! A little analytical thought would suggest that a very light right foot would help the problem, not the opposite.

 

Ok, thanks. Let us know how "The Planet" does?

Also, what is the build date of your truck? And do you know if the Feb 15th TSB is in the truck? That software update is supposed to have better software so that it can capture misfire codes........apparently trucks built before Feb 7th or so? do not have "good enough" software to capture the misfire in memory.

I have another hi-way trip to Dallas and Back the first of next week. With only 2700 miles on it this is the results from 4 trips:

Trip 1 - Condensation overload - loss of power

Trip 2 - Extreme Condensation overload - major loss of MPGs as well. At steady state 60mph and zero wind on flat ground it would not get over 17MPG......the average was 16.5mpg for over 150 miles.

Trip 3 - Condensation overload - Crazyazz Surging (turbos blowoff bypass poo chu poo chu etc.)

Trip 4 - Excellent MPGs - very high speed and strong head winds - only had one bubble on that trip getting back on the highway....thought I had a tire going bad (front left).......after a lot of shaking, it all smoothed out when I punched to 85mph. That whole trip to Dallas and Back was 22mpgs and I stayed about 7mph above the posted limit and that was 30mph headwind.

The TSB has NOT been applied to my truck because "My Dealer" says it does not exist.

 

I will check my build date however I do have the latest PCM update according to 5 star. The service rep at 5 Star said the 12-2-2 (I think this is the tsb #) didn't apply for my truck due to build date.

 

Actually I think you have a lot of that backwards. Try several googles on Condensation, dew point, humidity, intercooler. You should find this has been an engineering issue/problem for over 100 years. Both Ford and GM have recent new patents on this issue……..so they are aware of the problem; however all that engineering expertise has “not” been applied to the F150. I can see “no” condensation traps on my truck unless it is hidden inside the CAC?

Constant steady state driving builds condensation in the intercooler. The further you drive the worse it gets. This only happens as ambient temperature and dewpoint approaches each other. This is why Ford Dealers have no way to test for it. This is also why it is so frigging critical to have “real world” testing of a vehicle – a critical step Ford did not bother with. AFAIK that type of climate driving cycle has “not” been duplicated in a lab.

I only have to punch my truck when it is getting overwhelmed with condensation. It is not mileage dependent issue. It is driving environment cycle climate dependent issue.

Hope that helps with the explanation.

 

Yes do check your build date (driver door sticker). I think the so called cut off for the TSB was trucks built before 2/7/2012...........but I may be wrong about that.

 

I know what you're saying here and agree to a point. My point was punching it won't help anything, it'll make things worse. The more you compress any air with the turbos, either humid or dry, the more water you're going to ring out of it. Punching it won't get rid of the water, that only lifts it up and into the engine and you now have the problem we're talking about here, a dangerous engine bog. Only draining it or preventing it from entering the engine via a trap or some such will avoid the problem.

 

I think that is what Ford wants. For the engine to get rid of the water. Can't hurt right?!?!?!?!?!

 

Possibly one of the best places to learn more about this issue is in the marine industry. Intercoolers and Superchargers with high powered engine running close to the water surface will often create the conditions of excessive condensation (dewpoint and ambient are very close).

Punching (goosing) the Ford Ecoboost is the only way that I know of to clear excessive water. And yes, just like a marine engine it could cause Hydrolock (something else to google).

If my truck goes into Hydrolock (or some other intercooler water created problem), at least I am getting a new truck.

How much water can the Ecoboost can take? I have no idea. 1 cup of water under conditions that cause the problem should be no problem for the engine at all. IMO just normal engine operation should be able to handle 1 cup of water at all times. If you look at the first bend of the CAC after it leaves the intercooler you can guesstimate that over 3 cups of water can become an issue that affects engine performance. IMO more than 3 cups of waters begins to close off the CAC.

So if you are going down the hiway steady state 60 mph long distances with more than 3 cups of water at the bottom of the CAC, and the engine is gasping for air (water blockage), punching it is the only way to get the water out.