Sputtering/Surging

[NedKelly]

Happy Saturday, everyone! I did a search for the title, but I couldn't really find a pervious post that covers my issue. Yesterday, my truck started sputtering/surging while we were driving and persisted until we arrived back home. I went out later in the day and started it and it wasn't doing it at that time. I started the truck this morning and it wasn't sputtering/surging, so I thought maybe it was a fluke. However, after driving for a while, it started doing it again and has persisted. It doesn't do it during WOT, however. So, as far as I can tell, cold start and WOT aren't affected. There is no CEL either. I was hoping extended driving today would throw a code if there was a problem. No changes in fueling station or habits either. 57K on the truck as of this morning. All help is appreciated. Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[RangerBill]

Happy Saturday, everyone! I did a search for the title, but I couldn't really find a pervious post that covers my issue. Yesterday, my truck started sputtering/surging while we were driving and persisted until we arrived back home. I went out later in the day and started it and it wasn't doing it at that time. I started the truck this morning and it wasn't sputtering/surging, so I thought maybe it was a fluke. However, after driving for a while, it started doing it again and has persisted. It doesn't do it during WOT, however. So, as far as I can tell, cold start and WOT aren't affected. There is no CEL either. I was hoping extended driving today would throw a code if there was a problem. No changes in fueling station or habits either. 57K on the truck as of this morning. All help is appreciated. Thanks!

Is it doing the problem at light throttle about 30 -40 mph? If so, there are many posts on the problem being the EGR DPFE (differential pressure sensor) being bad. It is easy and fairly inexpensive to replace yourself. See this thread:
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/bucking-surging-epidemic.14581/

 

[NedKelly]

Is it doing the problem at light throttle about 30 -40 mph? If so, there are many posts on the problem being the EGR DPFE (differential pressure sensor) being bad. It is easy and fairly inexpensive to replace yourself.

I saw those posts, but I can feel mine definitely in the light throttle and low speed range, but it also feels like there is a sputter/surge at around 2000RPM doing about 75MPH and at idle.

 

[RangerBill]

I saw those posts, but I can feel mine definitely in the light throttle and low speed range, but it also feels like there is a sputter/surge at around 2000RPM doing about 75MPH and at idle.

Possibly a spark plug issue. Some have had water collect in the spark plug wells, causing misfires.

 

[mre]

What octane rated gas are you guys running?

 

[NedKelly]

What octane rated gas are you guys running?

I run 91 Octane usually from my local Shell or Valero station. When I'm at work away from home, I run 93 Octane from the Chevron station near our quarters.

 

[NedKelly]

Possibly a spark plug issue. Some have had water collect in the spark plug wells, causing misfires.

I considered plugs, but it doesn't miss at cold start or on WOT. I do believe I will throw some money at the sensor and see what happens. I just wish it would throw a code so it could be checked out.

 

[mre]

I live in Florida. Think heat and suffocating humidity. When I bought the truck I used 87. Though I did "know" the truck very well, something felt off. Summer came around and I started experiencing what you are experiencing, though I believe to a lesser degree. I change to 93, which is what is offered around my location, and those symptoms disappeared. As an added bonus, there was a improvement performance and an in mileage.

 

[VAMike]

I considered plugs, but it doesn't miss at cold start or on WOT. I do believe I will throw some money at the sensor and see what happens. I just wish it would throw a code so it could be checked out.

just assume the sensor is bad, replacing it is quicker and easier than eliminating it as a possibility

 

[Msfitoy]

Your tranny's about to explode...

 

[NedKelly]

just assume the sensor is bad, replacing it is quicker and easier than eliminating it as a possibility

So I received the sensor, changed it out, and have the same results. Cold start/cold idle and WOT exhibit no sputtering/surging/acting like it is going to die issues and cruising/stopping/warm idling do. I also did a check on my service history and saw that I had them change the plugs about 17K miles ago when I installed my tune. Any other thoughts or advice are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[davenet2]

Aug 14, 2024. I had surging problems at low speeds and almost always when in reverse. I took it to the shop and had them replace that DPFE sensor along with the 2 hoses. It's fixed, runs great. Probably could've done it myself, seems simple, but I wanted a diagnostic done, just to be safe.

 

[NedKelly]

Update - Truck is currently at a dealership and they are working on it for internal codes that don't throw a CEL and they brought Ford Corporate into the mix. They gave it back to me once after changing out the EGR valve (under warranty), but that didn't fix the issue, so it's back with them once again.

 

[NedKelly]

The dealer just texted me and advised that the Tech stated that I need the EGR Tube and Gaskets changed. The quote I got was 1040.41 plus tax. This is a chunk of change for what hopefully isn't a fishing expedition. Has anyone had this work performed before that can comment on that quote?

Sponsored