Hey all,I have a 1999 Four Winds (Thor) 30Q on what I believe is an F53 chassis with the 6.8L V10. It has developed a loping idle and am undecided as to what to tackle first. There is no check engine light and there are no codes on the computer. When cold and warm will sometimes die right after started, but when running the idle lopes below 1000rpm. It just recently started during a trip up to Steamboat Springs, CO from Denver. I am wondering if the engine braking (sometimes up to 4500rpm) or running down a dirt road for about 9 miles might have gummed up the EGR valve? I have been doing some research on the symptoms on the net and while several point to the EGR valve, serval others indicate the IAC valve, plugs, wires, coils, bad fuel etc...I wanted to see if anyone on here might have had a similar issue and what your resolution was, or what some of you more mechanically inclined folk might think about it before I go throwing money at it for things that it might not need. Oh yea, I have about 32K on the motor and am about one year into being the 3rd owner on it.TIA for your input!Allen

If it runs good on the road but idles rough and sometimes stalls that sounds a lot like the EGR. Its a pain to get at but they sell a spray can of solvent that can clean the valve body. Carbon build up can be the cause. Sometimes running at highway speeds will burn it off. My Ford camper van was acting the same way last summer (all local short trip driving). After a day of 70mph on an Interstate it suddenly ran fine at idle. I still have the spray can somewhere but didn't have to use it.

I had a GMC Jimmy that the EGR kept getting clogged with carbon build-up. It would idle rough, then start to stall when stopped, then the check engine light would finally come on. At that point you had to use the brake & gas to keep it running. My DH would take the EGR out - use the air compressor and blow it out to clear the carbon out. That would last about 4-6 months and then he's do it over again. The service engine light always went right out after it was cleaned and it ran and idled just fine.

Thanks guys!I guess at the very least I'll have to pull that EGR valve and see if blowing it out will help. I did already pick one up, but at 120.00 I want to try and deduce if that is the most likely problem before I install it. Sounds at least like I'm on the right track. Thanks again gentlemen (and ladies)!

my 99 V10 had a similar problem.The egr valve was bad.It wasn,t clogged the diagphram was ruptered inside.I diagnosed by attaching a piece of vacumn line to the egr and sucking on it.There was no resistance.

Chock up another vote for the EGR. Thanks jy!

1999 Ford V10 Loping at Idle (Help) | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Qualcity
Explorer
Jun 09, 2013
Indeed!

For anyone else searching for this kind of issue, the parts I found at Napa and came to about $123.00 for the EGR valve and solenoid. Took less than an hour to replace.
427435
Explorer
Jun 09, 2013
Yeah, the V10 really is smooth at idle!!!
Qualcity
Explorer
Jun 08, 2013
Well I finally got a chance to replace the EGR valve and related solenoid ans she purrs like a happy kitten. WOOT!
Thank you all for the great advice! You all make this place the great site that it is!

Kind Regards,

Allen
Qualcity
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Will do.
Thanks for the tip Randy!
randallb
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Pull the intake boot, hold open the throttle and clean the sludge off the walls of the throttle body. Also pull the idle valve and if it is dirty clean the slide. If the throttle body is restricted enough the idle valve starts to over compensate and ends up oscillating.
Randy
Johnny_G1
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Do you guys know how much it cost to get a lope at idle, hundreds of $$$ and a 3/4 Race cam shaft, those were the good ole days.
Qualcity
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Thanks Scott! Hopefully it is the EGR, and if its not, you all will be one of the first to know. :-)
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Qualcity,
Our previous coach, a '99 Fleetwood Bounder 34V with the F-53 and V-10, also "loped" at times at idle. And, it to would lope so bad that once in a while, it would lope itself right OFF! I'd have to do a re-start. But, it would only do it once in a while. Now, what did we do about it, nothing. It would lope, then, later in the day, it would idle smooth as glass. Then, on Tuesday at, 3:42:03, it would lope again! So, there was no rhyme or reason. If we would have kept it, I'd have done what you're doing and find out some possible causes. Sorry, can't be of help. Only to let you know that it happens to other folks too.
Scott
Qualcity
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Chock up another vote for the EGR. Thanks jy!
jy
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
my 99 V10 had a similar problem.The egr valve was bad.It wasn,t clogged the diagphram was ruptered inside.I diagnosed by attaching a piece of vacumn line to the egr and sucking on it.There was no resistance.

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1999 Ford V10 Loping at Idle (Help)

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