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Symptoms · 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)
6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present): ticking, knocking, rattle or whine
3 documented failures on this engine list this among their signs. They are ordered from the most widespread down. Each one shows the signs in its record's own words, how to tell it from the others, the usual fix and any recall or bulletin.
Not sure which engine you have, or want the recalls for your exact truck? Check your VIN: it names the engine and lists the campaigns for that model year. Whether a recall is still open on your VIN: nhtsa.gov/recalls.
verified
How widespread: Common
47 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- water pump weep or bearing growl, most common past 120,000 miles
Its other signs
- low coolant warnings or a slowly dropping degas-bottle level with no visible puddle (small end-tank seeps often evaporate on hot surfaces)
- sweet coolant smell after a drive, or white crust/dye staining along the radiator tanks and crossover tube
- rising coolant temperature while towing grades (points to a clogged/airbound system, not just a leak)
- elevated charge-air and transmission temperatures without a corresponding engine-temp spike - a SECONDARY circuit problem, easy to miss because the primary gauge looks normal
How to tell it apart
- a pressure tester and UV dye find nearly every leak on this platform - diagnosis is conventional
- check BOTH circuits - the secondary bottle is routinely ignored until it causes downstream symptoms (charge-air/trans-temp creep) nobody connects back to coolant
- treat repeated coolant loss seriously rather than topping off for months: chronic low secondary coolant cooks the intercooler (feeds Intercooler condensation ingestion + cold-side charge-pipe fatigue); chronic low primary coolant risks head-gasket damage on an engine that is otherwise unusually resistant to it (contrast this project's 6.0/6.4 head-gasket narrative, which does not transfer to the 6.7L's 6-head-bolt design)
Usual fix
replace the radiator; do hoses, cap, and thermostat(s) in the same job on a truck past 100,000 miles
Root cause, parts and sources →
aggregated
How widespread: Occasional
6 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
Its other signs
- a momentary shudder, stumble, or brief misfire on hard acceleration after extended light-load driving in humid weather, sometimes with a puff of white vapor from the exhaust
- visible oil-misted water at charge-pipe connections on inspection
- repeated misfire codes with no corresponding injector-balance fault
How to tell it apart
- pressure-test the charge-air circuit (system capped, soapy water or a smoke machine at the joints) BEFORE condemning the turbocharger for a P0299 - this is one of the most common non-turbo causes of that code on this platform
- owners frequently mistake the condensation-ingestion stumble for injector or transmission trouble - rule out a corresponding injector-balance fault first
- inspect the intercooler end tanks and boots at both ends for oil accumulation, which usually traces back to turbo seal seepage (VGT turbocharger failure - generation dependent (ceramic-bearing GT32 vs...) rather than this mode's own mechanism
Usual fix
replace a failed/split cold-side charge pipe with an upgraded unit
Root cause, parts and sources →
verified
How widespread: Occasional
5 NHTSA owner complaints match it, out of 1,754 checked
How it shows up
- gen1 (2011-2014): rising high-pitched whine/screech with engine speed, shaft play, oil consumption, blue-gray smoke, eventually wheel-to-housing contact
Its other signs
- gen2/gen3 (2015-present): underboost code P0299, overboost P0234, actuator fault codes P0045-P0048, sluggish spool without the bearing-failure noise signature
- loss of exhaust-brake-like power under load
- oil film or pooled oil in the charge piping (turbo seal transfer, vs normal light crankcase-vapor film)
How to tell it apart
- listen at cold start and under load: a healthy turbo whistles evenly; a rising screech or a note that changes pitch under load points at bearings (gen1 signature)
- with the intake tract opened, check compressor wheel shaft play - a small amount in/out is normal, side-to-side contactable play is not
- pressure-test the charge-air system BEFORE condemning the turbo for a P0299 - boost leaks (see Intercooler condensation ingestion + cold-side charge-pipe fatigue) mimic turbo failure convincingly on this platform
Usual fix
gen1 (2011-2014): replace with an updated steel-bearing turbo assembly, not another ceramic-bearing original-design unit
Root cause, parts and sources →
Other symptoms on the 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)
Hard start, long crank or no-startLoss of power, limp mode or derateWhite smoke from the exhaustLosing coolantOil leak, oil consumption or rising oil levelMisfire, rough idle, hesitation or surgingDEF, DPF and regeneration warnings
Everything on the 6.7 Power Stroke (2011-present)Its recalls and bulletins