So my much-beloved '92 F150 with the 300 has been running more and more like garbage lately. It's been hard to start and has developed a part-throttle stumble that almost seemed like a miss and was making me nuts.

I pulled, checked out, and re-gapped all the plugs, checked plug wires, distributor, air filter, and was close to pulling the valve cover when it dawned on me: this truck has 179K, I've owned it for a little over a year, and I have no maintenance records. I wonder when the fuel filter was last changed?

I followed a write-up I found here on the forum and picked up a bunch of good tricks (like the inertia switch) and replaced the fuel filter.

It runs like a new truck. I'd like to check out the cat that may be minorly clogged and probably replace the entire cat-back since I'm probably losing a little power there as well, but as of right now I'm in love with my truck all over again. Six months ago I thought the engine needed a rebuild, but after just doing all the neglected maintenance stuff, I think it'll go another 200K.

Don't forget to change ALL your filters, even that one along the framerail under the truck.

 

Unfortunately a few too many go a long way with little or no maintenance.

 

Years ago, when I used to buy used vehicles, the first thing I would do was change all the fluids, filters, plugs, plug wires, and any other maintenance items that I could do. That way it would be like I started from zero. I've only bought new vehicles since my 1985 F150 (which I still have), the last one was my wife's 2005 Mazda 6 (which I also still have), and a 1995 Saturn SL (my daily driver). I like to keep my vehicles as long as possible, and do almost all of the maintenance myself.