You could always try spraying carb cleaner around the intake manifold and the vac lines to see if it idles up. Also i think a vacuum gauge would show that you have low vac due to leaks.
If you have a Harbor Freight around, a decent gauge is about $15. Just bought one a while back myself.
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Tim
C'mon down and join the fun in the Mississippi Chapter!!
1983 F-150 4x2 LWB 300 T-18 4spd
I use an unlit propane torch to check suspected areas. Much less messy and safer than using liquids.
regards
rikard
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Present-1995 Black F150 SC XLT 300 5 Spd
Past-1994 Red F150 SB XL 300 5 Spd
1983 Red F150 SB XL 302 AOD
1962 USPS 2.5 ton stepvan converted camper
223 3 speed DRW
1956 Red F100 Ma Bell uility bed 223 3 Spd
hook up a vaccume guage. if needle wavers back and fort about 1lb, you have a vaccume leak. steady needle no leak. find the leak by spraying brakeclean on all surfaces, if idle rises, you found your leak
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cool guys thanks how much do you think a vacuum leak could effect fuel mileage and power, truck still has good power but 12mpg max isnt even close to what other 6s get
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PROJECT and DD---95 ford f150 4x4, 300 INLINE SIX!, 5speed, SAS, 4" lift, 35x13.50 ground hawgs (sooner or later)
PARKED---91 ford f150 lariat, 302 v8, auto, 2wd, rust
PARKED---92 ford f150 xl ext. cab short bed, dual tanks, 302 v8, auto, 2wd, LOUD!, very little rust!
yeah i did the wires plugs and timing but i will do all that stuff again just because i can and im bored, full out tune up/ rebuild in the works. thanks again
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PROJECT and DD---95 ford f150 4x4, 300 INLINE SIX!, 5speed, SAS, 4" lift, 35x13.50 ground hawgs (sooner or later)
PARKED---91 ford f150 lariat, 302 v8, auto, 2wd, rust
PARKED---92 ford f150 xl ext. cab short bed, dual tanks, 302 v8, auto, 2wd, LOUD!, very little rust!
I hate to sound redundant because I'm known as the "exhaust" man, but I know your 300 has well over 200K miles..Have your cats ever been replaced? If not, I would put a three-way cat on the list. You will gain a few horse, nothing impressive, but your butt dyno will feel it. I know mine did anyway.
i know people that smoke will take a good puff of a ciggarrette and then unhook one vacuum line and breath out into it, if the smoke comes out somewhere else then thats where the leak is.
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