Probably taking the leap...

Congrats on the purchase. That is a nice truck for sure. You're going to love it. Just be prepared for the onset of PMS.....(Powerstroke Mod Syndrome). It hits hard about 2-3 weeks into ownership.
It ran great on the way home. I've never driven anything like it. No matter how steep the grade it just chugged along at 2k rpm - never downshifted once and that was through Cumberland Gap in southern KY and the Pisgah gap in western NC. Still got about 16 mpg.
Here are my initial questions:
1. It stumbles a little when you are off the accelerator and then ease back on when running down the highway. i suspect it needs a fuel filter so I will start there but any other advice appreciated.
2. I have a little fuel in the valley and it looks like it is coming from the two lines by the GPR - I think that it the fuel pump, but again not sure. Are those just parts I get at Ford? Hard to change? They just look old.
3. Brake light is coming on occasionally. I don't think it is the E-brake as the wheels aren't hot and it moves freely. Feels like i might be losing some vacuum especially in city-like driving. It doesn't stay on long and only happens occasionally - no pattern I can determine.
4. Has a fairly hard shift at 45-50 mph. It can be moderated some by easing off the gas, sometimes it is harder than others. The tranny fluid smelled ok, but looked old. I'm afraid to just drop the pan and change filter and fluid because sometimes that accelerates problems with the tranny. He has a chip in it so I need to see how that is set first. When I asked him about what he had done to the tranny it was nothing. So i suspect it needs a filter pretty bad. Maybve save the old fluid and mix half/half with new so the detergents don't free up too much stuff to get caught in the ports? IDK.
It was really fun. Looking forward to learning the diesel game a little. Thanks to all.
About number 2 the fuel leak can come from those blue hoses, or from the fuel pump itself or from the fuel restriction sensor: those are the most common places to leak.
About number 3, check the level of fluid in the reservoir of the master cylinder, and adjust your rear brake pads.

Congrats on the purchase. That is a nice truck for sure. You're going to love it. Just be prepared for the onset of PMS.....(Powerstroke Mod Syndrome). It hits hard about 2-3 weeks into ownership.








