[updated:LAST EDITED ON 17-Jul-02 AT 02:07 AM (EST)]My 95 ford seems to be losing power. it is equiped with a 5.8L engine and a E40D trans. and the truck has aproximatly 60 thousand miles on it. About 10 thousand miles ago the truck could easily put the needle off it's 180 kilometer/hour speedometer. now I'm lucky if i can get 150 kilometers/hour out of it. The power decrease is becoming noticeable on the low end of things as the truck will hardly spin the wheels on pavement where as before they could easily be lit up. With this loss in power also has come a loss in fuel economy It also, when the egine is cold, revs about 1000 rpm then after a few minutes idles down to point where i think it may stall and then revs up again and it also hestates when accelerating just after start up. I checked my tps sensor for voltage and it seems okay. .87 volts closed and 4.5 volts wide open with a steady increase as the throttle is opened. The only modfication that has been done to this truck is dual 21/2 inch exhaust with no cats or mufflers.( they are pretty lenient about exhaust here in Saskatchewan) The truck sees regular maintence (plugs, wires, cap and rotor every year, air filter every season and oil changes every 3000 miles). The truck rairly sees this kind of use, but it is nice to be albe to put on a show when those chevy guys get out of line. any help would be appreciated.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 17-Jul-02 AT 07:38 PM (EST)]I have the same problem with my 89 f150 with the 302. It will no longer go over 70mph. It used run with the needle against the dash with no problem. If you learn anything please let me know.

 

As they get older, engines tend to lose power, mostly just from normal wear and tear. A full tune up should be fine with the miles you have, and check to make sure spark plugs and fuel injectors are clean, the cats arent clogged, and the filter/intake isnt too dirty. Once you start hitting the higher mileages(150-200k miles or so), you'll want to rebuild your motor with new pistons, rings, gaskets, etc. But for a truck with as few miles as yours, the tune up should make things at least a little better.

Hope this helps, wish i had a 351 in mine, even if it was slightly power deficinet.

 

Well, obviously your cats arn't clogged since you don't have any. Otherwise that could easily be the problem. Make sure your plug wires are in good shape. If they are original, replace them and also do a complete tune up including spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor. This alone helped my truck out alot. This could be a long shot but check your timing and make sure its set at least at 10btdc and probably closer to 12 would be better. Change your fuel filter. On EFI engines this should be done about every time you think about it. lol I would also run some engine cleaner through your pcv valve and maybe even some through your tank. I like to use Seafoam, it work wonders. What it does is frees up sticky lifters and gets rid of all the gunk causing possible loss in HP. After that, well you could maybe check your fuel pressure and change the regulator. My 302 that has over 90,000 miles on it will run 100mph with a 1000 lb. load in the bed and that is with 33" mud tires. But you hit a hill or a head wind of any intensity and your instantly out of OD. I would think a 351 with only 60k on it should haul @@@.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-Jul-02 AT 10:03 PM (EST)]Thanks for the help. could someone please explain how to adjust the timming on these computerized vehicles. I don't know how to do it and therefore have never bothered to check it. as for the tune up, it's already been done with not much improvement.

95 ford f150 XLT 2wd
dual 21/2 exhaust
khumo 31X10.50
pioneer cd
concept amp and 12" sub

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I found out the correct timming procedure and sure enough the engine was running at around 8 degrees BTDC. I readjusted it to 11 degrees BTDC and now the truck will now run the needle right up to the stopper just past the 180 kilometer mark. Now comes another question, is that paticular year of truck governed or have I uncovered another problem. The truck after running against the speedo needle stopper for awhile begins to speed up and slow down just like my 1997 does when it hits its governed speed.

 

yes 95 year models do have a Governed top speed my truck will shut down at about 110. I have never done that fast only my father has taken my truck up that fast. But if you pull fuse number 8. But you also loose the speedo/tripometer/inside lights power mirrors and door chimes and cargo light. If you do that you need to have a TACH to tell you how fast you are going.