I wish I had known about this site before preparing to sell my F-150, but anyway. I have a 302 in a 1991 Ford F-150 with a 5spd manual tranny. Since I bought it there has been NO POWER. It gets roughly 10mpg and it can barely start out in 1st gear. It cannot start in 2nd unless I practically burn the clutch up, and it can't pass 80mph on a slight downhill on a freeway. I realize the truck has a lot of air resistance and it is heavy but still... In 5th gear I'm lucky to maintain 70mph floored, when I hit a hill and downshift instead of increasing in speed it slows down further. If I prepare for a hill and have it in 4th it will stay the same speed all the way up, unless it is really steep (5% grade). I don't believe I could pull much with this truck, maybe 4,000lbs at most on level ground in thrid gear max. I can't spin the wheels either, even if I rev the engine to 4,200 RPM and drop the clutch the engine bogs down nearly stalls maybe with a chirp of the wheels and then it begins to roll. I have the 3.88 gears (I think that's what it is 3.something) and I expect a lot better mileage. My 17 gallon tank is empty at 180 miles, which is near 10mpg. I've had numerous problems with the truck so who knows what the previous owner did to it. Also the check engine light comes on when I drive at a persistent speed, I don't especially want to pull a code since I'm selling it anyway. I noticed small crack in the passenger side exhaust header, however no exhaust is leaking so I don't think I'm losing any back pressure through that. Fuel pump is new and the fuel filter, the fuel line was partially flushed and the gas tank is new so I don't think it's a fuel problem outside the engine. However I suppose there could be a problem in the engine with fuel systems? By the way it is Electronic Fuel Injection

Bought a V-8 for power, ended up towing it around with our Explorer Though the 5.0 isn't a powerful motor I expect better than this.

 

You change the plugs? Do a compression test? Clean the injectors? Change the other filters? My 86 302 EFI has a 3.43ish.... Damn can't remember, but I can roast tire thru first and second... not recomended but can The truck was really sluggish when I bought it, but a little TLC and a lot of cleanin got it running better... The engine has potential, just may need a bit of wrench time...

 

It could be a cloged catalytic convertor. I would suggest having an exhaust shop check it out. But also check the cap and rotor as well as have a compression test done to it. Throw in some fuel injector cleane, and run the codes. Post what you find and someone will be able to point you in the right direction. Dont give up yet.....

Bill

 

I have had it for 1.5 years, and have added $6,000 into repairs and special service aside from my own work. I only paid $5,500 for it so I see a diesel as being justified. But I thought it would be nice to ask what you guys thought the problem was.

 

Sounds like you got a lemon!!! hopefully everything that has broken is broke and you can get 10 yrs out of it!

 

LOL! I just got home maybe 4 hours after posting my last comment. My engine is now almost overheating, it ALWAYS stays on the "N" (for NORMAL) on the temp. gauge. Now it is going up to the L, almost to the point of being too hot. I don't trust the guage much so I have to try my best to get the needle down with speed and low revs. But in neghborhoods that is bad especially with stop signs and cops around. I can't believe this will be the 5th major problem in the last 12 days, we towed my truck to a shop 2 times last week. Fuel pump burned up when the fuel filter clogged up on rust from the fuel tank which was rusted through. The only thing holding the gas in was the tank's holding straps. My exhaust pipe has numerous holes in it (at the rear not at the cab) and I'd hate to think what would have happened if it sparked some fuel. But Joners, I know what you mean and I thought the same way. I first replaced the Water Pump, power steering pump, rear axle seal, rear axle bearing, rear brake had to be cleaned extensively (covered in axle grease), and the computer had some problems. Not to mention the fact that the previous owner had to replace the T.P.S. after the Alternate sent a massive charge up the line and burned it up. One other component was burned up as well. Anyway I was all happy with the repairs, changed the oil and all the fluids and took it up the mountain to the ski resort. On the way there my truck started shuttering violently and lost all power, my first thought was it had bad gas. I floored it and slipped the clutch enough to get off the road and sat there while it shook the door panels all over. Then I gave it some gas to 3,500 RPMs for about 2 minutes and it operated fine. Shortly after this the accelerator would fall to the floor and I'd have to get out lift the cover off the throttle body and manually rachet the throttle back in the closed position. So we took it to a shop when I got tired of thinking, they changed the throttle cable, this did not work. So we disable the cruise control problem solved and my truck ran well for about 10 months. Then all this recent stuff with the fuel system occured. It didn't have a radio the first year but now it has two 10" subs which make me like it. Other than that the truck is crap, I'm just glad it doesn't burn oil and hasn't seized on me yet. There are little things I didn't even mention, like when the mechanic did a bit of a service and check up. He found A LOT of stuff to fix, he did $600 worth as that was all I could afford, he even di extra 'cause well he's a nice guy. Groundrat I also thought of the possibility the cat was clogged, however Master Muffler did not see a problem. I was going to change the plugs/wires next month, and I was going to go to Pep Boys and have the code pulled, but I don't want to now since I'm buying a diesel. Thanks though Omen

That's my truck's life story =) though I'm sure there's more to it.

 

I'll check the collant problem tommorrow, before leaving I used a garden hose to put some water in and this helped a bit but it still fluctuated. I'll figure it out tommorrow, for now I'll sleep and hope this thing gets off my chest.

 

Good Luck Brother.....

 

Thanks

 

When your timing gets severely advanced, it can make your engine overheat. This will also find the weakspot in your head gaskets, and start to leak compression into your coolin system when you are lugging up hill, and coolant into your cylinder when your crusing. have someone check your timing, if the computer is running it alright. it might need a ner computer, or maybe just a crank angle sensor.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why but the front drip pan? I don't know what it is, but it's a triangular piece of iron on the front under the bumper and slightly back. Well this is wet, it is situated under the radiator, and I'm wondering if it's leaking. The weird thing is when I look I don't see any dripping of any sort, so I'm not sure how this wetness is getting there. Unless it's condensation from somewhere collecting in one spot?

 

You should get full coverage and roll it into a lake. You have a money pit bud! Been there myself...hard to get out of.