Maybe changing/fixing/removing the pieces of the crumbling black pickup foot could have contributed to the more consistent acceleration pulls also, when demand for more fuel is greatest.

 

I know for a fact that removing the crumbled pieces has a huge impact because I have blown that fuel line out backwards into the tank before with similar SOTP results following the "blow back" effort. However, at the same time, I distinctly recall feeling like I was almost having to help "push" the Excursion up hills right after buying it, and the pickup foot was completely intact at that point.

I honestly don't think I was sucking air into the system before this work effort because I have always been extremely diligent in keeping connections very tight. This time, though, I did double clamp the inlet and outlet connections on the PS120 strainer, and I can clearly see NO air bubbles swirling inside the clear housing as fuel flows.

Also, I did not replace the rubber lines. The inspection showed no degradation on the inner surfaces, and I am going to conclude for now that the alcohol exposure was short enough in time such that it won;t be a problem for me. (I also did not have the extra fuel line on hand.)

OBSERVATION... and this might actually be a topic better suited for a separate thread, but here goes...

I've seen folks talking about increasing the fuel line diameter, but what I have now observed while inspecting my rubber hoses on the tank top connections is that the suction line has a built in flow restrictor (although it takes a 3/8" hose to successfully navigate over the quick-connect tubing shoulder). That said, a larger diameter fuel line is not going to help unless you clip off the very tip of that top tubing nipple because the very tip is rolled for easy insertion into the quick-connect fitting, but this roll-forming effort decreases the ID of that same tubing. It is not thick wall tubing, so clipping the end would not be complicated. I did not take a picture of the tip to show it, nor did I measure the ID of the tip opening, but it is certainly smaller than 5/16" and is more like either 3/16" or 1/4" in the opening diameter. You can sort of see what I'm talking about in the attached picture below which I snagged off the internet.

 

65x your offer would be seriously considered.

Seriously, I have a slight oil leak I need to locate and fix (suspecting either a HPOP line or EBPV/pedestal source because it is not dripping on the driveway, but is beginning to show itself by leaking an oily film on the rear doors). Once that is done, I'm selling the vehicle to "downsize" into a smaller gas engine SUV or Wagon... something along the lines of a Subaru or 4Runner with no more than 80K miles on it.