Where did that come from?!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Wheatland, Mo
Where did that come from?!
OK I dont know what the hell happened...but about 2 weeks ago, I was on my way to work, and coming up on my usual merge point from one interstate to another....and as normal, I stomp it, get to about 60 then move across 3 lanes to the fast lane. Usually I have another driver competing to get to the lane first and usually I lose.
...I have been used to the motor having alot of low end torque but not much on the high end...seeming I have to really nail it to keep my speeds up going up hill....well this time...I was running about 3000rpms right about 70mph and not in overdrive, when suddenly I feel this slight "hiccup". All of a sudden, BAM! The truck takes off like a bat out of hell, I am at 75 and climbing fast....I hit overdrive and I am cruising at 85 going up hill and still climbing. 
Now before it felt like the truck would cruise normally about 65 and about 12MPG. Now I get 16.7 MPG and the truck EASILY hits 75 and cruises very nicely at 80. What the hell let loose? The motor has about 70k miles on it. The other day I laid into it and pegged the speedometer in no time and the truck seemed to barely be working. Any thoughts?
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Sounds like you blew something loose either in the fuel or exhaust system. It's not uncommon for a catalytic converter to melt down and plug the pipe a bit, or sometimes a baffle will come loose inside a muffler. Or you might have finally flushed a bit of crud out of the fuel system that was causing problems.
Takes me back to high school...one of my friends had an old AMC Gremlin...he thought the stock motor was crapping out, so he dropped in a 360, but left the old exhaust. The 360 ran OK but never as well as we thought it should. One day he was on it hard and KA-BOOM!! a big explosion and the thing takes off like a rocket. Turns out the old muffler had fallen apart internally and all the crud was blocking the exhaust pipe. When he floored it, the muffler case finally blew apart and let the pipes flow.
Maybe I need to take my bronco out for a full throttle stomp and see if it will come out of the 10MPG / no power phase...although I suspect it is more a cause of the tired old engine than anything else.
Takes me back to high school...one of my friends had an old AMC Gremlin...he thought the stock motor was crapping out, so he dropped in a 360, but left the old exhaust. The 360 ran OK but never as well as we thought it should. One day he was on it hard and KA-BOOM!! a big explosion and the thing takes off like a rocket. Turns out the old muffler had fallen apart internally and all the crud was blocking the exhaust pipe. When he floored it, the muffler case finally blew apart and let the pipes flow.
Maybe I need to take my bronco out for a full throttle stomp and see if it will come out of the 10MPG / no power phase...although I suspect it is more a cause of the tired old engine than anything else.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Ahhh you guys have discovered the joys of what is commonly callled a "Texas Tune-up" it is one of the few ways to get a Volvo to pass smog in California.
There are some dangers involved to be sure if you tried something like this in a high milage motor that has been driven very mild for most of its life the top piston ring can come into contact with the ridge at the top of a cylinder bore with less than desireable results, but as long as you do this one in a while just to keep it clean thing should be ok.
Drive it like to hate it!
There are some dangers involved to be sure if you tried something like this in a high milage motor that has been driven very mild for most of its life the top piston ring can come into contact with the ridge at the top of a cylinder bore with less than desireable results, but as long as you do this one in a while just to keep it clean thing should be ok.
Drive it like to hate it!
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Are you saying that you get 16.7 MPG at 80 miles per hour. I know what let go... It's your marbles! No seriously, I couldn't see a Bronco ever getting close to 17MPG... well not mine anyway but I have a 351. If you figure it out please let me know so I can do it to mine.
That reminds me, I have to make another $40 payment at the pump tomorrow.
That reminds me, I have to make another $40 payment at the pump tomorrow.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Wheatland, Mo
OK Not at 80...but it cruises at that speed without even waking up. But I have checked my mileage for the last 4 tanks and I have been averaging from 15 to 17 depending on the way I go to work. (City or hwy).
This is wierd to me as well.... I considered my self lucky if I got 14. I am going to take the truck and have the exhaust checked out. I know the muffler is ok...had that replaced about 6 months ago. At least it better be. I am beginning to think it may be the cat. its about 4 yrs old.
This is wierd to me as well.... I considered my self lucky if I got 14. I am going to take the truck and have the exhaust checked out. I know the muffler is ok...had that replaced about 6 months ago. At least it better be. I am beginning to think it may be the cat. its about 4 yrs old.
Last edited by BillyBob69; Mar 1, 2004 at 08:50 AM.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Philadelphia
Speaking of CATs, what is the general consensus on the life of your CAT? I got my 96 used a little over two years ago and am pretty sure it is the stock cat. Just curious.
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From: Auburn/ Opelika
I get about 19.85 mpg on the interstate never bothered to total city drivng up. it's probably really sad. It does pretty good on gas as long as you go easy on the pedal, a lot of stop and go's and stomping it drinks the tank dry like a slurpy. -wb
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Crazyromi:
Depending on what you mean by "lifetime" ...
I would suspect an OEM catalytic convertor behind a stock, well maintained engine, could easily go 150K mi or more before it needed a replacement for pollution control. It could probably go the life of the engine (or at least the life of the exhaust pipes around it) if you are just talking about "holding together in one piece and not causing problems in the exhaust."
Now, if you do mods on the engine, or it is in poor repair causing the cat to work harder and possibly melt down, it's lifetime could be measured in minutes. Also, it "seems" that aftermarket cats don't last like the OEM's do...don't know if they fail as a cause or effect, but 2-3 years on an aftermarket seems to be a good average.
Depending on what you mean by "lifetime" ...
I would suspect an OEM catalytic convertor behind a stock, well maintained engine, could easily go 150K mi or more before it needed a replacement for pollution control. It could probably go the life of the engine (or at least the life of the exhaust pipes around it) if you are just talking about "holding together in one piece and not causing problems in the exhaust."
Now, if you do mods on the engine, or it is in poor repair causing the cat to work harder and possibly melt down, it's lifetime could be measured in minutes. Also, it "seems" that aftermarket cats don't last like the OEM's do...don't know if they fail as a cause or effect, but 2-3 years on an aftermarket seems to be a good average.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Marquette/ Traverse City
Originally posted by GotLift
Are you saying that you get 16.7 MPG at 80 miles per hour. I know what let go... It's your marbles! No seriously, I couldn't see a Bronco ever getting close to 17MPG... well not mine anyway but I have a 351. If you figure it out please let me know so I can do it to mine.
That reminds me, I have to make another $40 payment at the pump tomorrow.
Are you saying that you get 16.7 MPG at 80 miles per hour. I know what let go... It's your marbles! No seriously, I couldn't see a Bronco ever getting close to 17MPG... well not mine anyway but I have a 351. If you figure it out please let me know so I can do it to mine.
That reminds me, I have to make another $40 payment at the pump tomorrow.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: norman, okla
i cant imagine getting 16 mpg or even 19 mpg....i can get about 12 pretty consestently and some time get close to 14 if i am really lucky. i have only gotten 15 or more once and that was when i was coming back from my dads house in ark. and i was almost coasting down the hill for about 30 min. please tell me the secret to getting anywhere close to that milage because i would almost kill for it
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Union City
I get 10mpg on average the gas station owner knows my by first name and he even bought me a Christmas present.... i pay about 50 bucks in gas a week. I seriously need to improve my gas milage i would be happy with 12mpg.... i would dance a jig if i could hit 16 or 19mpg
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Temecula
Does everyone here have OD? if you want to get better gas milage you definitely need the OD! I get about 18 on the highway, runnin about 75-80, all I got is the FIPK and Flowmaster. Seems to do very well for me!
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From: norman, okla
94bronco58, i have the same truck as you and i still have never gotten above 14 except on that one occasion. i also had my engine rebuilt last year and that did not help any either. it might have to do with my tranny though because it has been acting up since i got it...just a thought
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Wheatland, Mo
My truck at this point is full stock except for the K&N Filter in the stock air box. BUT!!!! There is one thing now that I think about it....I modify my spark plugs before I put then in. I only buy the standard autolite plugs at $1 each....but what I do is, with a drill press to keep from jacking the plugs up, is drill a 1/32 hole through the tab that bends over, and in the same stroke, make a small indent into the end of the electrode under the tab. Then just regap and install em into the truck. The hole and indention concentrates the spark and it burns hotter. Dont know if this has helped cause I have been doing this for about 10 yrs in everything I drive. Just make sure you clean the hole real good and leave no filings hanging.
And I do have Overdrive too
And I do have Overdrive too