While driving the other day, my engine seemed to loose power or "disengage" for a few seconds. this happened 3 more times befre I got home. This was normal driving, not stop and go, and I was already cruising. I have had two similar experiences in the past. The first was a clogged fuel filter (which had me stumped for about a month, and when I figured it out,I felt as stupid as ever). The second was a bad ignition switch. This time it felt the same as the ignition switch, but without losing power to my accessories, and very similar to the fuel filter. To describe it better, it's almost as if my engine randomly switches to neutral, but without any response from the accelerator at all. It just "decides" to kick back in after about a second or two. So, naturally the fuel filter was my prime suspect. I bought and installed a new one. My initial test drive showed no signs of the problem. But the second time I drove it the same problem reoccured 3 times within the first 10 minutes of driving. I experienced no futher problems for the rest of the 2 hour trip (and haven't since). Is it possible that the problem was, in fact, the fuel filter, but there was just some residual crud in the fuel lines from before?
This is what I thought until I was in traffic later this afternoon, when my engine cut off in traffic twice within 5 minutes. there was no sputtering or rough idle befer this happened, it just simply turned off. This could just be a totally unrelated instance but if there could be a connection between these two things that points to a major engine problem, I need to know.
I will also point out that I have had cooling problems from poor circulation for the past couple of years, (that never got too bad, but would just run really hot from time to time in heavy traffic...with the sun blaring...) Fortunately I just changed my open cooing system to a closed one (by adding a coolant overflow tank) and it seems to help. I am also getting my radiator brushed and boiled out this week just to knock out any other cooling problems I have. The reason I mention this is because I have found foam in my radiator (before I changed to a closed cooling system) indicative of air in the system. This never really bothered me because of the open cooling system. I want to know if I could have had a blown head gasket this whole time and because there was a lack of any other symptoms didn't notice it until the power loss problem?

Once again my questions are:
Is it possible that the power loss problem was, in fact, the fuel filter, but there was just some residual crud in the fuel lines from before?

Could I have a phantom blown head gasket, and could this problem, which seems like a fuel starvation problem, could be something much more serious?

Could my ignition switch be bad again but my accessories still function when the problem occurs?

 

Gee I use to have a 1985 F150 4x4 that on rainy days would just quit running. as it turned out it was a bad module in the dist. that would get wet then not work .

 

Ok, you just have to start out and figure it out. I have a fuel filter problem just like yours and it is caused by a dirty fuel tank. Not a cheap thing to get cleaned ($50 for a metal, can't do a plastic). I got one of those real fine paper in-line filters and it seems to have fixed the prob for me. Take it off and blow on it. If it is hard to blow thru then get a new one or blow it out with compressed air. If it does it after that, then blow thru it again. If it is hard to blow thru (still) then you know you have crud. That can be corrected by a finer filter usually. Then think very basic. What does an engine need to run? Fuel/Air, spark, and compression. Since it runs you know you have compression, so inspect for the other two. First, after you've run the engine for a few seconds, shut it off and look down the carb while you press the throttle lever. If you have fuel you will see it squirt. Check for spark at the plug wires. Take your ignition module and coil to a parts store to be tested. Coils are somewhat on and off like that. I am betting it is just a clogged fuel filter. Also, does it ever not work at idle. A clogged fuel filter will let fuel flow TO A POINT. It always seems to flow at idle but once the engine starts needing more, it cuts out. Best of luck to you. You will find the problem and it is usually simple to fix. All it takes is time.

 

I have already replaced my fuel filter, so I'm pretty sure that it's not the problem. I have a suspicion that it is electrical rather than mechanical in this case. Could it be something as simple (which I'm sure it will turn out to be)as a bad distributer cap or ignition wires?

 

Just took care of a problem that this last week. I have a F250. 82 model. started out thee same way. so I changed the fuel filter. Went great for about two weeks, same thing. Took my tank of. Droped it of to the radiator shop for cleaning. Put it alll back to gether. Started acting up again in about three weeks. Finaly to make a long story short, after 3 fuel filters, a new tank. problem was a plugged fuel line. Take the fine line off just before the filter. Hold it low and use a vacuum or sifine. you should get a godd flow, almost the dia. of the line. If not, break the line some where upstream and try it.

Been there, done that!

 

Well, It turned out that the problem was the ignition module... You learn something new every day that makes you feel like you don't know anything. 15.99 solved the problem. Thanks for the help guys.