302 engine performance&emissions
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: denver, co
302 engine performance&emissions
my 1989 e150 van has over 200K MILES and will not pass emissions and loses power at about 50mph, will barely get to 60. Co's are high, about double the max for passing, HC's are just over the max. when first starting, engine sounds good, runs evenly. compression is about 135 on all 8, spark plugs look good. I've replaced air filter, pvc valve, plug wires, oil&filter. it doesn't smoke, inside of tailpipe looks light brown. I checked for vacuum leaks, checked fuel pressure regulator for vacuum leak, today I plan to check fuel filter.the radiator was leaking, so the former owner put in stop leak-could that affect temp sensor? because it's high mileage, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money, what could be the problem?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
If the exhaust is stock check that it's not plugged.
Check fuel pressure, a tire gauge will tell you if it's right or not, should be 45psi with the engine off.
It would also be worth while to pull the codes, see Ford Fuel Injection for a DIY method.
Check fuel pressure, a tire gauge will tell you if it's right or not, should be 45psi with the engine off.
It would also be worth while to pull the codes, see Ford Fuel Injection for a DIY method.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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CO high, I suspect a dead cat.
A good cat will still allow high HC if you are way rich or some other problem, as it will only burn up so much. But it should still get most of the CO.
There is a vendor/advertiser here, you should be able to find them, or dealer or the scrappy... BEWARE cheapo aftermarket cats, might be worse than the bad stocker.
A good cat will still allow high HC if you are way rich or some other problem, as it will only burn up so much. But it should still get most of the CO.
There is a vendor/advertiser here, you should be able to find them, or dealer or the scrappy... BEWARE cheapo aftermarket cats, might be worse than the bad stocker.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Not necessarily, depends upon the type of problem. BTW.. the only tools needed to pull the codes yourself is a piece of wire or paperclip, a pen and a piece of paper. You connect the wire, get in the truck and turn the key to on, and then count the flashes on the check engine light. That's it. Full details are in the link above.
This may give you an all clear(11), and if so that's great it eliminates a whole ton of possibilities. Divide and conquer is the only way to troubleshoot a problem without throwing a ton of money down the toilet, that's what this is all about.
This may give you an all clear(11), and if so that's great it eliminates a whole ton of possibilities. Divide and conquer is the only way to troubleshoot a problem without throwing a ton of money down the toilet, that's what this is all about.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lafayette, IN
What Paul O says is good advice. There is another member here (frederic) who put an aftermarket cat on his truck and he now passes emissions--even though he's missing alot of the factory emissions systems, if not, all of them. But, because he's in NJ, and passes the sniff test, they don't open the hood.
Jason
Jason
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From: Ottawa, Ontario