Sorry the technical terms will not be all there.


I started my truck last night. I forgot to wait for the WTS light to shut off. I got in and headed off to work, but as I started to drive down the street I noticed that the truck seemed to have less power. I pulled over to the side of the street and let it idle for a few minutes. I noticed that on the 80race setting (DP) it seemed not to have that extra reving. I then set it to the "high idle" setting and noticed that the rpm seemed to be less than what it used to be. I once again set it back to the "stock" setting and it sounded a little weak. The engine sounded as if it was "puttering" at idle.

I waited for a few minutes and then decided to continue my drive to work. Well in doing so, I noticed that the vehicle started to shake a little. It has never made that shake before. As I approached the freeway entrance I accelerated some more and noticed it shaked a lot around 50mph. All while driving the truck seemed as if it was lacking the full amount of power.

My drive to work is only about 8 miles. When I got to work at idle it was still the same "puttering" sound.

The truck hasn't stalled out or stopped. I have about 1/4 tank of fuel left. No lift.

I did have a code of circuit #7 failure. I have replaced all of the plugs. The light is still on. I didn't know if I had to get it cleared from the dealership or not.

Everyone knows there own truck and the way it drives/rides. Mine has never acted like this before.

Questions:

1. Could the old fuel in the tank be gelling already? I fill up like once a month.
2. should I bit it and have the dealership look at? While there at it they can find the vac leak.
3. Any suggestions for you will be heplful.


Thanks in advance,

Al

 

is this the first time you have run the tank below 1/4 of a tank

 

last year in the colder months I wouldn't let it get below 1/2 a tank. In the summer time it has been below a 1/4 tank when I took a trip to Alabama.

 

Have you replaced your fuel filter latley?

 

No. I have never replaced the fuel filter. When I got the excursion it had 81k on it. I dont even know if the dealership replaced the filter or not when it was traded in. It now has 96k.

Just changed the oil about 1k ago. I used the same motorcraft as before.

 

I hope some more people will chim in and give some more advice.

 

I would start by changing the fuel filter.May not be the problem but atleast you will know it was changed once

 

I will first change out the filter.

My fuel pressure gauge is at the same spot as it always has been if that makes any difference.

 

Al, I am pretty sure they are all watching and waiting for results before the chip in, you know this group, you will not be hung out to dry..

 

Is the fuel pressure gauge plumbed in pre or post filter?

 

I can guarantee that the dealership did not change the fuel filter.

 

I placed the gauge in the top bowl plug. If you are standing and looking down at the bowl, the gauge is to the right rear and on the top. Or the way it looks is if the tried to drain the bowl with the yellow lever turn to drain then is is placed right there. The sending unit then would be straight back towards the firewall.

Sorry don't have the camera ready.

I went out today and got a new filter. I will do that this weekend. I also just put about 36 gallons into the tank to fill it back up.

 

Looking at the back of the fuel bowl there are two ports. One at 10 o'clock (pre-filter) and one at 4 o'clock (post-filter). You are reading the fuel pressure before the filter so it does not accurately tell you the condition of the filter. Just an FYI.

Hope a new filter solves your problem. If it doesn't we will certainly have some more suggestions. Keep us posted.

 

I have placed in pre-filter.

More infomation for everyone. The only thing I have pulled was a 1938 Bantam vehicle. That vehicle practically weights nothing, and it was only to Buffalo, NY. I live near Detroit (but not in it. )

No lift.

I can mainly feel it while driving when I accelerate around 40 and up is when the shake happens. However I can also feel an extra shake while idling.

 

Could be an injector starting to go out. Mine did the same thing for a while until it got to the point that it would die if the motor wasn't hot. Not completely sure how you test if they are dying or not, I didn't have time to work on mine so I just had it towed to a shop.