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Rough Idle when Cold Help (video)

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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 12:12 PM
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Rough Idle when Cold Help (video)

My 78' F250 with a 400 idles roughly when cold. It has had a fresh tune up less than 3K miles ago. After 5 minutes or so it runs much smoother. Here is a video of the vacuum gauge while cold and warm. The vacuum bounces and is much lower when cold. I have checked for an intake gasket leak and found nothing. Any ideas on what to do? Thanks.

YouTube - Rough Idle
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 12:27 PM
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It sounds like a possible choke isssue, or a vacume leack, or bad plugs or points (if you still have them)
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 01:18 PM
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I think you need to define the tune up, what was done that way we can give you some insight on what to check. Was this change in performance noticed right after the tune up? How long has it been doing this? Just some more info needed
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 02:44 PM
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New plugs, distributor cap and rotor, wires, air filter, fuel filter.

After the tune up last year it ran perfect. The rough idle was something that started out slowly and has progressively gotten worse.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 04:02 PM
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The gauge indicates a vacuum leak to me.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 04:23 PM
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What other symptoms does your motor exhibit? Im sure there is something else going on as well as a rough idle, anything else you have noticed?
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by zak8tac
What other symptoms does your motor exhibit? Im sure there is something else going on as well as a rough idle, anything else you have noticed?
After it warms up nothing much. Runs good. Just very rough idle and stumbling when first started.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 06:45 PM
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It's possible to have a vacuum leak present on a cold motor that "goes away" as the motor reaches operating temp, your gauge indicates a shaky 17" at cold start-up and a relatively steady 22" after warm-up so it's a strong possibility that's your issue.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by montana_highboy
It's possible to have a vacuum leak present on a cold motor that "goes away" as the motor reaches operating temp, your gauge indicates a shaky 17" at cold start-up and a relatively steady 22" after warm-up so it's a strong possibility that's your issue.
Thanks. I did a quick once over at all the visible vacuum lines and didn't see any that were cracked or unplugged.

Is there a device that that draws vacuum that could close or seal up when warm?
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 09:34 PM
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Try spraying some carb cleaner along the base of the carb.. If th motor idle speed drops, you have a leak...
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by DansBBF250
Try spraying some carb cleaner along the base of the carb.. If th motor idle speed drops, you have a leak...
Tried this, no change in idle speed.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 10:29 PM
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Sounds like your choke pull off is not opening the choke far enough to run smooth. Start when cold and look at choke plate and see if it opens @ 1/4 inch. If it is not opening very far , take your finger and open it a little and see if engine smooths out.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2010 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by moose4x4
Sounds like your choke pull off is not opening the choke far enough to run smooth. Start when cold and look at choke plate and see if it opens @ 1/4 inch. If it is not opening very far , take your finger and open it a little and see if engine smooths out.
I will check this out.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2010 | 11:22 AM
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Well fixed a few vacuum leaks-bad diaphragm on choke pull off, loose vacuum tree- and the truck runs much better. It now idles much lower than before. Would a vacuum leak cause the engine to idle higher than normal?
 
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Old Mar 26, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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Yes it will, how much? Depending on how big of a vacuum leak. Sounds like you found several.
 
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