Poor Idle, Gas Smell

[L2fish]

Hi My name Dave alias L2fish. I was so pumped to find a site like this with so many talented individuals sharing their information. There is so much in here and so hard to pinpoint what I am looking for.

I have a 1996 4WD explorer with a 4.0 liter and 115,000 miles on it. Has anyone experienced awful gas mileage combined with surging idle and gas smell near the gas tank side of the vehicle? I just got a code 2 times in two days po125 which said something about insufficient coolant temperature? Doing a little research it looks like I could possibly have a bad fuel pressure regulator. Could the gas smell be coming from the evap system as the canister is right behind the gas tank. BTW this was a dumb place for Ford to put this! There is no bracket left due to several New England winters with salty roads.

With gas at 3 bucks plus a gallon 12 - 13 MPG is not cool.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Are you scanning the vehicle when it's first started or after it has already warmed up?

 

[L2fish]

1996 Explorer owner

After warm up.

 

[BrooklynBay]

This chart is in # 25 in my list of useful threads:

 

[Tbars4]

...welcome here and there is lot's of info for your problem....

 

[L2fish]

1996 Explorer owner

Thanks. If my memory serves me correctly I have gotten this last year only in cold weather. I usually clear the fault and its good for a couple weeks. I also had a MAF fault last year in the winter. Its fine all summer, except now I have bad gas mileage and smell.

 

[L4CX]

If your having problems with Gas milage it always helps to clean the MAF and IAC. I did that and it helped with Idle alot. I was running above 1,000rpm and it took it down to about 9-800. It's a really easy thing to try.

IAC Cleaning
http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm

I took my MAF off and sprayed it down with electric cleaner. Waited for it to dry. And put it back in the truck. It helped. Good luck.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome to the forum

 

[nitsuga]

I know my fuel pump was on its way out and very rusted when I began to notice a strong gas odor and poorer mileage. Surging and such could be explained by an electrical fault in the wiring for the FPR or the fuel pump, I'd say.

 

[L2fish]

1996 Explorer owner

Thanks,

I only smell it after I run it so it could be a possibility. Things get pretty rusty here in the Northeast. I havent had more than 5/8 of a tank in it lately though. I did look before and I didnt see anything leaking down the tank unless its splashing out the top and evaporating quickly. I hope its not that though.

 

[nitsuga]

Could be a symptom of a developing problem. I know it worked much like that for me, until finally I'd come out to my Explorer after school and see a nice, happy puddle. The axle would be soaked and the side of the tank, too.

Keep an eye on it. It's not the most fun job, but it could be far worse.

 

[L2fish]

1996 Explorer owner

Well, I got the PO125 code again today "Closed loop fuel Ctrl Insufficient Coolant Temp". Heres the deal. This thing is not coming up to operating temperature quick enough. Coolant is full so I think I may have a faulty thermostat since t6his only happens in the cold weather months. I am going to change it this weekend. #2 I an going to check the charcoal canister. I heard these plug and crack from the vibrations where they are located. I figure its worth a shot. I am also going to clean the MAF sensor. My only dilemna is its 30 to 40 degrees here now and I dont have a garage