Serious lack of power '99SOHC.... (kinda long)

[Green98XLT]

Hey guys, I'm just looking for some suggestions here so give me some ideas if you have 'em.

We bought my 99 Ex about a year ago, bone stock with just over 100k all highway miles. It was VERY well taken care of with all service history done at the dealer etc. It has never seemed to downshift when it should, and always required you to really mash the pedal to get it to come out of 4th/5th gear. This may be normal for the 5R55 I don't know...

Anyway, Over the last year I have tuned it up with new NGK plugs, seafoam top end cleaning, new fuel filter, Mobil 1 oil, all the good stuff as I am a mechanic so I like to think I know what I'm doing. Well about a week ago I installed a MAF adaptor and a conical K&N filter in place of the stock box. It didn't really seem to do much at all power wise. The truck actually felt slower so I took it off, cleaned the MAF sensor just in case and put the stock swiss cheesed air box back on. It still seems to have no balls at all.

I have scanned the computer and have no codes whatsoever, the motor sounds great and doesn't leak or smoke at all. It has recently started to make a very slight rattle on cold startup but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

What can I do, am I missing something? This thing just feels like a turd and barely wants to pull a steep hill. We pulled my wifes horse trailer last night with it (empty) and you had to almost stand on the accelarator all the way to keep it at 50mph. I'm stumped... Please help!

 

[floydr007]

Have you reset your computer? Its prolly doubtful, but worth a try. You prolly know how, but disconnect the negative cable from the battery for 15minutes or more.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

^^ ditto reset the computer when you have the K&N on the truck....

 

[Green98XLT]

Well, I did reset the PCM a couple months back but didn't do it since the K&N... maybe worth a try I guess.... I know a fair amount about Ford EEC's and their adaptive strategies so I assumed with a EECV and MAF that it would have no problem compensating for the K&N... I guess anything is worth a shot though

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

it is.....that is a common cure for the bog when you put in a hgh flow exaust or intake....even if it doesnt work...whats the worst that could happend 20 minutes of sitting around and having to reset your stereo?

 

[Green98XLT]

I agree, I'll do it first thing this evening and see...Gives me time to drink a cold one!

 

[Green98XLT]

You did read that I put the stock filter and airbox back on and it still feels the same...?

 

[hunterdan]

Try cleaning the MAF sensor, could be possible that it got some oil on it and is throwing off the computer. Clean it then reset the computer. See if that helps.

Dan

 

[Green98XLT]

Please see first thread.. I did clean the MAF after removing the K&N.

 

[Doubt Incarnate]

that rattle is from the timing chain tensioners. mines been doing it for a while. i never really get to 4K on the tach or realy over 3K so im not to worried. if you regularly rev to top half of the tach you should look into the newer tensioners to be safe.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

put the K&N back on and restet the computer after about 50 miles of driving the problem should be corrected becuse the computer learns the new settings.

 

[Green98XLT]

interesting note there doubt... it really only rattles a slight bit at cold startup and then goes away. I rarely ever see 4k so it isn't a serious factor if you don't rev high?

I was thinking.... if the timing chain IS rattling some could that be causing the knock sensor to retard timing? Maybe thats where all my power went? Seem possible?

 

[mynameisaric]

my sohc approached 135k and the timing chains got obnoxiously loud. then again, i got it with 100k and i was 16, now i'm 18, so you can imagine the torture i put it through. my tach has seen 6k many times. but that rattle is almost definitely your timing chains. most guys dont have problems with their motors for a LONG time and just hear that little rattle on startup. i am having my motor replaced, because the motor had to be pulled for the rear timing chain anyway, my oil pump was shot(less than 5psi at idle) and i dont know what i was thinking but i put too much oil in the engine after i saw a leak from a recently installed sensor... long story short, the excess oil blew the piston rings in 2 cylinders, so i only have 4 cylinders with compression in specs..... new motor.

but it doesnt sound like you'll have too much to worry about with your normal driving, but pulling the horse trailor will put extra strain on your motor and cause the timing chain tensioners to wear out a little faster. you should be good for at least another 30k miles though.

 

[Green98XLT]

Well I reset the PCM today and REinstalled the K&N conical and it really didn't seem to make much difference. I also got a huge bottle of Lucas injector cleaner and poured that in. I'm really starting to think I may have gotten a bad tank of gas as well...

FWIW mynameisaric, over filling with oil will not wipe out your rings... it only causes more oil leaks if your rings are shot and your down 2 cylinders then most likely your motor is FUBAR. It could be a burnt valve, cracked piston, etc.

 

[Papa]

FWIW mynameisaric, over filling with oil will not wipe out your rings... it only causes more oil leaks if your rings are shot and your down 2 cylinders then most likely your motor is FUBAR. It could be a burnt valve, cracked piston, etc.

Over filling the oil by say 2+ quarts allows the crankshaft to start splashing in the oil thus you get aeration and foaming of the oil supply. Air does not lubricate as well as oil so bearing failure is usually the end result.

 

[mynameisaric]

well.. yeah.. it was fubar. but my new engine purrs and they fixed my exhaust leak. i think i have something rattling around in my cat tho.

i hope all works out green98. i know how much it sucks for a ride to start failing on you.

 

[Green98XLT]

UPDATE:

I think it's getting better. I filled up with fresh shell gas today (fricken $2.90/gallon!!) left the K&N on and it seemed to run quite a bit better this morning on the way to work.

I may have also found a contributor to my power loss... it seems the E brake was just partially down, didn't seem to really be enough to drag but every little bit counts! I don't think it's releasing completely so I'm going to look at that this weekend as well.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[floydr007]

Id imagine that if your ebrake was dragging youd prolly smell the burnt brakes. My sister drove my car with the ebrake on about a mile , and when she came back the car stunk up the whole neighborhood. Definitely something to check, though.

 

[Green98XLT]

It wasn't dragging near enough to burn the brakes.. just a slight drag really.

It does seem as if it's getting better though since resetting the PCM and putting the K&N back on. We'll see...