R.T.'s Sputtering Bronco

[Spooled]

Cool subject name huh? This happens a lot this time of year. Most likely you have a plugged fuel filter. In the metro area this time of year, gas stations change over to their winter fuel formula. If you look on the pump at the station, you will see a sticker that says "this fuel contains up to 10% ethanol from Nov 1 - March 1." This is to help with the air polution in the winter. Ethanol is alchohol, which is a solvent and an absorber of water. Any water or rust in your tank is picked up by the alchohol and deposited in your fuel filter, thus clogging fuel flow to your injectors. They are cheap and fairly easy to replace on most cars and trucks. Hope this helps out. Next time you have last minute trouble call me. I will gladly give you a lift in exchange for some fishing tips. Of course you will have to ride in a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado that they are bashing on the Powerstroke thread.:cool

[Deleted User]

I'd be proud to park a new Silverado in my driveway anytime Spool; don't take any 'gas' in the Powerstroke ... thread. I had a couple friends tell me the same thing about the oxygenated gasoline from large metro stations. I'm glad you posted it to a thread so others will be alerted to this if they have probs soon. When they first started using the stuff aorund here I used to gas up my sled in Tillamook or Woodburn after fishing the Clackamas because it does the same or worse to OB's. Thanks. - RT

[fish_on]

I agree with the fuel filter, but one thing has me wondering if it's not something else. You said the idle was higher than normal and rough. A common problem on the throttle body unit is for the gasket to go bad. This would cause a vacum leak and symptoms of a miss at hwy speed and a high rough idle. I would go to NAPA and get a can of brake clean or carb clean and spray around the base of the throttle body. If the idle changes you have a bad gasket. They are easy to replace and the parts are only a few bucks. Be carefull you dont over torque the throttle body bolts they tend to strip easy in the intake.

[This message has been edited by fish_on (edited 11-06-2000).]

[Deleted User]

Thanks Dustin. I'll check that out. But this started earlier last week only at slowest idle, then it got worse and by Friday it was missing/sputtering at low rpm cruise speed, which I hope is only the clog and cheaper to fix. If I'd known your background I would have had you check it out at the Blue Hole last week. Zaq listened to it and we thought it might have been the splash up around the electrics from a deep puddle I went thru Thanks.


[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-06-2000).]

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

RT, I think it might be your do ma jig. Yep, it could be leaking or loose. Now I have ran into this problem before and it could be a couple of things. If not them, still a good thing to check out anyways.

1) Your injectors could be clogged, or one or more could be burned out. If it's fuel injected of course http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

2) You could have a sparkplug fouling, or you could have a short in one of the wires.

3) Your fuel pump could be crapping out on you.

[Trout,myster]

R.T.; you may want to consider checking your oxygen sensor if the fuel filter doesn't work. These don't last forever and feed the necessary mixture info to your computer. You can test it, or have it tested, but I usually just replace them about every 30K miles. Your problem really sounds like a clogged fuel filter though, I'd do that first. Then use one of the many water removing additives on the market...they seem to help out with the garbage gas this time of year.

[Deleted User]

Kinda strange disecting my sputtering Bronco on the BB, but I really appreciate people's willingness to help. I thought it was going to be clogged injectors too. It turned out to be the worst fouled plug I've ever seen. The gap was actually arked solid with carbon between the 2 contacts. I'm just hoping that some loosened gunk got into that cylinder and not rings gone bad allowing oil blowby http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif . - RT

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Who suggested the fouled sparkplug? Buy that man a beer..... http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif Good to know you can get back at gettin' em. Fish that is http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif