'88 5.0 starting/running problems

Topic: '88 5.0 starting/running problems (Read 12909 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #75 – April 23, 2005, 11:33:06 PM

Is that going to cost much?

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #76 – April 23, 2005, 11:34:43 PM

5 bucks maybe?

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #77 – April 23, 2005, 11:39:17 PM

Hmmm.. AutoHole doesn't list it as available for my vehicle. As in the part doesn't exist according to them. Odd. Morons.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.. an update on the car's behavior. Now it doesn't want to rev past about 3500 RPM at all.. slow push on the pedal or stab at it.. cold or warm.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #78 – April 24, 2005, 12:08:20 AM

Iv'e seen em in parts stores

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AutoHole doesn't list it as available for my vehicle. As in the part doesn't exist according to them. Odd. Morons.

You've been using their always wrong online parts lookup. Remember my thread about mayhaps slapping an exploder cam in a 88t-bird I had my eye on? According to the hole the SO and HO had the same firing order. They've since fixed that error yet I still see many others....

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #79 – April 24, 2005, 12:12:44 AM

Yeah, I know the O-rings exist. (if nothing else, I was looking over my Haynes manual today in the section discussing removing the injectors) Just that AutoHole's webmaster needs a .

Should I be worried about the caps, too?

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #80 – April 24, 2005, 12:23:02 AM

Nah, they tend to take a lot more abuse. The rubber o-rings corrodes after time and are designed to work with petroleum based products.
When I was in the Air Force I was A Fuel Systems Mechanic. The job entailed crawling around in aircraft fuel tanks, fixing leaks, troubleshooting fuelsystem problems and changing components and parts. Many of the fuel lines are coupled together and hold pressure. At those coupling points o-rings are used to keep things leak free. The O-rings have a shelf life of 10 years in storage (in a parts bin waiting to be used), but can last much longer in a fuel tank. The main cause of failure? They crack and become brittle.....

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #81 – April 24, 2005, 12:27:48 AM

I guess I'll have to pick some up tomorrow, then.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #82 – April 24, 2005, 01:17:05 PM

Aight.. got a few extra dollars to mess around with today. I'll be putting 5 gallons in the Mark, getting some 1/4" hose to drain some gas from this car, and picking up some O-rings and possibly some fresh paint thinner.. unless anyone has a better suggestion of what to soak these in overnight..

Should I save a little bit of gas to rinse them off in once they're done soaking, or just let 'em dry and install 'em (with the new O-rings) the next day?

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #83 – April 24, 2005, 04:38:52 PM

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Should I save a little bit of gas to rinse them off in once they're done soaking, or just let 'em dry and install 'em (with the new O-rings) the next day?

Yes, and when you install them dont forget to lubricate the O-rings with some petrolatum or equivalent (Vaseline is about 85% petrolatum)

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #84 – April 24, 2005, 04:48:49 PM

They didn't have any in stock at AutoHole.. so I may go to Advanced/Discount or something.

Pumping the gas out of the '88 now.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #85 – April 24, 2005, 09:40:22 PM

OK, we're trying to secure at the very least a dial pressure gauge with no max pressure lock on it, to test the fuel pressure before we go dropping the tank. I need to double-check what fuel pressure I should see.. Shawn guessed 37-42.. is this correct?

I pumped out all but 2 gallons of gas from the tank. Hell, we even killed the battery doing it. I put 4 gallons of that gas in every other car in the yard, plus held 4 more in spare cans. Have 5 gallons of 93 octane sitting in another can. If it does turn out to be the fuel pump, I'll just pump out the rest of the gas completely, drop the gas tank and replace the pump, and then put in another new fuel filter. I even have a can of Sea Foam here for any other fuel system cleaning needs.

So, kerosene is good with tank sludge? If I'm going to drop this tank, I might as well do something like that to clean it up.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #86 – April 25, 2005, 11:38:22 AM

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I need to double-check what fuel pressure I should see.. Shawn guessed 37-42.. is this correct?

Factory # is 39 PSI with the vacuum line disconnected.

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So, kerosene is good with tank sludge?

I would assume so....Never tried it. make sure you get all the kerosene out before you refill that tank though.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #87 – April 26, 2005, 01:35:06 PM

Slightly odd new twist:

I decided I wasn't going to wait for my friend to show up, (he can't come over again until tomorrow.. is busy tonight) and tried the pressure gauge myself.

It's just a cheap little CH tire pressure gauge, but a dial gauge with no max pressure lock. I was told this would suffice for a quick and dirty test.

Well, the pressure gauge gets NOTHING. I really pushed it on there a couple times.. had to hold the fuel lines in place, I was concerned I was pressing so hard. I know the gauge works, I've tested it on several tires so far.

However, here's the odd part: Before I tried it, I was getting around an 800 RPM on a warmed-up engine, but it was a little bit rough. After I tried the gauge, the engine smoothed out and idle increased to about 1400 RPM. It still bogs when you stab the pedal, but now it is again able to slowly rev up past 5k. (it lost that ability for awhile)

Could I have just tightened the schrader valve too much and put it too far into the stem, or could I really have no significant fuel pressure? When I used Tom's grounding/quarter-inch-hose trick the other day to drain most of the tank, the flow from the hose was leisurely.. no sputtering, just a gentle flow of gas. (it reads 6 gallons in it now.. I put some fresh 93 in it before trying this test, just in case having only 2 gallons in the tank might affect the results negatively)

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #88 – April 26, 2005, 02:32:03 PM

OK.. another update.

I had to push on it really hard, but the gauge finally gave a reading. 10 PSI at idle, no change when revved up a little bit.

Did not have the vacuum line to the FPR disconnected, now that I think about it. Would that account for any of the difference?

EDIT: Nevermind, still 10 PSI with the FPR disconnected.

Re: '88 5.0 starting/running problems

Reply #89 – April 26, 2005, 05:38:52 PM

Well, I'm guessing I have more gas tank draining in my future.

If I do have to replace this fuel pump, would I be wise to get a new FPR at the same time? I think the replacement one at AutoHole was like $18.99 or something. I'd still probably get the Holley pump I linked to.. and another fuel filter, since I'm going to completely drain the tank this time. Figure I'll suck up enough to possibly ruin even a 6-month-old filter.. and even if I don't, I don't see how replacing it when I do the other things could hurt.

Since we need a third functioning vehicle around here if I'm going to extended-loan my '86 to my aunt for driving to work, I may get some help on picking up these parts and getting it titled.. help separate of my own efforts to pay for this other car, which might need a bit more work to be roadworthy. I'll evaluate each possibility (fix + tag LSC if I pay for it soon vs. fuel pump replacement + tag for '88) over the next few days, because it's sure a hell of a lot less depressing than researching some disease I probably inherited from my father.