My pickup seems to start and run smoothly, but I can't help but think I have some compromise. This truck has 200,000 miles on it and has had some work done on it, but I don't have the information on what has been done...previous owner told me he had extensive work done and referenced the timing belt and would provide the paperwork, but never did and now he has skipped the country.
I got a great buy on the truck $2100, so now I just gotta do some home work to tweak it.
I'm concerned the engine may not be producing the horsepower it is supposed to. When running in 5th gear it seems to lug. Tires are not oversized. If they were, that would explain the sluggishness. I'm only getting about 16 to
17 mpg. Seems that is a bit low. I can be running 70 in 4th and shift to 5th and it has a hard time holding the speed...you have to keep accelerator on the floor. That indicates to me the 5th gear is to high for the conditions the truck is running under. In 4th you can run all the way up to about 80 - 85 and it seems fine....my Dad says just run in 4th if you think it is lugging... I can do that, but I think my mileage is suffering.Oil pressure gauge indicates good oil pressure and it doesn't smoke. It doesn't use any oil. I checked plugs and they are Bosch Platinum 4 and look to be in good shape. It has a K&N Filter and I've serviced it.
After I got it, I had a mechanic check out a roaring and he found a carrier bearing out and the bearings in the rear differential were rough. He replaced them. About 400 miles later, the pickup starts a making a knocking noise from the rear end. A trip back to the mechanic indicated the bearings they installed were not done right and the ring and pinon gear had to be replaced. My mechanic didn't even try to charge me for the work the second time. Said it was the result of work his people did. Now the rearend seems fine. My mechanic likes the truck and has offered to buy it...but I looked hard for a truck like this and I don't want to part with it....right now anyway...
I wonder if others with this type of truck have had a similar experience and if the truck came out with the fifth gear a bit tall.
I've got to get it inspected and I know the muffler needs replacing. I'm having a nearby muffler shop redo the exhaust system. I have had folks tell me I need to have the catalytic converter removed. I don't think this shop will do that.
I'd like to hear from other folks who have had experience with this type of engine, and drive train to compare notes. I'd like to explore options to make this truck perform a bit better.
All feedback appreciated...
NJ