hey guys, i have a 1998 F150, 5.4L, 165k miles, flowmaster 40 series dual exhaust, Edge Evo Programmer, K&N air filter, GOTTS mod CAI, and finally, 305-70-17 Nitto Terra Grapplers. My problem is that I have NO power or "get up" what-so-ever. It's awful, I am on setting #2 on the EVO and i feel like im pulling a house! 0 throttle response, although once i get up around 3000 rpm's it kicks in pretty good. What can i do? I just want to feel confident pullin the boat, and as of right now it struggles to get up the mountain on the way to school (I go to Appalachian State University).

I guess im just wondering what i can do to get more power and torque. I mean this is a 5.4L V8, it's gotta be better than this!

thanks in advance guys!

 

If you remove the programmer, do you get the same results?

 

i haven't tried that yet... ill do that and get back to you!

thanks!

 

it's bad when i take it off too...

 

You tuned it back to stock when you took off the edge? If that's so you need to start going through the checklist of what could be causing the symptoms as far as the rest of the truck goes.

 

Got Compression ? Run a leak down test.

 

Forgive me, i don't know a whole lot about this stuff!?!

What is compression? And what is a leak down test? Thanks guys, you're awesome!

Oh and i did set it back to stock when i took it off, then reset it to setting 2 when i put it back on.

 

did you do the custom settings when you set it the EVO on level 2

 

Ok I don't know your exact situation so sorry for the list of questions I'm just trying to help you out.Hope I answer a few of your questions and give you some stuff to ponder.

1. Did it just start acting like it had no power the past couple weeks or has it always been a little sluggish? I see you've got larger tires and dual exhaust, I don't know what gears you have but that's probably part of the problem. If you have like 3.55 gears on hills and larger tires that will make it sluggish. You said it kicks in good around 3000 rpms which leads me to think your exhaust took a little off your low end torque also. What size of piping do you have on your dual exhaust?

2. If it just started acting like this, when was the last time the:

-spark plugs were changed, With 165k it might be time if they were changed back at 100k
-fuel filter

3. Are there any trouble codes that come up when you scan or is the CEL on?

Compression is psi in the cylinder when it makes a stroke to put it simply. A compression test is checking to make sure there is adaquate psi in each cylinder to ensure there isn't a leak in the head or between the piston and wall.
A leak down or "cylinder leakage" test is similar to a compression test in that it tells you how well your engine's cylinders are sealing. But instead of measuring pressure, it measures pressure loss.

 

I have a stock 5.4 in a 97 and it ran ok. i messed with it here and there with no positive results. i took it to a reputable shop for a tune up and man what a difference. it has 160k miles and it runs really good.


sometimes it is better to know the limits of your skill and as much as we hate to admit it, the profesional do know more.

 

Sounds like you need to run through all the basic mantainence:

Fluid changes
Fuel filter
Maybe new plugs/COP's
Maybe new injectors
Regear

 

ok, i just had it serviced and it is running a lot smoother! Everything maintenance wise should be good (plugs, oil, fluids, etc.)

I think that otto may be right... how do i do this test?

the piping on the dual exhaust is 2.5"... i think

Finally, i have not messed with anything on the EVO... mainly because i don't know how to... it's just on setting 2, nothing custom

I did just have a coil pack go out... which is the 2nd one to do so... could all of them be going bad? Also, what gears could i get to give me more power and torque?

thanks again for all the help guys

 

I think a bad coil pack will definitely hurt your power, but I would expect it to throw a code. If it were me, and one went bad, I'd replace them all.

For gears, probably something in the 4.10 range. I doubt you'd want to go as high as 4.5.

For a leakdown test, you'll probably have to take it to a shop. Same for a basic compression test. I doubt you have the equipment to do any of that. Just FYI, I once had a Pinto that had bad compression in a cylinder from the day I got it - NEW! I just thought that was how they were supposed to run!

- Jack

 

would re-gearing increase power and torque? Also, would it hurt gas mileage at all? If not, then i really want to re-gear to 4.10 gears, how much would that run me, installed and everything?

If i go to a shop do i need to just ask for a leak down test and a compression test? Will they know what i mean?

again, thanks guys, you've been great

 

regearing utilizes existing torque better