7.5 MPG and no power

Tiny
TYLER NABORS
  • MEMBER
  • 1987 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
Hi everyone!
I recently bought an 1987 R10. Initially the truck idles great, in the morning around 25 degrees F it cranks for about 3 seconds and fires right up. I changed the thermostat to a (195) because the engine wouldn’t warm up. Put plugs, wires, coil, fuel filter, air filter, sea foam, and EGR. So far I’ve done the basics but I’m getting to an end of parts to replace. Any thoughts?
And no service engine light comes on. Does come on with ignition “on”
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 AT 6:48 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,883 POSTS
The 350 with TBI wasn't a mileage engine but 7.5 is low even for them. Does it have the towing package with low gearing? If you are driving along on a flat road and just drop the transmission into neutral let off the throttle and don't touch the brakes does it seem to roll free? Beyond brake drag or the low gearing the other item would be the OEM exhaust, they are very restrictive, True dual exhausts on them makes a big difference.
Then you want to look at the rpm's when in gear and see if they stay steady or if the transmission is slipping.
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 AT 8:58 AM
Tiny
TYLER NABORS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I will have to check that about being in neutral. I forgot to add. My exhaust is a true dual. However there are cats still on there and the left one is rattling internally. If that’s the issue than perfect. Next question if I take these cats off, will the O2 sensor be affected and throw a check engine light since those are not heated?
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,883 POSTS
A blocked catalytic converter could cause poor mileage but that would usually show up with higher engine temperatures, it's possible the O2s are getting old and reporting wrong, or if you were seeing the engine not warming up you might want to look at the coolant temperature sensor, if it thinks the engine is running cool it will increase the fuel to it similar to the way a choke works. If you can find an old scan tool like the old snap on brick MT2500 with the correct cartridge or an OTC Genisys it would let you look at data the PCM is seeing. Those are good on pre- obd II vehicles and many cover up to 2008 for the SO and 2013 on the OTC. Handy to have for the older vehicles.
Removing the catalytic converters on that truck will cause issues, not just a CEL but it can cause a lack of back pressure that can make the system act strange.
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 AT 11:46 AM

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