hochness

Hello all,

I just got a 2000 GT from a guy and haven't had it more than a week and now.....

It will idle rough right after you start it if the engine has had a chance to cool down (sometimes not completely cooled down though) and it'll sputter when you give it gas lightly but if you step hard on it, it'll sputter and then lurch forward. Also it smells like it's running really rich.

The previous owner put a K&N FIPK, long tube headers, super 40's, 4.10 gears (don't know if knowing that helps). I took it to Midas (closest place at the time) and they could feel the shutter/sputter and they told me that the K&N filter had just been cleaned (looked like it was) and there was some oil on the MAF so they cleaned it off. They told me that if it still does it, then possibly bad gas. But I would think that bad gas would do it all the time not just after the engine has cooled down. Once it gets warmed up, it's perfectly fine. The previous owner put in 91 or more octane. I've put in 87 twice now. I then found out that he used higher octane so I added some octane booster and then put in a 3rd tank of gas this time 91 octane. I just did that today and have only driven it about 20 miles, and it still is doing the same thing.

I've had some people tell me, head gasket, some bad gas, some low octane on a colder day can cause a problem. What do you all think. Rough idle and sputters except when you punch it. Works great after it warms up. The previous owner said that it was always a rough car until it warms up. I don't believe that you can't change that.


Thanks for any help on this matter.

Sam

hochness

Anyone? Please.

sprostang

I would replace the fuel filter and get the injectors cleaned.

mariotraci

Ford states in the manual... and I quote!:
"Your vehicle is designed to use"regular" unleaded gasoline with an (R=M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recomend the use of gasolines labeld as "regular" that are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas."

"Premium unleaded gasoline is not recomended because it may cause these problems to become more pronounced"(starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability problems during cold start)

"It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel tank if you continue to use high quallity fuel of the recommended octane rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system."

unless you have++++++++timing=91+

timeformiller44

well whens the last time it had spark plugs put in it..and i have a stock 01 and run 93 octane, things runs amazingly....but ya check fuel filter and def check the spark plugs could be a misfire due to spark plugs or another reason...not all misfires are caught by the computer and turn ur check engine light on....let me know what ya find..

hochness

Thanks all for the help. I am taking it to Ford tommorow morning. We'll see what they find.

Hopefully nothing too expensive.

Sam