I got the fuel pressure gauge (pays to have a cousin that works at AutoZone). Started it up. Gauge went to 50 psi. Let it idle for a bit. Switched it off. Pressure dropped to 43 psi immediately, which I would think would be normal with the fuel pump shutting off. Over the course of the next 5 minutes (I timed it), it dropped 1 psi. Heres the kicker. I put a new fuel pump in it almost 2 weeks ago. I bled the lines and it ran great. While checking the pressure, it effectively bled the line again. Right this second it starts and runs great. Very soon, maybe tomorrow or the next day) it will start it again. Is it possible that I simply haven't bled the lines properly? And could this account for the gas smell? Going to eat a bite, then check inside the throttle body for oil as that seems to be a common symptom of the plenum needing fixing.

 

Minor update. I FINALLY got around to checking it out and it does have a moderate amount of oil on the plenum plate and it failed the magnetism test, so it DEFINITELY needs replacing. Maybe this week sometime I will have the money.

 

Ok.I replaced the temperature sensor and most of my issues are gone. Mileage is way up, gas smell seems to be gone, and power is back (at least as much power as the 5.2 has). After I replaced it, I disconnected the + battery cable and touched it to the -. Left it off for a minute and reconnected it. I took it for a drive and ran perfect, cranked perfect, no smell, all that jive. Today, however, it's been hard to crank a couple of times. Could this be the pcm relearning the new parameters or is this the same symptom as before? I did receive my plenum kit from Hughes and will get to it this weekend hopefully.

 

How is your fuel pressure?

 

Fuel pressure is dead on 50psi. Brand new fuel pump to boot.

 

You know, this is kind of odd, and I haven't found why, but my truck was a slow starter sometimes before I did the plenum.
After that, starts 2nd pop of the starter.

 

how are your plugs/wires/cap/rotor? Air filter? I take it the plenum is blown? That could be contributor.....

Is it hard to start any particular time? First thing in the morning?Cold? Hot? Random? What brand fuel pump did you get? Still the original O2 sensor?

 

Fuel pump is Precision. New plugs, wires and will do the rotor and distributor cap when i do the plenum. Air filter is a K&N and is clean. Happens randomly. No codes on the computer. Far as I know the o2 sensors are original. Need to do the plenum anyway so after that, if it still messes up, I will do the o2s.

 

Plenum or not, you need to replace the o2's regardless.

 

I pulled the intake and the plenum DEFINITELY needs the kit. I will get busy tomorrow morning putting the kit in.