Too much air? -- Update

[Supermike]

Hey guys... looking for a little advice here...

When I got my truck, it had a REALLY crappy old air cleaner on it. So I replaced it with a 14x4 open element cleaner (see picture below). In the summer time, it runs GREAT! In the spring and fall, it runs OK. But now that it's gotten really cold/damp out again, the old girl really struggles to stay running. I have to run with the choke opened up a bit, and it acts like it's missing a little or struggling to maintain power. It seems to be drinking gas, too (more so than usual).

BUT... again, if the weather warms back up, it gets better and she starts behaving again... running fast and smooth, in fact. This morning it was a tiny bit warmer, and it started up and warmed up easier than it did yesterday. I just replaced the plugs recently with platinum plugs and new wires, coil, PII ignition, etc., and like I said it runs well when it's warm/sunny out, so I don't think that's the issue...

My question is this... is my air cleaner too big for winter-time driving? Is it possible that I'm getting too much air and/or too rich of a mixture? If so, what would you guys recommend?



Thanks as always!

[f100x2]

I can see from the picture that you don't have the heated carb spacer or the hot air tube from the manifold to the air cleaner anymore. This is the same problem with mine. These engines don't like cold air. I would try to find a way to preheat the incoming air. It could also be that the carb was adjusted to compensate for the dirty air cleaner thus needing correction now that you have a new filter.

[Supermike]

I can see from the picture that you don't have the heated carb spacer or the hot air tube from the manifold to the air cleaner anymore. This is the same problem with mine. These engines don't like cold air. I would try to find a way to preheat the incoming air. It could also be that the carb was adjusted to compensate for the dirty air cleaner thus needing correction now that you have a new filter.

Yeah... even my old cruddy one didn't have the snorkel tube from the manifold to the cleaner. I don't know if the carb was adjusted for the old one, per se, as I had it checked after putting this one on and the carb guy said it was as tuned as it could be. BUT... that was during the summer.

Honestly, I think this cleaner works GREAT during the hot, humid summers around here. But in the Ohio Valley we get all ranges of weather, from super hot in the summer to pretty dang cold in the winter. I wonder if I should buy some kind of air cleaner to put on in the winter... something smaller or more closed? Perhaps even an original-style "closed" cleaner with the lid?

[SteveC]

mine had the same problem .. i put a open air filter on it cause i couldnt find one for the original it ran horrible in the winter time .... but now that i put the orignial one are with the heated air tube she works wonderful.

[Supermike]

mine had the same problem .. i put a open air filter on it cause i couldnt find one for the original it ran horrible in the winter time .... but now that i put the orignial one are with the heated air tube she works wonderful.

Hmmm... thanks for the info!

Where does that heated air tube hook up, anyhow??

[DuckRyder]

To a heat shield on the exhaust manifold...



http://www.fordification.com/70explorer_358miles.htm

[Supermike]

To a heat shield on the exhaust manifold...



http://www.fordification.com/70explorer_358miles.htm

Does it just sit on the manifold, then? The "snorkel" doesn't really connect to anything, I presume?

[DuckRyder]

No, it bolts on using the manifold bolts, see the blue shield on the manifold? The tube is captive once the air cleaner is on...

[Supermike]

No, it bolts on using the manifold bolts, see the blue shield on the manifold? The tube is captive once the air cleaner is on...

Ahhh... I see, said the blind man!

I was missing (not seeing) that shield before... and apparently your reference to it...

[SteveC]

i put all that back on mine and it takes 1/2 to 3/4 less time that it did to warm up than it use to

[Supermike]

i put all that back on mine and it takes 1/2 to 3/4 less time that it did to warm up than it use to

Wow... the trouble, of course, is finding one! Why are so many of them missing?! Did people remove them for a specific reason?

Maybe I could use some dryer vent and duct tape... (j/k)

[Sam I Am]

I have to run with the choke opened up a bit, and it acts like it's missing a little or struggling to maintain power. It seems to be drinking gas, too (more so than usual).

I don't want to seem too nit-picky here, but once the engine is warm, the choke should be opened all the way.
You close the choke to start, and open it once warm.

Hopefully that's what you meant and you haven't been driving around with the choke mostly closed but "opened a bit", which would also cause the symptoms you describe.

[Supermike]

I have to run with the choke opened up a bit, and it acts like it's missing a little or struggling to maintain power. It seems to be drinking gas, too (more so than usual).

I don't want to seem too nit-picky here, but once the engine is warm, the choke should be opened all the way.
You close the choke to start, and open it once warm.

Hopefully that's what you meant and you haven't been driving around with the choke mostly closed but "opened a bit", which would also cause the symptoms you describe.

LOL! Reverse terminology, I guess... by "Open" I meant the choke pull/button is all the way out. By "closed" I meant that the button was pushed all the way in. That's how I've always described open/closed... I guess because my grandpa did it that way. Pull it out to start (as necessary), push it in once it's running.

That make better sense?

[mlheppl]

I'm of the understanding that an engine will generate more HP (I would translate that to running better) if the air coming into the carb is colder. Hence the demand for cold air intake systems on newer vehicles.

Not claiming to be an expert or even a decent shade tree mechanic for that matter, but it seems to me that this problem would be corrected by adjusting the carburetor, and possibly the timing if the carb adjustment doesn't resolve the issue.

[ToughOldFord]

And if you do not already know, check that you have a thermostat and it's of a proper temp, 185 or above. 160 is too cold for anything.