Truck Lacking Power?

SweatyAppleSauce · June 11, 2007

I may not have noticed it, but I think my Tahoe isn't making the power it did a few weeks. I noticed when I tried to do a power stand for the first time in like 2 months. It couldn't spin the tires. Now, besides the obvious, spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, fuel filter, what else should I replace. I'm pretty sure the o2 sensors are original. It has 113,000 miles. I just changed the oil to 5w-30 Royal Purple, the egr valve, and the air filter is clean. I'd really appreciated some help. I went to the parts store and got a quote on the parts I'd need, 258 dollars!

VMax2007 · June 11, 2007

I may not have noticed it, but I think my Tahoe isn't making the power it did a few weeks. I noticed when I tried to do a power stand for the first time in like 2 months. It couldn't spin the tires. Now, besides the obvious, spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, fuel filter, what else should I replace. I'm pretty sure the o2 sensors are original. It has 113,000 miles. I just changed the oil to 5w-30 Royal Purple, the egr valve, and the air filter is clean. I'd really appreciated some help. I went to the parts store and got a quote on the parts I'd need, 258 dollars!

Sorry, can't help, but remind me never to buy a truck from you...LOL

cchupek · June 11, 2007

I may not have noticed it, but I think my Tahoe isn't making the power it did a few weeks. I noticed when I tried to do a power stand for the first time in like 2 months. It couldn't spin the tires. Now, besides the obvious, spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, fuel filter, what else should I replace. I'm pretty sure the o2 sensors are original. It has 113,000 miles. I just changed the oil to 5w-30 Royal Purple, the egr valve, and the air filter is clean. I'd really appreciated some help. I went to the parts store and got a quote on the parts I'd need, 258 dollars!

My last truck (2000 GMC FS, 5.3) started to lack power after awhile. After I had a mechanic do a complete throttle body clean out, it seemed to have the same ole' pep again. Just a hunch.

Nytemare · June 11, 2007

I may not have noticed it, but I think my Tahoe isn't making the power it did a few weeks. I noticed when I tried to do a power stand for the first time in like 2 months. It couldn't spin the tires. Now, besides the obvious, spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, fuel filter, what else should I replace. I'm pretty sure the o2 sensors are original. It has 113,000 miles. I just changed the oil to 5w-30 Royal Purple, the egr valve, and the air filter is clean. I'd really appreciated some help. I went to the parts store and got a quote on the parts I'd need, 258 dollars!

My last truck (2000 GMC FS, 5.3) started to lack power after awhile. After I had a mechanic do a complete throttle body clean out, it seemed to have the same ole' pep again. Just a hunch.

injector cleaning too wouldn't hurt any.

And it may just be some bad gas. I wouldn't bother with O2 sensors unless they are throwing codes, same as the EGR. Just do the plug,wire,etc regular tune up, and get the TB and injectors cleaned up. Oh and maybe get your MAF sensor cleaned too, sometimes it gets coated in crap that the filter cant screen out.

SweatyAppleSauce · June 12, 2007

anyone else have any ideas?

my07silvy · June 14, 2007

I had a 99 denali and it wouldn't come close to doing a brake hold.....350 vortechs only had 255 horse...I felt great upgrading to a 5.3 but now I feel like the 5.3 has no "marbles".....Either stop trying to do burnouts or buy a faster truck! lol

svensk · June 14, 2007

"I think my Tahoe isn't making the power it did"

Are you sure you aren't mistakenly driving a Ford?

jhm · June 14, 2007

I suggest you have the fuel injectors cleaned. I had the dealer do it, I was skeptical, but it was $120 well spent. They do a thorough cleaning. The entire fuel system. No, you can't get the same thing from a few bottles of Techron.

TonyMazz · June 14, 2007

Lacking power is a subjective opinion and based on doing a power stand....guess that's hard to diagnose.

I suggest there are 153 possible issues associated with why you couldn't do a "power stand"....

Yes injectors could be one, depending on how you have treated the truck, it's temperature at the time, gas used, traction and road conditions, changes made to the truck, transmission fluid temperature, TCC, fuel, was it in open loop, closed loop....etc etc...

If you want to power stand....pour water in front of your rear tire(s) and move foward and light them up like they do in the water box at the drag strip...

I personally am not sure why you'd want to push an old' girl that hard but hey it's your truck.....if you really want to put out some billows....put down a few drops of motor oil....and say whooo hooo ....

jhm · June 14, 2007

Lacking power is a subjective opinion and based on doing a power stand....guess that's hard to diagnose.

I suggest there are 153 possible issues associated with why you couldn't do a "power stand"....

Yes injectors could be one, depending on how you have treated the truck, it's temperature at the time, gas used, traction and road conditions, changes made to the truck, transmission fluid temperature, TCC, fuel, was it in open loop, closed loop....etc etc...

If you want to power stand....pour water in front of your rear tire(s) and move foward and light them up like they do in the water box at the drag strip...

I personally am not sure why you'd want to push an old' girl that hard but hey it's your truck.....if you really want to put out some billows....put down a few drops of motor oil....and say whooo hooo ....

bleach works good too.

asilverblazer · June 14, 2007

A lot of environmental issues could ba at play too. A couple of months ago is was probably cooler, a cooler tire has less traction than a warm tire. Goes for road surface too, a hot road will heat the tire up make it softer, more tacky. Plus a cooler more dense air charge will deliver more power. The list is end list here, any combination of those things can make the truck feel more powerful.