No power up hill

[kerstingm]

Hi I am a new owner of a 1998 Expedition XLT 4.6 engine, but a devoted Ford owner for life. Anyway we have been noticing a problem while going up hills we have no power the tach is arounf 4k and I am only going 30 mph. A couple of times now the tach has even jumped to 5k then jumped back to 2k. Twice now we have lost reverse till the engine and or trans cooled down. I have noticed the trans shifts around 3500 rpms. The fluid is full and looks a little burnt but not too bad I have seen worse. I am going to try changing the filter and fluid and add some Lucas or other conditioner (name brand). My question is there anything else I should look at? One of the first thing I added when I got the suv was a Spectra cold air intake to help with gas milage, but I am only doing around 13 mpg. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am really hoping this dosen't sound like a trans going out. We absolutly love this truck.
Thank you.

 

[miller57]

no power

I know this happened to me long time ago. I had a chevy lumina and it slowly was losing power. It got real bad!! I took it to a Cottman trans shop ( thinking it was the trans). They took it for a test deive and said they thought the cats were clogged. I took it to my regular mech. and it turned out to be right. The cat was clogged . Had it replaced and it ran great.
HOPE this helps
miller57

 

[kerstingm]

I was thinking about that last night. I had a Ranger in 98 that was doing the samething
And it turned out to be a bad cat converter. I know the muffler has a crack at the seam
So I an to put a flowmaster system on. Do you know if this would effect the reverse going out
When the trans gets too hot?

 

[miller57]

maybe its working to hard and overheating. you seem to be putting alot of stress on the engine so that would also put stress on the trans.
good luck
miller57

 

[JUST4FUN]

on the cheap side try changing the gas filter