08 power loss/ambient temps

[craveman85]

It's starting to get hot out again up here in ny. 70+ today and 80s this week. I notice my truck is definitely sluggish on days where it's 75+. It feels like I still have my winter weight in the bed when I'm going up hills. I know that warmer air is less dense and contains less oxygen therefore requires less fuel and the computer compensates by using less fuel. However I believe the amount of power loss I feel in this truck is more than less oxygen in the same volume of air. Is there part of the computer that adjusts timing for warmer temps? I remember reading once that you can put a resister in the iat sensor wire and it will tell the engine it's cooler. However I don't want it to lean out the engine too much which is what I'm thinking it will do. Is there another way around this besides having a custom tune made?I just want to advance my timing a few degrees. Side note my iron duke 2.5 jeep feels like it has no power loss in higher temps. Probably because it can't retard itself. I love distributors.

 

[Soledad]

The ECU will take temp readings from the MAF and Coolant Sensor and adjust the amount of fuel accordingly.

You are correct that the resistor mod makes the ECU think the temps are cooler but it actually richens up the fuel, not lean it out. But, I'm a firm believer in trying to figure out first why the truck seems to be losing a lot of power as outside temps get warmer.

Maybe you have a biased sensor? Maybe the fan clutch is on too much and dragging down the engine? Maybe the fuel pump is getting weak (fuel pressure is down)? Maybe the fuel filter is dirty? Lots of things to check.

You can read a lot of the engine vitals with the free forscan.org software and a computer (or phone). You can also use TorqePro for Android devices. Having one or both of these really is a good idea. They may end up showing you why the truck feels like it's lost power.

Hopefully others will chime in soon.