2003 drags a bit when cold

Hello everyone,
I have a 2003 Escape 4x4 with 223000 kms on it. Recently while driving it feels like its " dragging" a bit. Doesnt feel as smooth as usual. My wife commented that after a about 5 minutes of driving, it "loosens" up and is a lot better ( not normal but better)

ANY IDEAS?
Thanks

I'm pretty sure you have the V6. With 138,000 miles it could be a few things. Did it get its 100,000 mile tuneup with new spark plugs and other checks? Has it had the catalytic converter changed? When accelerating does the tach jump up and it just doesn't want to down shift, and down shifts for overpasses and hills? Do you hear almost like a hissing or fan on high type of sound when it is in those high rpm modes? My guess is clogged or clogging catalytic converter. Some genius designed the exhaust manifolds to have mini-catalytic converters as part of them. Supposedly they would heat up quicker and start burning exhaust gas before the main larger catalytic converter. Unfortunately these mini-cats break down and send their guts into the main cat and plug it up. This has been known to cause so much back pressure that the EGR valve on top of the motor explodes. That out of the way, it could also be something as simple as a bad MAF sensor or similar. Is the check engine light on? That would indicate there is a code that can be read at your local auto parts store.

Tach doesnt jump....no hissing sound...feels like someone with a rope around my waist is holding me from running! Gonna check to see if any brakes are seized and noticed today that my rear diff is leaking. Could that maybe the prob? Minimal fluid , spins for a while and loosens? Just guessing

Heres what i did tonite.
I put it on ramps and took off the front right tire. My rotor and pad were fine not much wear at all. Did them in the fall. I started it up and put the vehicle in Neutral and with all my might I couldnt spin that tire ! Is this right? or is my Hub or Caliper seized? If it is the caliper , wouldnt there be wear on pads? Is it the Hub?? ANY IDEAS PLEASE?

meant to say I jacked it up

When you did the brake job last fall did you tie the calipeer up so there was not any stress on the brake hoses?? If not you may want to pump the brakes up wait a little then open the brake bleeder . If fluid rushes out of bleeder you have collasped rubber brake line.

Check out this video on brakes.


https://www.ericthecarguy.com/videos?videoid=_UqTgYgd0M

Exhaaut restriction video.

https://www.ericthecarguy.com/videos?start=15&videoid=d-jp1IIJVVk

https://www.ericthecarguy.com/videos?start=15&videoid=9VZ5K8n5jj0