[tykap]

Hi, this is my first post to the forums but I've been reading it for awhile. The reason I decided to finally post is to thank everyone here for saving my Rodeo(2000,4X4,LS). I've had this truck for three years and I love everything about. Around a year ago I did a "tune up"(I changed the oil and plugs with the cheapest Autozone had) just before pulling a 3-4K +lb trailer 700 miles. Before pulling the trailer I had pretty good power and mpg around 22. After pulling the trailer(NOT in power mode BTW, I didn't know better) the mpg and power started to deteriorate so bad that a month ago I was only getting 9-10 mpg. I thought I burned up the transmission. I was planning on selling it next month because I really can't afford a new transmission or to continue to spend $60+ a week in gas.
Then I found this forum.
After reading a couple thousand threads over a two week period I decided to buy 2 cans of sea foam and a couple cans of carb and choke cleaner. I put one can of sea foam into a half a tank of gas and the other one I sucked through the PVC Valve(after cleaning it with C+C cleaner). I removed the EGR Valve and the pintle was pretty much stuck closed. It would move but not easily. I spent a whole can of C+C cleaner on the EGR. Soaking, spraying and rubbing my pinky in the big hole for about 30 minutes. I dumped everything into a shop rag and it looked like black sand when I was done. Pretty nasty. I also sprayed about a half a can into the small intake tube on the EGR to try and clean it out. I got it pretty clean but next time I'm going to use some kind of probe to really get in there. Then I sprayed C+C cleaner on the air intake "flapper"(?) and brushed all the black gunk of of it with a tooth brush after I carefully sprayed the MAF sensor clean even though it looked pretty good I thought what the heck.
Anyway, after I put everything back together and disconnected the battery for 20 to reset the cpu, I took it out for a little test drive. HOLY SH!T!!!! I'm speachless. There is so much more power it actually squealed the tires from a stand still, it no longer sounds like a diesel engine, the response isn't mushy and the irradic idle seems to be gone. I've just ordered the Denso double platinum plugs and I can't wait to put them in.
There's new life in my rodeo now and I'm once again thinking lift kits and upgrades instead if pocket pain and resentment. Thanks again everyone who has ever posted to this forum. I will keep posting as well and hopefully we can keep the "Rodeo" on the road as long as possible.
Tony