Who ever can figure this out gets a cookie.
I already know the answer.
This is with my truck.

1997 DI with 198,000 miles.
Poor MPG, while cruising on the highway it feels like you are heading into a strong headwind.
When coming off the expressway it wants to stall, rpm's drop down to below 500, then they come back up and it idles fast, ~1000 rpm or so.
After parking it and shutting it off it smells really hot.
Driving 15 miles to work it uses 1/4 tank of gas.
No check engine light, no pending codes.
All tires are at 40 psi.
Good plugs and wires.
Good air filter.

Who wants to take a stab at the answer?
If no one can figure it out by the time I get home from work tomorrow I will post the answer.

Have at it guys.

 

WTH... can I just name every park of the truck?

Uses alot of gas and feels like your driving into a headwind I'm guessing because it's not a consistent load it sounds like fan clutch, or it's not getting enough fuel via pump or filter. But when the Rpms drop then shoot up? Sounds fuel/air/computer related.

Then it smells really hot.. You obviously put that in there for a reason..

 

Soo.. You say it smells hot. Which is more of a clue than just saying it IS hot. I think it's impossible to SMELL hot which means your burning something? Ok I'm way off..

Shoot I hate you.

 

Plugged cat??

 

Someone put sugar in your gas tank on and you've been driving around with the E-Brake on

 

Did 'someone' drive around with their Parking Brake on by 'accident'?

That would explain the lack of codes, bad MPG, hot "smell" and that headwind feeling...

 

I thought e-brake. But spike wouldn't make such an amature mistake 1. 2. When the e-brake is on you would know. it's not smooth and there's a big light. 4. And why would engine surge.

 

fuel pump?

 

The very first time my wife drove my truck she drove with the parking brake on, for about 2 miles to meet a friend for lunch.
"Why is the truck so hard to move? I mean I have to floor it to make it go"
Me-"The parking brake is on"
Her-"Is that what that red BRAKE light means?"

Come on guys, use your noodle.
It was a $30 and 5 min repair.

K eep
I t
S imple
S tupid

I thought for sure Cosmic or AntiChrist would have it figured out by now.

I may have to give you guys the answer tonight so you dont all hate me more than you already do.

 

I bet it is that new roof rack of yours!

How sad... I'm actually making myself laugh over here...

I hesitate to think it is a ECM related issue as you would get a code or instrument reading, i.e. - O2's would sense over-rich mix, temp sender could over mix but would show in temp gauge.

Really thought the e-brake was a good candidate....Love the wife / brake story!