1996 F-150 Surging/Starts hard hot

[Eelpout08]

96 F-150, 351, auto trans, 180,xxx miles.

Been having some minor problems for quite a while, has been getting worse lately.

It has always run rough for a short period right after starting when the motor is warmed up, lately it will do it for about 30 seconds to a min, revving it up seems to help it "clear out" usually. it is almost like it is not running on all cylinders.

It also surges just off idle, barely giving it any gas, if i go a little faster it runs fine.

it has also idled rough when stopping at a stop light since i got it with 80,000 miles.

There is no check engine light

Plugs and wires were replaced. (cant remember if cap and rotor were done, i would assume so)

I have replaced o2 sensors, but that was at leaset 2 yrs ago, didnt seem to do much then.

Any ideas what to check next?

Dirty injectors?

EGR?

Looking for ideas

Thanks

[Scott K]

I would start with checking fuel pressure for starting issue, and possibly the egr for the surge off idle. Just disconnect and plug the vacuum hose to the egr valve, and see if the problem goes away, if it does, more then likely the EGR position senson on top of the egr valve. Also clean the heating element on the mass air flow meter with a good quality clear drying brake clean. I use The red cad of CLR.

[fishing tech]

Fuel pressure regulator leaking and or upper intake gasket. Make sure that the back 2 plug wires on the drivers side are not run together.

[Eelpout08]

Heres what i have done:

1/3 can of seafoam introduced thru intake, got calls from half the town wondering if i "blew the motor in my truck"

Pulled EGR and cleaned, did not seem stuck or excessivly dirty

IAC pulled and cleaned, did not seem stuck or excessivly dirty, but was not closed or open, was halfway in between, normal?

Since then i have not been able to get it to do the surging, and it doesnt run rough for nearly as long on a hot start, so something definitly helped, but not 100% yet.

I am still planning to clean the mass airflow sensor but havn't got a chance to get a tamperproof torx screwdriver yet.

[Scott K]

Yes the IAC is in a natural state sitting in the middle. You shouldnt need to pull the tamper proof torx screws out, just pull the screws out where the MAF bolts to the airbox cover, and you will see the heating element from the filter side of the MAF.

[Eelpout08]

Update: turns out the hard hot start is most likely the head gasket. Found out my 'dirty' coolant was actually oil in the coolant, and now when i park coolant bubbles out of the overflow. Bummer