NHTSA Complaint #10659991 — 2005 FORD E-350

WHILE DRIVE ON HIGHWAY,VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHEN I ENCOUNTERED A HILL. IT BOGGED DOWN AND STRUGGLED TO MAKE IT TO TOP OF HILL AND LOST SPEED DOWN TO 30 MPH OR LESS AND THEN DIED. IT WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY, BUT AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR 15 MINUTES, IT STARTED AND HAD REGAINED POWER AND I DROVE IT TILL I GOT TO THE NEST HILL AND DID THE SAME THING SEVERAL TIMES TILL I MADE IT HOME 3 HOURS LATER FOR A 10 MILE TRIP. I CHECKED ONLINE ON THE VEHICLE FOR FORD OWNERS FORUM AND SAW THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND DESCRIBED IT AS BOGGING DOWN AND LOSING POWER. SOME ONE SUGGESTED CHANGING THE EGR VALVE WHICH I HAD DONE, AND THE FUEL FILTERS AS WELL AS AIR FILTER. WHEN I REMOVED THE BOTTOM FUEL FILTER UNDER THE VAN, I CAPTURED THE FUEL IN THE FILTER AND LINE AND IT HAD WHAT LOOKED LIKE SILVER PAINT. I KEPT THE SAMPLE AND IT IS SOFT AND PLIABLE. I ASSUMED IT WAS A PROTECTIVE COATING LINING THE FUEL TANK. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING,BECAUSE IT COULD DO DAMAGE TO THE INJECTORS AND OTHER THINGS. *TR