Engine sounds like it's laboring?

Hey guys, just rolled over 97k miles. Recently, the truck sounds like it's laboring a little bit. It coasts just fine so I don't think it's a trans, shaft, diff, issue. It really only vibrates/labors when the engine is under load. The engine isn't really any louder than normal, but I can feel it almost shudder. It just doesn't feel right.

No CELs and I ran an entire tank of gas through it to eliminate a bad tank of gas as the culprit. I can't figure out what the issue might be. I've owned the truck since it was new so I KNOW it doesn't sound quite right.

Any ideas?

 

She might benefit from a basic tune up, air filer, mass air flow sensor cleaning, make sure the intake is all bolted up correctly, I would start with that and see if that helps

 

Yea, I would agree to start at a basic tune-up. A similar rough idle and laboring started on mine about 3 months ago and I replaced all the spark plugs, cleaned/oiled intake filter, etc. and it seemed to help.

 

Yeah I'm thinking about doing the spark plugs soon. I did them around 43k (early) but haven't done them since then. Oil should be somewhat fresh (new filter about 1k ago) but the intake filter may be dirty.

Of all things I'm thinking the spark plugs may make the most difference (since it controls combustion) but other than that I feel the basic stuff couldn't possibly cause what I'm feeling.

 

The service interval for copper core spark plugs is 30,000 miles, so you were and are now overdue again.

No CEL means your cats might still be OK, so tune that thing up before it's too late.

 

Good to know. I'll get after it when I get home. Thanks!

 

x2 times two!