Fuel issue

[Vonrocket]

Apologies if this has been covered, I tried searching several threads but haven't seen my specific problem. Particularly at higher speeds, my '85 5-speed van loses power the harder you push in the gas pedal. To get it to run smoothly and with any sort of vigor you have to have the pedal barely pushed down and when going up hills sometimes even with that it drops down to 45-50mph. Fuel filter was my first guess. Hoping for something I can handle myself, but recommendations for a mechanic in the Portland area would also be welcomed.

[Andywear]

Does your van have a RPM gauge?
It could be fuel filter, which is an easy exchange... Fuel filter plugged up usually means, when at stop light the motor chugs and almost or will die. To start back up need to hold the gas peddle down.
Did you check your air filter? (replacing both fuel filter and air filter is the cheapest)
However, I do feel with the limited info you gave, (and me not being a mechanic) its just an old van motor is just weak. bad compression. :cnfsd:

[timsrv]

It's been my experience that the 1st indication you get of a clogging fuel filter would be at high demand. You van needs high flow at highway speeds and/or steep hills. It has not been my experience to see the problem at idle or in other low demand situations. Regardless, Toyota recommends fuel filter replacement at 60k mile intervals. If you've ever had fuel system contamination you will need to change it much more frequently. If you don't know the last time it was changed, it's just a good routine maintenance to replace. Who knows, it just might solve your issue. Tim

https://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/showthread.php?27-Basic-Van-knowledge-for-new-owners&p=3329#post3329