Trying to keep the words positive. Noticed a gas smell in the exhaust recently and having the idle issues again. I am thinking gaskets on the idle but the gas smell in the exhaust is worrisome. I originally thought residual gas from spilling some when swapping the tank, fuel pump, etc. The smell is now minimal I think but I noticed today firing it up that the new hi flow exhaust ( cat, muffler, and pipes ) is a lot quieter than when it was installed 3 weeks ago. I mean it went from a almost to loud 50 series Flowmaster to now it sounds like a lawnmower. TPS is new as well. I am wondering if it is a intake gasket causing issues or maybe an 02 sensor etc. I want to do the gaskets and timing parts this weekend if I can squeeze it all in so want to hold off on the 02 if I can. I hate to keep throwing parts at it hoping it will fix the problems. I ruined some good components with a rusted out gas tank trying to upgrade fuel components while still pumping rusty gas through the new parts. I hate to do the same with more parts. I am hoping I didn't clog the Cat already.

Soooo.... what exactly is the issue?

He's running rich. Could be for a lot of reasons, sounds like he's got a handle on the common ones and he's posting to make sure he isn't missing anything.

What motor/tranny?

What gaskets are you talking about?

What do your spark plugs look like? I would test the O2 sensor too.

A bad O2 sensor should trigger a CEL code, have you checked ?

I have not seen the CEL come on when driving. I need to check with the key off I did not realize that. Thanks KV for cutting to the point. I get a little off sometimes. I don't know how to verify the 02 is good or not. I also don't know if the new cat could clog already or if it is just the fuel filter clogged after the major cleaning flushing I did. I ran the fuel out for a while to catch it all but I am sure I need to swap the filter again. I am planning to check the screens on the new injectors as well when I put the intake and TB gaskets in just to make sure they aren't clogged with rust. I wish I had a reliable guy to take it to because with my new traveling job I didn't always have the time to do all this stuff. I eventually nee a commuter car so I can wrench on this without needing it to drive 4-500 miles two days later.

Still sounds mostly like a lawn mower and when I got home from GA to NC tonight and got off the highway it was idling at 3K in neutral and dropping down to 800 or 900 in gear idling with the clutch out if that makes sense. I am going to change the gaskets, any remaining vacuum and coolant lines, the 02 sensor, and the fuel pressure sensor. I would like to change the timing belt etc. but not enough time before my next trip out. Any other things to check? I also plan to check the CEL codes in the AM

Bought the timing kit, fuel pressure reg, PCV, new radiator, all new lines, new vac lines, new Fuel filter ( number 4 ) new 02, Toyota Red coolant, new intake hose ( found some cracks ) and going to dive in and see what I can get done. 600 dollars later. I asked an old family mechanic who has worked on these trucks since they where new and he couldn't think of anything else but thought I was crazy for doing it. Oh also swung into the muffler shop and they where amazed all the neat colors my SS cat and tailpipe had turned from the heat. Explains why it smelled like burnt metal. he had never seen a racing cat change all those colors. He welded in a short piece of new pipe so I could monitor it for color change and cut off and checked the cat which surprisingly was clean as a whistle. He didn't charge me a thing and even helped diagnose a little. Anyone near Raleigh should use them Henry's muffler shop. Great folks. He said if the cat was clogged he would re-weld a new one on for the price of the cat.

All the parts finally in and flushed the radiator three times and then filled with red coolant. Just didn't get the PCV in yet. Drove it to SC/GA tonight kinda ballsy since I just finished the last parts today and had about 5 miles on them when I jumped on the highway. Noticed the exhaust was slightly louder again but not back to how it was three weeks ago when newly installed. Also noticed more power after the filter and 02 so probably fried the 02 from running rich and the filter was most likely plugged slightly from the remainder of the crud in the lines after the new tank and all the flushing. Drove it here and was pleased to be getting 16.5+ mpg on the highway. Much better than the 14 I got earlier this week going to NC. I got off the highway and it was idling at 2500 again. Still only in Neutral. By the time I made it across town it was idling up and down crazy again in neutral but back at the 6-800 mark. I am suspecting the new TPS or maybe even the ECU at this point. It seems to always do it after being above 3K rpm's on the highway for a few hours. Once I drive around town a little bit it drops down below 1K rpm's but still I sometimes erratic. Almost like the ECU gets confused and has the idle at 3K as normal?? Well I am 7k plus untold hours and hours of labor into it and still running kind of funny. Haven't even done the armor, seats ( for commuting ), or paint yet. I must be crazy.

Ran check and constant strobe on CEL. If the temperature sensor is only 40 bucks I may try that and when I get a chance test the VMAF