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1) yes its normal for air to shoot out its called crank pressure and dont do it u might get a MIL because of vacuum leak
2) its normal and what are u doing in 5th @ 46 mph the gear is actually overdrive. its like riding a mountain bike in the largest gear at low speed(ur legs would be shaking 2)
3) stick cars decelarete quicker than automatics and if ur tranny was shot it would be the synchros @ that milage.
the rattle might be ur tensioner on the chain and thats normal 2