Tired in her age?

#1 09-17-2002, 06:56 AM

Hey guys (and gals)-

I was just wondering if any of you have noticed any kind of deterioration in engine performance as time passed. I'm not exactly a stickler for oil changes, but I usually get them done when needed (how different is 3,000 miles from 2,900 or 3,100??). I'm worried that my car doesn't pull quite as strongly as she used to. Of course it could also be that I've just gotten used to her, but I'm a little concerned. Is there any real way to measure this and what could some possible solutions be?

thx all

-Adam

mattski · #2 09-17-2002, 07:11 AM

A compression check would reveal excessive wear on the piston rings/piston walls.

When was your last tune up?

A dirty air filter would affect performance. Same for dirty fuel injectors.

A quart of Toluene in the gas tank might help with the injectors and air filters are fairly cheap and easy to replace.

SHISVX · #3 09-17-2002, 11:36 AM

funny you bring something up like that

my car is definitaly a female.....really moody!

she has her good days and her bad. her better days are when it is cooler out after she warms up. sometimes she just wants to get up and go and other times..well....i think Matt is right!

BTW how is the Ford Matt?

Kelli

Aredubjay · #4 09-17-2002, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alacrity024
Hey guys (and gals)-

I was just wondering if any of you have noticed any kind of deterioration in engine performance as time passed. I'm not exactly a stickler for oil changes, but I usually get them done when needed (how different is 3,000 miles from 2,900 or 3,100??). I'm worried that my car doesn't pull quite as strongly as she used to. Of course it could also be that I've just gotten used to her, but I'm a little concerned. Is there any real way to measure this and what could some possible solutions be?

thx all

-Adam

The controversy over the mileage between oil changes will rage on for an eternity. Marketers, in an effort to increase the sale of oil suggest every 3,000 miles, despite most manufacturers suggesting 7,500. I say, split the difference between the oil sellers and the ones who want your engine to blow up so they can sell you a new car, and change every 5K.

BTW, you didn't mention the "age" of your care in mileage. I've found my first '92 to be as strong as the day I bought it with 109K miles. It's now, fast approaching, 190K.

The one I just bought, with 124K moves like an ape with a striped derriere.

With MPG of 21 and 23 in mixed driving, respectively, I'm more than pleased with the way they've "aged."

Yes, a compression check would be the first line of checking for any true and ultimately expensive power loss.

#5 09-17-2002, 12:33 PM

the air filter was replaced relatively recently with a k&n (no noticable improvement, but I won't buy another air filter for as long as i own the car), and the injectors could well be dirty. do dirty injectors click any different than clean ones? that'd be a good indicator.

I bought my car last September 11th with 113k miles and she now has close to 140. Maybe I'll buy a bottle of injector cleaner beore heading east to Durham again this weekend.

-a

Aredubjay · #6 09-17-2002, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alacrity024
the air filter was replaced relatively recently with a k&n (no noticable improvement, but I won't buy another air filter for as long as i own the car), and the injectors could well be dirty. do dirty injectors click any different than clean ones? that'd be a good indicator.

I bought my car last September 11th with 113k miles and she now has close to 140. Maybe I'll buy a bottle of injector cleaner beore heading east to Durham again this weekend.

-a

Dirty injectors would click louder than clean ones. I probably need to clean the injectors on "Patience." Hers seem to tick louder than "E.T's." Perhaps that's the difference in MPG, but then, it could just be the difference in mileage.

Might be a good idea to run some of that Tole . . . Tolo . . . Tola . . . that stuff mattski recommended, through your system. Personally, I use Chevron Techron.

Landshark · #7 09-17-2002, 02:26 PM

i just bought some of that Toula...Taloula....whatever its called, and i'm going to give it a try to see if it fixes my cold start hesitation. it only lasts for about a minute, but what the hell - i like pouring chemicals in my gas tank. to KEEP injectors from getting clogged, give yer ride a drink of Chevron Techron every month or two.....and get a beer for yourself!

Andy · #8 09-17-2002, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aredubjay

The controversy over the mileage between oil changes will rage on for an eternity. Marketers, in an effort to increase the sale of oil suggest every 3,000 miles, despite most manufacturers suggesting 7,500. I say, split the difference between the oil sellers and the ones who want your engine to blow up so they can sell you a new car, and change every 5K.

Every 5k??????????

My Subaru main dealer SVX expert told me when buying the car that it only needs an oil change every year or 12,000 miles.

He is a genius so he must be right {tongue firmly planted in cheek}

Andy

Landshark · #9 09-17-2002, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy

Every 5k??????????

My Subaru main dealer SVX expert told me when buying the car that it only needs an oil change every year or 12,000 miles.

He is a genius so he must be right {tongue firmly planted in cheek}

Andy

that's because he wants to sell you a new engine every few years

Andy · #10 09-17-2002, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Landshark

that's because he wants to sell you a new engine every few years

Thought that SVX engines were no longer available.

Andy

Landshark · #11 09-17-2002, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy

Thought that SVX engines were no longer available.

Andy

oh yeah. then he wants to REBUILD your engine every few years.

Aredubjay · #12 09-17-2002, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy

Every 5k??????????

My Subaru main dealer SVX expert told me when buying the car that it only needs an oil change every year or 12,000 miles.

He is a genius so he must be right {tongue firmly planted in cheek}

Andy

Sounds like my grandpa. "You don't need to change it until you can't see the silver of the dipstick through the oil."

#13 09-17-2002, 08:12 PM

Well I gave my car a new charge of mobil 1 10w-30, a new mobil 1 filter and a $10 bottle of slick 50 fuel system cleaner.. so far so good. she's running nice and smooth, and on a couple of empty-oncoming-lane passing oppurtunities she sped cleanly to 100mph. Now if that damned axle would just hurry up and get here..

-adam

#14 09-17-2002, 08:48 PM

Not a recommendation for SVX service, but as a point of
interest: I have a friend with a 2002 BMW Z3 Coupe.
He was blown away when the dealer confirmed what
the owner's manual said...first service, including first
oil change at 15,000mi.
(Car came from factory with Mobil I.)
Dan

Ron Mummert · #15 09-17-2002, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DWayne2910
Not a recommendation for SVX service, but as a point of
interest: I have a friend with a 2002 BMW Z3 Coupe.
He was blown away when the dealer confirmed what
the owner's manual said...first service, including first
oil change at 15,000mi.
(Car came from factory with Mobil I.)
Dan

Dan, how do we 'splain the oil change intervals? I mean engines are engines. Metal rubbing metal. What has suddenly changed?

Ron.