Bad MPG and rough ride!!

[pavanbabut]

Hi all,

Its been long time for me actually posting about problems with my SVX. Anyways, my green Alfa is leaking coolant from front head gasket, so I started using SVX daily. Till now I haven't been using it much at all except like once or twice a month and so haven't taken care of some problems with it.

The problems strated from two years back when I replaced the original rusted front exhaust pipes (those with cats) with a parted out Calif car's. Since then I am getting low MPG and the car is running very rough. But I can't say its the only reason for all the problems, because its about the same time I have 4.44s installed. When I use cruise control at freeway speeds, it always shudders (in the way like it is trying to brake and then again trying to accelerate), its not dramatic, but you can feel it and the cruise control is not smooth.

There is a noticeable vibration in the steering at freeway speeds. Actually the vibration reducing alot since new axles are in but there is till some vibration.

Changed the crank and cam seals, oil pump seal, valve cover seals and cleaned throttle body. New front axles, new tires all around, but rotrs are not same, diagonal rotors are new. As for known issues, the speedo is off, it actually shows 10mph+ off than actual speed, this is there since I have 4.44 in it.

Here is a picture of one of the exhausts with heat shield ON... will take a pic without the sheild later-
Pic1

I would like to get this car straight by the end of holidays... any suggestions plz..

thanks,
-Pavan

[LetItSnow]

Originally Posted by pavanbabut

...the speedo is off, it actually shows 10mph+ off than actual speed, this is there since I have 4.44 in it.

This, as far as I know, has no relation. The speed sensor is driven after the differential takes effect.

Installing 4.44s certainly won't be any bit kind to your fuel economy, but how much of a toll it will take will have to be spoken from someone who's got them.

[pavanbabut]

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

This, as far as I know, has no relation. The speed sensor is driven after the differential takes effect.

Yeh Yeh I know, but just listing all the info/problems I know..... But it does effect your ABS though.... ofcourse it not relevant tooo....

-Pavan

[pavanbabut]

I think I found one of the problems if not many ) with steering vibration at high speeds... its the drivers side inner tie rod joint, having a little vibration in it. Seems like th clicking sound is coming from inner joint. Should I have to replace both inner and outer tie rods or only the inner should be fine??

I still dont have a clue about mpg drop....

-Pavan

[pavanbabut]

I notice oil leak underneath the car mainly on steering rack and underneath the P/S pump, I attached some pics below to get an idea.









is it just P/S fluid or the valve cover is also leaking?? If its P/S fluid what would be the culprit??

thanks.
-Pavan

[Hondasucks]

Looks like your valve cover is leaking some.. There is also an o-ring between the steering pump and the reservoir that likes to leak, I would start with that, and clean the oil off your engine and then check it in a few hundred miles and see if anything else is leaking.

Also, I'm far from an expert on Italian cars, What's the difference between the 164L and 164Q? I work with a guy that used to work on Alfas, among other things, in San Diego in the 80s.

[degeso]

that oil leak looks like my oil leak right behind the time belt cover which im ordering soon cam shaft seals and plugs which i think is causing the leek as far as the roughness id check and replace all vac hoses for intake especially the iris check valve also your cruse control is control by vac check that hose it is next to your brake fluid res.

[degeso]

you may also want to check your spark plugs make sure they are clean and not failed which would also cause poor mpg and roughness

[degeso]

you may also need to replace your rocker cover gaskets which turn from rubber to plastic with age and cause leeks which when driving blow oil back on parts like racks