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car tune-ups make a huge difference...


FARGreg

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My friend helped my tune-up my car last week... Before I was getting around 20 mpg.

 

Now I've been getting 30+ I knew it would make a difference, but that's huge!

 

Does anyone know how much it costs to get new shocks etc?

 

I've gotten everything fixed/replaced on my car except the shocks and brakes (I need to see if I can find out when the timing belt needs to be replaced still).

 

oh yeah, my car's a 91 Honda Civic.

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Originally posted by bikehorn

use high strength fuel injector cleaner or gas treatment every once in a little while too.

 

 

I'm guessing I can get that at any parts store? How much does it cost? Do I just pour it into the gas tank?

 

Thanks.

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Originally posted by FARGreg



I'm guessing I can get that at any parts store? How much does it cost? Do I just pour it into the gas tank?


Thanks.

 

 

yeah, any old auto parts store or even Walmart. my yardstick is that it should cost between $5 and $8 canadian. STP, Prestone and Lucas are the brands i usually use. you'll notice the long, thin neck on the bottles...designed so you just break the seal and shove it into your gas tank. do it quickly and you won't spill anything.

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Originally posted by FARGreg


Does anyone know how much it costs to get new shocks etc?


I've gotten everything fixed/replaced on my car except the shocks and brakes (I need to see if I can find out when the timing belt needs to be replaced still).


oh yeah, my car's a 91 Honda Civic.

 

 

Timing belt? Usually every 60,000 - 70,000 miles. I just did mine at 74,000, and when I saw the condition of the old one I was glad I didn't drive another 10,000 on it.

 

Shocks should cost between $275 and $375 USD installed, depending on whether or not you want high end replacements or not.

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tune up is good..

my vw is coming up for a big service...40k miles and that means a tune up and plug change...

 

i look forward to the original performance returning and the accelleration which is good now to be better..

 

i changed shocks once...got koni's but it was so long ago and in scotland the price wouldnt be relevant..but they are good shocks..and adjustable on the vehicle for different terrain

 

get mine done on the 7th of september

 

ps are these reply pages supposed to be narrow:)

 

its the firefox browser..my IE doesnt do it...must find how to widen

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Originally posted by bikehorn



yeah, any old auto parts store or even Walmart. my yardstick is that it should cost between $5 and $8 canadian. STP, Prestone and Lucas are the brands i usually use. you'll notice the long, thin neck on the bottles...designed so you just break the seal and shove it into your gas tank. do it quickly and you won't spill anything.

 

 

Chevron Techron is the only additive of any kind that I ever found to do anything. This is speaking from 14+ years as a tech years ago. Techs I've spoken with recently concur that it's still about the only one that actually has any effect. It dissolves some of the deposits in the injection system. No additive makes any positive difference in head, cylinders, etc....which really don't need anything anyway.

 

Use good fuel, change air filters often, keep your tire pressures at the rated max on the sidewall, and use Mobil 1 oil. Much anything more is a waste of money and time.

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Originally posted by MacGarnicle

When you go to the garage, ask them to put "racing air" in the tyres (otherwise they will just use normal air and the car won't go as fast).

 

Haha! Is that like bubble water for the levels, or toenails? :D

 

Last time I tried to do a tune on my car it ended up running worse :mad:

 

Now I just save myself time and aggrevation and let someone else do it.

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Originally posted by Craigv



Chevron Techron is the only additive of any kind that I ever found to do anything. This is speaking from 14+ years as a tech years ago. Techs I've spoken with recently concur that it's still about the only one that actually has any effect. It dissolves some of the deposits in the injection system. No additive makes any positive difference in head, cylinders, etc....which really don't need anything anyway.


Use good fuel, change air filters often, keep your tire pressures at the rated max on the sidewall, and use Mobil 1 oil. Much anything more is a waste of money and time.

 

+1 on the chevron...too bad they are always more expensive by 7 or cents a gallon then other stations!:mad:

 

also, a cold air intake can give you a couple more mpg...

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What's somewhat ironic is that no car made in the last 15 years or so actually ever needs a "tune up". There's little if anything that should, or in some cases can, be adjusted. You replace filters, maybe replace plugs, check systems for good codes, and you're down the road. The days of timing adjustments, trying to set point gaps, carburetion adjustments are long gone.

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Originally posted by Craigv

What's somewhat ironic is that no car made in the last 15 years or so actually ever needs a "tune up". There's little if anything that should, or in some cases can, be adjusted. You replace filters, maybe replace plugs, check systems for good codes, and you're down the road. The days of timing adjustments, trying to set point gaps, carburetion adjustments are long gone.

 

 

yup, I have never done a "tune-up" on my 95 corolla, just timing belt, belts, fluids, plugs, etc...just pull and replace for the most part... computer controlled fuel injection rules...

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Originally posted by greenshag



+1 on the chevron...too bad they are always more expensive by 7 or cents a gallon then other stations!
:mad:

also, a cold air intake can give you a couple more mpg...

 

Techron is available at parts stores, not just Chevron stations or in their fuel. Add a container every 5K or so.

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i own an auto parts store and in my opinion based on what i've seen and heard so far is that the lucas or the sea foam injection cleaner is the best.

 

lucas part number 10020 add to a full tank

 

sea foam part number sf16 add to a full tank.

 

you can also (depending on your vehicle) unhook the vacuum line that is fed to the carburetor and with the engine running suck a capful of sea foam sf16 straight into the carburetor. you will see white smoke come out the exhaust and the engine will die down a little. do this a couple of times then get on the road and run the engine kind of hard for a minute or so. this will clean the injectors good. i did this to my chevy 1500 and it ran like a million dollars afterwards.

 

kevin james

 

www.monkeyboneband.com

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Originally posted by superiorparts

i own an auto parts store and in my opinion based on what i've seen and heard so far is that the lucas or the sea foam injection cleaner is the best.


lucas part number 10020 add to a full tank


sea foam part number sf16 add to a full tank.


you can also (depending on your vehicle) unhook the vacuum line that is fed to the carburetor and with the engine running suck a capful of sea foam sf16 straight into the carburetor. you will see white smoke come out the exhaust and the engine will die down a little. do this a couple of times then get on the road and run the engine kind of hard for a minute or so. this will clean the injectors good. i did this to my chevy 1500 and it ran like a million dollars afterwards.


kevin james


www.monkeyboneband.com

 

This can't clean the injectors, at least not where it matters. Dumping anything into the intake manifold will put it into the cylinders, and it'll only pass the injector tips on its way. And remember that the injectors in a gasoline engine are in the intake manifold, not in the cylinder, so anything you pour in will only be partially atomized by the airflow and pressure drop....there's no thermal component.

 

In the rare case that an injector has buildup of anything, it's inside the injector body. It's more likely that what you added broke off some carbon buildup at the intake and exhaust valves that might have been disrupting airflow and causing a burn problem, or in extreme cases was preventing a valve from closing completely and sealing. You can do the same thing for free by slowly pouring a cup or so of plain water into the intake. The resulting steam will clean off an exhaust valve.

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Originally posted by greenshag



+1 on the chevron...too bad they are always more expensive by 7 or cents a gallon then other stations!

 

 

Not here! It's only 2 cents more than the cheapest gas around here... To bad the cheapest gas was at 2.97 and 9/10 two days ago.

I always buy Chevron around here; so I guess all those additives are a waste of money? Would they hurt my car? I like to find out things for myself... and $5 is not too much to lose.

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Originally posted by FARGreg



Not here! It's only 2 cents more than the cheapest gas around here... To bad the cheapest gas was at 2.97 and 9/10 two days ago.

I always buy Chevron around here; so I guess all those additives are a waste of money? Would they hurt my car? I like to find out things for myself... and $5 is not too much to lose.

 

 

gas prices in salt lake city

 

I wish they were like that here, I pretty much only use chevron gas unless I am in an area where there is not one around, and I am on empty:(

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I use Berryman's fuel system treatment approx. once per year. It keeps my Ford Explorer(s) going well. I can tell when it needs it, the engine starts missing a tiny bit. Use the Berrymans and everything is sharp again.

 

Chevron, Texaco and Mobil gasses all include additives that work effectively enough to raise your gas mileage. Shell has one, too, but only in their premium gas.

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Originally posted by Craigv

What's somewhat ironic is that no car made in the last 15 years or so actually ever needs a "tune up". There's little if anything that should, or in some cases can, be adjusted. You replace filters, maybe replace plugs, check systems for good codes, and you're down the road. The days of timing adjustments, trying to set point gaps, carburetion adjustments are long gone.

 

 

You dont have to gap plugs anymore?

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Greg -- one word of caution

 

You might want to check if that engine is a "(valve) interference" engine (some of the Acuras are, but their Honda cousins...I just don't know)

 

*IF* it is, you really want to get a handle on the timing belt situation sooner rather than later - a quick call to the dealership should clear that up in about 1 minute

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Originally posted by MorePaul

Greg -- one word of caution


You might want to check if that engine is a "(valve) interference" engine (some of the Acuras are, but their Honda cousins...I just don't know)


*IF* it is, you really want to get a handle on the timing belt situation sooner rather than later - a quick call to the dealership should clear that up in about 1 minute

 

 

hondas are interference motors;)

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