Running your car hard.

[zpiloto]

In the pursuit of FE you're constantly running low RPM engine on and off all the time which would tend to plug things up. My Mom had an old 280z that never got run hard (over 3000 rpm) and when I would borrow it there was no pep until I ran it hard for a while which would seem to clean it out and it would start performing alot better. Does anyone worry about that and if so what do you do?

[n0rt0npr0]

We've discussed this: Here.

Also, heres some great info too.

Why a PCV catch can will reduce carbon buildup for you hypermilers, Here.

Finally, this one has to do with your "run hard" method! This is BY far the oldest tried and true method other than using water injection or the water down the vacuum line method.

[zpiloto]

Great info. Thanks. I've been running Acetone but I think I'm going to try the Sea Foam and see how much smoke it puts out and if runs any better afterwards.

[Compaq888]

I tried Seafoam and it worked. It only smoked while I was pouring, not after the wait.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by zpiloto

Great info. Thanks. I've been running Acetone but I think I'm going to try the Sea Foam and see how much smoke it puts out and if runs any better afterwards.

I'd recommend AutoRX before seafoam. I've heard from a number of people that seafoam is just a bunch of water and water-like substances, hence the smoke.

AUtoRX takes longer but really cleans the internals.

[thisisntjared]

i like running my car hard, i take my car to 4k rpm in every gear if i am accelerating and theres nothing in front of me. i take it to 6k every day.

and it loves me for it.

[rh77]

Call me crazy (as usual), but I think an engine needs a good run-up at least once a month. Sometimes I find that I need to redline to squeeze onto the highway, or make that yellow light. Not only will it blow out the intake crud, but also any build-up in the CAT or general exhaust system. It probably gets small oil injectors going too. It can't hurt it -- every car was designed to run to the redline, if it's properly maintained, for tens-of-thousands of miles.

I still have some seafoam left, afterwards I'll switch to AutoRx.

RH77

[Compaq888]

Way ahead of you. I started my Auto rx treatment this weekend. I have 1500miles left. The fuel economy is going down, I suspect it's a mod that I put on so I'm taking it off this week.

I wish I had an air compressor so I could blow out all the gunk out of my engine bay. I'll just go to a gas station and clean the engine bay really nice.

[rh77]

A word of caution about cleaning the engine bay -- it's all for looks and can only hurt performance (with water and detergent getting in important parts, like the alternator). Back in the day when RH77 was a teenager and wanted to go cruisin', he would get the family minivan shined up and sprayed off the engine bay once. Turns out, water in the alternator creates a barely-running situation that freaked-out the recently licensed driver. After driving around at mostly full-throttle, things got back to normal, and RH77's parents consequently didn't ground him from the exclusive privilege of the '88 Plymouth. But despite the shining and polishing, nor the 3.0L Mitsubishi V-6 got the attention of the lizzadies :-(

Anonymous

[SVOboy]

My dad likes to power wash the engine bay, but I don't drive it right after,

It sucks to work in a dirty engine, I learned this from my dizzy oil leak and needing to replace dizzies recently.