Cheap Performance Help

[jstreet0204]

Change the plugs? That is not performance, that falls in the basic maintenance section.

No need to clean the maf unless it is dirty and causing a code to be thrown

Why the heck will you reset the PCM? No changes have been made to the cars tune so it is completely pointless. Heck the car will run a tad rough at first until it cycles and relearns everything, which will prolly freak the kid out because he thinks he did something wrong.

1) copper plugs will perform better than the stock platinums.

2) A Dirty MAF will usually not throw a code. Oil accumulates on the wire and insulates it which in turn sends the wrong voltage to the eec throwing off the a/f reading resulting in less than optimium performance. I reccomend cleaning it a couple of times a year if you run an oiled filter.

3) reseting the PCM is not done because of changes to the tune. It is done to clear long term fuel trims, which if the MAF was dirty, are going to be off. Yes it will relearn, but it is common practice to clear the memory when making a corrective change.

Where do some of you all come up with this garble?

I get my garble from these sources. Where do you get yours from?

http://www.modulardepot.com/product_info.php?products_id=178
http://tweecer.oplnk.net/viewforum.php?f=2

 

[blackfang]

1) copper plugs will perform better than the stock platinums.

Yes they are a better condensor, but the kid is looking for some real mods. Lets steer him that way and not him going around and saying hey man change your plugs for some horsepower.

2) A Dirty MAF will usually not throw a code. Oil accumulates on the wire and insulates it which in turn sends the wrong voltage to the eec throwing off the a/f reading resulting in less than optimium performance. I reccomend cleaning it a couple of times a year if you run an oiled filter.

Exactly, but again this is not a horsepower mod. He can get that info from the service dept on his next visit. I know what a drity maf will do. However, I dont consider it a performance mod. He asked for tech advice on what mods to get for his car. Not what preventive maintenance will do for him.

3) reseting the PCM is not done because of changes to the tune. It is done to clear long term fuel trims, which if the MAF was dirty, are going to be off. Yes it will relearn, but it is common practice to clear the memory when making a corrective change.

True, also the ECU will relearn it when the air fuel is adjusted. The ECU is constantly monitoring the engine and will adjust when it is corrected as well.

I get my garble from these sources. Where do you get yours from?

http://www.modulardepot.com/product_info.php?products_id=178
http://tweecer.oplnk.net/viewforum.php?f=2

Same places as I am on MD along with 5-6 other sites, and working in the auto industry for a living.

I am simply saying, the kid wants some mods that will give him a cheap performance gain. Cleaning a maf, and changing plugs is more of a preventive maintenace item. Putting in some 4.10 gears, exhaust, shifters, SFC's is what will really help him and will be noticable.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Ah, SFC's (subframe connectors).....that is definately a mod he should get. I can't believe no one suggested that until blackfang in the previous post. Sub-frame connectors are a definate must!

 

[MatthewP]

Gears, underdrive pullies. Both are cheap, and both work.

-Matthew

 

[Dark Knight GT]

U/D pullies is another one, but it never came to mind. Probalby the reason why is because some people swear they have nothing but problems with u/d pullies for very inconclusive reasons. I personally haven't had any problems with my Steeda u/d pullies, and they've been on my car for a tad over 4 years now.

 

[deftsound]

Take off the intake air restrictor, change the plugs, clean MAF, reset PCM do some other preventative maint.

When you have changed every fluid in your car, then consider mods grasshopper.

Whats the pcm? This xmas break im going to be doing every bit of preventive maintence i can think of. I want to replace every damn fluid i can think of, tell me if im missing one:
1)tranny fluid
2) differential fluid
3) flush radiator
4) dont see much point in doin the brake or power steering
5) ill probably change the oil

any others that are important?

 

[CanadaStang]

Whats the pcm?

Power Control Module

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Whats the pcm? This xmas break im going to be doing every bit of preventive maintence i can think of. I want to replace every damn fluid i can think of, tell me if im missing one:
1)tranny fluid
2) differential fluid
3) flush radiator
4) dont see much point in doin the brake or power steering
5) ill probably change the oil

any others that are important?

Absolutely do the brake fluid. Power steering fluid is a little hard but it should be done also. I am assuming your 99 has average miles...

Inspect brakes and suspension components.

 

[blackfang]

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, so I would change that, plus the PS fluid. I did mine at work one day and noticed quite a bit of improvement. Granted my fluid was old and it does save on wear and tear.

I cant stress enough that brake fluid needs to be flushed periodically. Also if you have over 30k on it, get a can of Seafoam at autozone for $6 and follow the directions for that to clean the injectors and intake out. Stay away from STP fuel system cleaner as it doesnt work and is diluted when it enters the tank.

 

[CanadaStang]

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, so I would change that, plus the PS fluid. I did mine at work one day and noticed quite a bit of improvement. Granted my fluid was old and it does save on wear and tear.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Brake fluid is hygroscopic.

+1

 

[blackfang]

You sure?

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning the glycol fluid will absorb moisture from the atmosphere. As the moisture contaminates the fluid, it begins to cause corrosion of expensive brake components like calipers, master cylinders and ABS actuators, and it also reduces brake-fluid performance by making it more susceptible to boiling at higher operating temperatures. None of these is a good thing for your brakes.

From an article.

And another calling it hydroscopic
http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20011001bb.html

However some also call it hygroscopic

 

[joshheat25]

Yea when you change the fluid in your brakes! Do you Bleed the brakes at the calipers or just suck out the old fluid out of the resivoir! and replace with new! ???

 

[CanadaStang]

You sure?

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning the glycol fluid will absorb moisture from the atmosphere. As the moisture contaminates the fluid, it begins to cause corrosion of expensive brake components like calipers, master cylinders and ABS actuators, and it also reduces brake-fluid performance by making it more susceptible to boiling at higher operating temperatures. None of these is a good thing for your brakes.

From an article.

And another calling it hydroscopic
http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20011001bb.html

However some also call it hygroscopic

Yip! Hygro is moisture or humidity, although hydro also means water, somewhere along the road someone misspelled it as "hydroscopic" but it really is hygroscopic.I'm sure if you check a dictionary you'll see what I mean.

 

[CanadaStang]

Yea when you change the fluid in your brakes! Do you Bleed the brakes at the calipers or just suck out the old fluid out of the resivoir! and replace with new! ???

You really should change it by draining through the bleeders as thats where the heavier contaminates are going to be, but just sucking out the reservoir may be better than nothing.