Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Topic: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of... (Read 3250 times) previous topic - next topic

Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

December 06, 2004, 09:17:29 PM

Ok, here's my check list so far of what my brain knows to replace on this car to make it run better and get better MPG as it must be getting 8-10 right now. This car was not taking care of, I don't even think this guy bothered to change his oil when it was supposed to be changed...therefore i have no oil in my engine so before i run to pepboys i gotta dump my 2 quarts of 10w30 in so i don't kill it.

Air Filter***
Fuel Filter*(does this car even have one?) What the size of my fuel line? 5/16? 87 cougar
10w30 OIL and Motorcraft oil filter**
Mercon 2/3/90 billion and 1(joke, ha ha) tranny fluid*
Fill my tires**
Flush my power steering*
That stuff in a white bottle that helps oil adhear to moving parts better**
Radiator fluid/flush**/*

Help me!

As for the fuel filter, what do I do to replace it? what else do i need other than the filter?

* Buying within the next couple weeks/doing soon
** Buying tomorrow at Pep Boys/doing tomorrow
*** already bought, pending install

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of

Reply #1 – December 06, 2004, 10:04:57 PM

So 87 cougar....? Type o engine?

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of

Reply #2 – December 06, 2004, 10:11:46 PM

87 3.8l whatever engine.

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of

Reply #3 – December 06, 2004, 10:42:24 PM

Quote from: t0x1k

Air Filter***
Fuel Filter*(does this car even have one?) What the size of my fuel line? 5/16? 87 cougar
10w30 OIL and Motorcraft oil filter**
Mercon 2/3/90 billion and 1(joke, ha ha) tranny fluid*
Fill my tires**
Flush my power steering*
That stuff in a white bottle that helps oil adhear to moving parts better**
Radiator fluid/flush**/*

As for the fuel filter, what do I do to replace it? what else do i need other than the filter?

Air Filter - Cool, what type tho?

Fuel Filter - Yup it's got one, Should be back by the rear passenger wheel well (pretty sure about that). No biggie to change, just find the fuel shutoff inertia switch, should be in the trunk against the back of the car behind the cover panel (need another 3.8 owner to verify that, it was on my 5.0) and unplug it. Then turn the engine over, it should either not start or start and shut off immediatly. Then just get under the car find the filter (looks like one of those 8oz. shasta cans) Pop loose the clips securing the fuel line to the filter, then carefully pull the lines off, have a drain pan around to catch the fuel btw. Then just plug the lines into the new filter (it only goes one way, should have arrow's indicating this) put in the new retaining clips (if the filter comes with) and viola. Hook the inertia switch back up and start it.

10w30 oil - K type ?, motorcraft filter K (never used personally, always used K&N)

Tranny fluid - cool, if you're draining it, pick up the gasket and a new tranny filter too.

Fill the tire's - Coo, I check pretty much every month, prolly wouldn't hurt to get them rotated and balanced too.

Flushing P/S'ing fluid - never done myself, but like brake lines make sure there bled well (hydraulic system not liking air theory).

Stuff in the white bottle (i'm assuming lucas oil stabilizer?) - I'd never use it myself, but if you think it would help, more power too ya.
Radiator fluid flush - good idea, you'll need about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of 50/50 radiator fluid/water. I used the 50/50 premix by prestone saves the guess work.

Other than that i would suggest new plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. That would make the deal complete.

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #4 – December 06, 2004, 11:02:03 PM

I'm guessing that it would also need:
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug Wires
Distributor Cap
Rotor
Timing set correctly

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #5 – December 06, 2004, 11:02:40 PM

Fuel filter, air filter, etc that you mentioned will all be good, but to get it to run better and up mpg you should repace the plugs wires cap & rotor as well basically a full tune up

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of

Reply #6 – December 06, 2004, 11:06:52 PM

Quote from: Paul Flockhart

I'm guessing that it would also need:
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug Wires
Distributor Cap
Rotor
Timing set correctly

Ditto...again! Well except the timing, fergot that one!

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #7 – December 06, 2004, 11:15:19 PM

With many miles, I would also run a can of throttle body cleaner through a running engine, and possibly replace the O2 sensor. This is a fairly involved procedure, and may not be worth the cost for your situation.

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #8 – December 07, 2004, 09:01:23 AM

Well, it's raining today so I cant drive(no low beams) to the pepboys where i can get a discount. I am going to my local pep boys to buy the oil though.
So I guess everytime i was looking under my car at this tuna can thing that's the fuel filter?
Since I enjoy working on my car, can I do a tune up myself? Or is that better left for the pros?

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #9 – December 07, 2004, 09:32:02 AM

Here's the only picture I have of it (the can at the top right)...

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of

Reply #10 – December 07, 2004, 09:37:29 AM

Quote from: t0x1k

So I guess everytime i was looking under my car at this tuna can thing that's the fuel filter?
Since I enjoy working on my car, can I do a tune up myself? Or is that better left for the pros?

Yup that's it and yep, doesn't really take too much to do. Just a little time and paitience.

Re: Help me get better MPG and make my car run like it's actually been taking care of...

Reply #11 – December 09, 2004, 02:44:45 AM

Put a jug of Berryman's Fuel Injector Cleaner in the gas tank next time you fill up.

I've heard synthetic rear axle lube helps, but I've never tried it.