hi guys! im hoang and i'm from the socal side. I recently just got a 2001 acura tl ! i love this car but the only problem i have with it is that it has a lot of miles on it. I have like about 155,xxx miles. I just replaced the spark plugs and seafoamed it. I was wondering what else i can do to restore its power? i dont mind getting dirty with this car thanks!

 

Power? Engine air filter, running premium, plugs.
Smoothness? Drain/fill transmission 3 or 4 times, change oil, [NGK plugs, right?],
Seafoam the through the fuel and crankcase again, keep running premium, clean the car up.
A clean car always seems to run better . . .

 

let me clarify a few of those things

premium- the TL requires 91 or higher gas- prefers from Tier 1 branded stations

trans with that high miles- dont multi drain it or there will be problems

You installed NGK iridium or NGK Platinum spark plugs? or what? other stuff does not work in the TL

Seafoam gas tank at 1 can to just under half tank - 8 gallons
Its not the CRANKCASE you are doing unless you add directly to engine oil- thats a different cleaning
The VAC PORT at the TB is the correct location and 1/2 can or so thru there is ideal
Noobs to foam repeat gas and vac port in a month /1500 miles then good for a year

the crankcase method is add 6 oz to engine oil and drive 30 minutes or more, then change oil and filter while still very warm

Optional- change filter and drive a few hundred miles to super clean the oil passages and the PCV crankcase vent system that goes back to the TB and run thru combustion again
change oil and filter while warm from at least 15 minute drive

Sludge is real- the tv commercials didnt make this stuff up!
Vtec runs on oil pressure changes and operates off oil pressure changes with throttle and rpm changes

disclaimer: try at own decision and risk no matter what I say~
I like to do some 4500 to 5500 rpm runs to activate vtec and get cleaning oil thru its sliders and valves
gen3 has a prob with sticking vtec sliders so I am looking to prevent that situation in my engine..
that reminds me, had to reset the oil minder light so wife didnt think something was wrong with the car ,,,,time to throw in some foam and change oil this week

 

yeah i installed ngk iridium sparkplugs. hmm what do u guys think about a throttle body spacer? would it be worth my money? i have also installed a AEM sri

 

Where you at in Socal? Check the regions part of the forums, we got some mad heads up in Socal.

 

Welcome, Hoang.

 

thanks! and im in los angeles county! i rarely see any nice TL's

 

How important is it that it runs on 91 or higher octane?

 

Umm very important. 91 octane is recommended in the owners manual. I don't advise driving on regular.

 

My brother ran his '00 TL on 87 for six years, and then gave me the car.
I've plugged & Seafoamed the car, and it does run more smoothly. Then started running 91+.
After moving to 91+, one can get better mileage results.

Dollar-wise, the higher octane will pay for itself.
Performance-wise, the car will give better boost in spirited driving.

As far as the engine goes, does 87 cause any real damage to the engine?

I'm not qualified to answer that, but if a car is running without any weird sounds, one makes their own call.

 

Thanks

 

Welcome j32hoang! See you in the tranny failure thread

(kidding...kinda)

 

...

 

Running les than 91 octane might cause the engine to ping. The knock sensors will activate and alter your timing curve to keep the engine safe. This will drop your performance. The tl has 10.1 compression ratio and the type s has a 10.5 if i'm not mistaken. Both require the 91 octane with the pollution control equipment installed.

I'm always amazed at the power from a new air filter but it plugs FAST. Try a performance type filter for a boost....

 

I think its 9 to1-p, and 11.5 to 1 compression on type S--thats considered very High compression for an auto engine = performance oriented

both really prefer 91, or 93/94 if thats premium in your area
thats why it says `Minimum 91` on the gas cap~ along with Tighten 3 clicks!

Also likes Tier 1 `brand name gas` or use of gas treatment

lower octane causes retarded timing, inefficient combustion....

theres hundreds of ziners in LA- they hold some big Meets- ck that section for next one