goMO

I prefer to use premium, but the previous owner switched to regular when gas prices went through the roof.

Anything I should do besides using 91/93? Any kind of additive I should put in?

thx!

phee

iTrader: (5)

what year?

if its an 00 and up i would clean the intake manifold by hand, and maybe do a seafoam. even though im not a big believer in seafoam after seeing my 99 intake manifold after religiously seafoaming every oil change.

acutee

Use gas treatment, and start using high octane gas, you don't have to do anything unless the car has problem.

goMO

Thanks! Its a 2002 TL-S (w/navi) with 135k miles on it. Picked it up for $6K. New tires and brakes done recently as well.

acutee

Nice price for 02 tl-s with decent mileage. hopefully the car was kept in garage and still in good condition.

goMO

yeah, it's in really good condition. I'll try to get some pics soon and post. Its silver and stock. I'm going to tint the windows and put in a new HU with Sirius next week.

01tl4tl

1 can of seafoam in the gas tank and a can of seafoam in the intake manifold vac port
Clean the TB with carb cleaner or Deep Creep
repeat in a month then install new NGK Iridium IX spark plugs
You will be good to go- also need to reset the ECU after cleaning everything- it will have adapted to the lower octane
91 or higher isnt a choice- the engine needs it

Phee- it wont clean the intake manifold by putting it in the oil- what are you thinking?

It does a great job cleaning the oil passages inside the engine that way, and probably the oil pickup tube screen--
I use a fresh oil filter and drive more than most would with seafoam in the oil-
also use vtec as I heard gen3 issue with vtec sliders gumming up and not working- big dollars to replace, so keeping mine clean~

Must put it thru the main vac port to clean the intake manifold, even then its not going to get everything.
Every 75k miles or so its wise to pull the manifold and clean the EGR ports and intake runners, that the only way to clean the egr ports

sleepgsr

You should put in premium gas.

goMO

dumb question - how do you reset the ecu? or does it do it by itself after a few tanks of premium?

FirePR2002

do a search, but the easy method is pulling the clock fuse from the passenger side panel - fuse #12 or #13 I believe. leave out for 5 minutes and replace.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Clean out the EGR port, prob has alot of grit pilled up inside from the regular gas.
I also used regular gas when gas was alot well 1 fill up reg 1 fill up mid..My car runs fine, im gonna clean out my EGR port next week and install some outlaw engineering spacers.

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

To reset the ECU, you can also disconnect the battery for a few minutes...but make sure you have any stereo/navigation unlock codes handy.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

here is a pic of a egr port of a diff member ..



and this is pretty much how to get to it...
DO not drill anything thats only for 99tl's

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/B00-004.PDF

01tl4tl

its better to pull the clock fuse than disconnect the battery to reset the ECU-
the battery method requires resetting the radio and nav security codes

Its possible to damage the cable ends or battery post with deadly results to the battery during removal or install of the cables!

If your battery terminals need cleaning anyway- this is a perfect time-- so do the battery method, just use care with tools and use your eyes to see whats happening

totaledTL

He put it in the oil each time, or in the intake at oil change intervals?

goMO

the Seafoam video on youtube says to use 1/3 can into the pcv valve or vacuum line, 1/3 into the oil crankcase, and 1/3 into the gas tank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D11ZVYwj62w

Is this what you guys do?

01tl4tl

eff utube and anyone not using a TL as demo car- as we have done in several DIY thread on here
when you have azine you dont need utube for instructions

We do it MUCH better by using a full can in 1/2 tank of gas
a full can in the intake manifold vac port at the TB, the brake booster works but this is better

Oil- put some in right before you are going to change it

They dont cross over--intake does not clean the oil, and oil does not clean intake

the 1/3 can per area is marketing
read the website and it says to use more, example-- 2oz per gal of gas-- is cleaning dose
how you get that with 4 oz is beyond comprehension

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I read somewhere not to put it in the crankcase unles your gonna change the oil right away even then they say its not a good idead to do the crancase.
Just do the VAC line and the gas tank 1/2 and 1/2 thats what i did!

smartypants

Hi goMo :

I've been using regular gas for years with no issues. If it were me I'd say enjoy your car and don't worry.

Now, engine mounts are another matter.......

smartypants.

twistedwedge

I tried regular 87 a few times in mine-only noticeable difference is performance suffers, and mileage as well. Two tanks it averaged -60 miles compared to premium. Theres a few on here that swear by 87...but I dont want to open that can of worms.

Far as seafoam-do what 01tl4tl recommends. It worked wonders for my vehicles!

'02_TL-S

^^I feel like I'm going to open up that can twisted..

I swear I've been gettin the best mileage with 89 octane. Recently went on a 1200 mile roadtrip (there and back) and got a lil over 29 mpg on an 89 octane tank in cali - premium got way too expensive where I had to fill up so I went with 89 for a tank.

Then did premium when it got cheaper again and got bout 27 mpg. Didnt really drive any different with the two tanks..cruise most of the way as I was mostly on I5...

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

just for everyones info... although gas prices may seem high.

on average the difference from 87-91/93 in price on an ENTIRE tank..

about 3 bucks most cars a little over 2
if you fill up once a week... your saving about 160-170 bucks a year.. not breaking anyones bank IMO

goMO

thanks guys! I will do as 01tl4tl says.

goMO

getting to the egr port looks to be not as simple as I would like, especially considering I don't exactly have a green thumb with this kind of thing. How much do you think my regular mechanic would charge to do this?

murky

My mechanic who charges $50 an hour estimated $50-$75 for my 2000TL which seems consistant with the 99 EGR recall service.

I'll probably do it myself. My main concern is how to responsibly deal with the mess.

01tl4tl

the reason you wait to add seafoam to the engine oil until right before change is that it breaks loose tons of sludge
10 minutes engine running is ok, more than that and I would install a new filter to catch all the stuff

Thats the problem- the old filter already is nearly full- then you add more--reaches its limit and it goes into BYPASS mode- which means NO oil is going thru the filter

TLer trash

I couldn't agree more! I tried seafoaming a neglected nissan v6. I made it about 2 miles, oil light came on, engine ticking. Back to the shop, oil and filter change, let it run 15 minutes, test drive.....Made it a little further, oil light on, engine ticking. Changed oil one more time....ok this time. Since then, I will only let the car idle, no driving, no more than 15 minutes, and I won't leave the car unattended while it runs.

01tl4tl

If you are at the end of the oil filter lifespan or have a known heavy grunge engine- it may take a few filters and oil changes to get it all out
But you have revived an otherwise dead engine!

speedemon90

Wow you can really pull that mileage off on your car. Dude i never get over 20, but then again i do fill up regular. Maybe i should switch to 91, i also wonder if 91 is actually that much higher in cost, esp since you get more mpg anyway. I'm gonna test it out

twistedwedge

^^^ lol are you serious? I averaged 26 the last tank with mixed city/hwy driving..

My best is 32 on the highway....with premium..


murky: you can do that EGR clean-its easy. Just take your time and follow the DIY posted. the non type-s is especially easy..

01tl4tl

why are people using 87 octane in a 91 minimum car? says right on the gas door-
not 91 `suggested`
91 or higher required
especially Type S cars with their even higher compression engine
You may not feel a loss, but its not good for the engine and the 2-3 bucks per tank more is no excuse- give up a soda or something to pay the differance
Thats part of owning a performance car-vtec doesnt run cheap

twistedwedge

^^^ I agree 10000000000%

you CAN run 87-the ecm will compensate for it, but when you go to open up the throttle it will speak for itself..

Filled up yesterday@2.79/gallon for 93 octane. took 13.3 gallons. 13.3x2.799=37.22..
Regular 87 octane is 2.599/gallon 13.3x2.599=34.56
37.22-34.56=2.66. Not even enough for a gallon of premium..lol.

If that 2.66 ruins your budget you have serious problems..

totaledTL

This octane thing has been beaten to death..,...

01tl4tl

I dont mind the price for the TL,,,thats part of owning it

But my 2 wheeled honda requires it too!
Same 9 to1 compression- rev loving vtwin monster

Do you know how much that 20 cents a gal adds up to,,, at a whopping 3.some gallon per fillups and 40-45mpg~
My all day road trips cost 10 dollars!!!

bummer

01tl4tl

I know- the funny part to me is the 87 users who say it doesnt harm the engine!!
Yet none have done a boroscope inspection to see what crud is being left behind
A job for Seafoam~

my bike manual calls for a seafoam type `decarbonizing treatment' fairly often, to remove carbon from the piston tops
In these zero tolerance/clearance engines its possible to build up high enough carbon layers on the piston to contact the valves!!!

eg2707

When I got my tl the original owner used reg gas also

goMO

I just drove 400 miles today. Averaged close to 80mph on the highway from northern NJ to Baltimore. Had the a/c on also. Got 32 mpg!!

Can't wait to do the seafoam and clean this sucker out!

twistedwedge

its pretty cool, eh? v6 with decent power and 32 hwy...not a bad balance!

I havent taken a road trip since the total seafoam...hmmm

speedemon90

damn ok i'm gonna switch to 91 asap. Ill burden with the extra cost. I never really looked to see what gasoline the car required, but yea i shall switch!! I also need to seafoam this car during summer.

speedemon90

edit: Since the ecu im guessin has adapted to using 87 for many years should i reset it too?

edit again: haha i just realized i pressed quote instead of edit my bad