Hi Guys,

I bought a 99 TL with 102k miles from a dealer last month...I checked the records, transmission..

The car is overall problem free except for the following things that have emerged...

1) When i test drove the car (2 test drives) at the time of buying the car, i tested it on the road and the highway. It showed no veer. Recently ive begun to notice that on a flat road/highway..it immediately begins to veer to the left and my left hand is under strain at times to keep it straight..
I had the dealer check it (bought it with brand new Yokohama tires from the dealer). He put it on the alignment machine and said there are no alignment problems, he said the its just "new" uneven rubber so hold for another 2k and if it doesnt go away, its something called radial skid or somethin like that. Question is: is it really the tire issue or should i have it checked for otherthings ?

2) Whenever i floor the accelerator to pass traffic (i dont drive harsh), the car picks up fine, but when at a slow speed i floor the gas, it pauses for like 0.5 sec and thens picks up..Is this a problem ?

3) Im using Shell/QT/Chevron 89 and get around 221 miles when the low fuel light comes on. The pump puts in about 13.7 gallons so im guessing on a full tank i would have about 270 ? But 221/13.7 ~ 17 mpg! How can i improve that to 20-21 ?

THanks guys!

 

I've never heard of radial skid? If it's pulling, check tire pressure first, then alignment. Tire pressure low can also cause gas mileage problems!

The delay in downshifting could be a transmission problem, although I hope not! Otherwise, you could be feeling the effects of the retarded timing due to your running Unleaded Plus rather than Unleaded premium. Try filling up with premium and adjusting your tire pressures to matching and appropriate pressures, and get back to us.

 

Hi Guys,

I bought a 99 TL with 102k miles from a dealer last month...I checked the records, transmission..

The car is overall problem free except for the following things that have emerged...

1) When i test drove the car (2 test drives) at the time of buying the car, i tested it on the road and the highway. It showed no veer. Recently ive begun to notice that on a flat road/highway..it immediately begins to veer to the left and my left hand is under strain at times to keep it straight..
I had the dealer check it (bought it with brand new Yokohama tires from the dealer). He put it on the alignment machine and said there are no alignment problems, he said the its just "new" uneven rubber so hold for another 2k and if it doesnt go away, its something called radial skid or somethin like that. Question is: is it really the tire issue or should i have it checked for otherthings ?

no comment. lol

2) Whenever i floor the accelerator to pass traffic (i dont drive harsh), the car picks up fine, but when at a slow speed i floor the gas, it pauses for like 0.5 sec and thens picks up..Is this a problem ?

i have a 99 TL and the same thing happens to me. i dont htink tis anything major; you can prevent that by driving in SS

3) Im using Shell/QT/Chevron 89 and get around 221 miles when the low fuel light comes on. The pump puts in about 13.7 gallons so im guessing on a full tank i would have about 270 ? But 221/13.7 ~ 17 mpg! How can i improve that to 20-21 ?

you should be pumping 91 to get the best perfermance from your car. i've put in 87, 89 and my car runs like shit. my gas light turns on early also like yours im guessing thats normal for our car

THanks guys! (your welcome)

 

btw an intake or a k&n air filter will help improve gas mileage.. something i need to do cuz i bearly reach 300 per tank

 

Actually, if it's a very short pause before acceleration, it could just be the time it takes the transmission to decided what you're trying to do and downshift accordingly.

 

so which brand of intake r u running??

 

I have a 99 TL and the hesitation you are experiencing isn't out of the norm. To fix problem you may need to clean the trottlebody with some carb cleaner. Do a search for a DIY, it is very easy to do. Also some good fuel system cleaner would help at your next oil change(use full synthetic oil like Mobil1, its much better for our cars). Then use 93 octane if you can find it. Tire pressue should be at 35psi, but i inflate mine to 38-39psi for better gas mileage and grip. 231 per tank full is awful. Is that all city driving if it is thats about normal should be a little higher still, but stop and go all day kills your MPG obviuosly. K&N filters are great IMO. I have one and does give you a little power maybe 2-3HP, but they have 1million mile warrantly and you just clean them every 50k or so and they make a subtly nice sound when accelerating. A CAI is great but much more expensive than just a K&N filter($50) CAI $200+.

 

i also noticed a difference in gas mileage with a new air filter (K&N). it did help alot. tire pressure and spark plugs improved gas mileage also. and of course i always use 91 octane gas.. nothing less especially for performance. my car used to get like 210 per tank when i first bought it now its pushing 280-300 highway/city 50/50.

 

I get the exact same mileage as you...also to sbuswell, you wont get better grip with higher air pressure, maybe better mileage, but you get better grip with less pressure (that is why you lower your pressure at the track)

 

ou sig, you are right I was typing too fast and wasn't thinking about what I was typing. You are right. Only better MGP with higher tire pressure. PLugs don't give you better MGP unless your plugs are getting old and not sparking adequately. Otherwise replacing plugs prematurely won't do you any good.

 

thats not true. depending on what type of racing you would be doing you would adjust for that, but like auto x something where its just a short period of time we run our tires around 40 psi. by time we are done with the 1 lap the tires are around 44-46 psi due to heat. now if you are at a road course and plan on doing abunch of laps you will want to start out a little lower due to longer stresses and more heat build up. you will get better response and less sidewall flex with higher psi (there is a limit to how much it helps (meaning if 40 is good 60 isnt better) with the stock mich tires on the TL i was averaging 6 to 8 seconds faster laptimes (with alot better confidence and better at teh limit handeling) at Road America just by raising the psi from 34psi to 40 psi