I'm new to the JDM game, i recently bought a 2001 Acura TL 3.2L that just rolled over to 101,000, and i just changed the spark plugs because i was having a delay in start ups, and bad fuel economy. also changed out the Air Filter.

I am getting on average 220-250 per tank in the city.
- Is this normal? that's like 14 MPG i might as well be driving a SUV -__-
- Any problem i should be worried about?
- Anything specific i should look for?

 

Seafoam (search on google/youtube for more info)

 

I've done Seafoam on my B5 passat that i had before this, it seems to help, but not enough. this car is estimated 19 MPG in city, anything else you would suggest?

 

You can try checking tire pressure.

Do you drive the car hard?

 

i pull about 220-240 in city only and about 420-450 on freeway. I keep my car upto date on all maint so i believe this is normal mileage.

 

Not anymore really, i did just cause it was a new car and you know.. you always have to see what the car is capable of haha. but tire pressure is at 35PSI all around.

 

I just bought the car, and the last time it was noted for going into a dealership or any where to get service was 67,000 miles. and as of right now the car is at 102,420, i really don't know what to think of that. -__-

 

Thats about average for all city. Ease up on your right foot and it may help. Also i see you are from Michigan. You have winter blended fuel and colder temps which will reduce your mileage as well.

 

what spark plugs did you install?
the correct NGK Iridium? they are about 8 dollars each

If you used some `2 buck chuck` plugs, thats a large part of the problem

you are overdue for the egr port and passage cleaning every 75kmiles (diy 2 hours)
it never hurt to adjust the valves at the 105 service,,which you are also overdue for based on 7 year or 105kmiles
you can do that along with the egr cleaning--shared labor in parts to be removed

Seafoam= 1 can to just under half tank,,repeat on another half tank- then good for a year
Spray clean the TB air plate/inlet

stay under 4000 rpm, let D5 shift around 2500-3000 in town for better mileage
the car has good torque to get it to speed

register as new owner with acura care 1 800 382 2238x5,
ask if all recalls are taken care of
and www.owners.acura.com get a free owner book download there,
and safely store the radio/nav security codes too!
Need cars VIN for both those places

 

I have the same story. 02 TL-S, currently 137k miles, and have ~17mpg on mixed highway/city.

I did the 105k service when the odometer hit 125k miles, except for the egr port cleaning. Where can I find some information? I don't think the manual ever mentions that. Thanks.

 

I have the NGK G-Power spark plugs, and what is a EGR port? and why is it important?

 

you have the wrong spark plugs..take them out and get the correct ones
Our ignition is VERY picky about this

the egr sends some exhaust gas to the intake to be reburned
its passage and ports clog up and cause running problems
Its not in any book,,something you have to belong to azine to learn!
info found in DIY titled Thermoblock Spacer Install and EGR cleaning
we may have one with pics of 02-03 manifold by now~

 

You sure? Because the dealership said these aren't factory ones, but they are the next best thing. They said these are single platinum verse the double platinum ones that are factory. but where would instructions be on how to do this? and will i be able to do it by myself?

 

while 00-03 came with single platinum ngk, many of us use gen3s plug- ngk iridium ix
which last longer and cost less..but ngk platinum is ok if you want
It has 1 electrode,,not 2 not 4,,,1

was this a honda, or acura dealer gave you the info?
`Next best thing` is not the same as APPROVED AND CORRECT plug for this engine

Parts stores will do the same thing,,a book says they are the right length and heat range,,so they `fit`

remove one and it will show heavy wear already
Our high energy `coil on plug` system= eats the wrong plugs in a hurry!

 

please see the DIY section for complete help on this simple job
should take less than 1.5 hours for a noob at a casual pace
diy master list here https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/new-official-2nd-gen-tl-diy-thread-706083/

 

Can you send me a link to the spark plugs that you are speaking of?

 

try here

type in the box near the top "ngk iridium ix"

click on the blue underlined text, which we call a "hyperlink"

 

I pull about 290-300 per tank. So about 22-23 mpg. That's about 80% city and 20% highway. Shifting around 3k.

One tank I kept the rpms really low and didn't go passed 65flr highway speeds and pulled 350 miles when the gas light came on. Roughly 25mpg

 

on my car i just did the spark plugs and i think i used some 2.99 a plug NGK's and the tensioner and belt at the same time car seems to run alot better i also changed the fluid with "premium acura automatic transmission fluid about 15 to 20k ago, coolant and its running strong thankfully. i have to drive about 80 miles a day minimally and i get from any where from 16 to 26 mpg maybe even a lil better its really how you drive and how much ya pump at a time, gas prices are high and everyone im sure is useing high octane. my friend convinced me to try it but i didnt buy it!! i did it for maybe a couple weeks i think if that but i didnt like the mpg or my mind didnt like it he just wouldnt shut up about it.. until i tried it its really a opinionated subject what fuels is better.. when the gas light is on i got about at least 40 miles to go.. dont ever push it with the gas light on it aint worth it.. its an acura keep good care of it

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NGK-Qty-6-Ir...f#ht_500wt_781

@TheMightyQuinn ^ those are the spark plugs you are talking about, correct?

@hondaprotege what is the tensioner and belt? by the belt do you mean the timing belt? but yeah i always pour premium gas minimum 93 Octane. i have bought 4 qrts of ATF-Z1 from the Honda dealership, need 7 more quarts before i can get a flush, because my tranny fluid is past due. the fluid isn't pink or red at alll! but planning on doing that soon. and i don't really drive it with the gas light on just because it's bad for the car, plus i don't want shit getting sucked up from the tank.

But anything else you could add?

 

That ebay link has the wrong version for Iridium IX...

http://ngksparkplugs.com/part_finder...p?engineid=108

for the J32a1 engine:

Iridium IX: ZFR5FIX-11
OEM Laser Platinum: PZFR5F-11

The Iridium IX is designed to last 40-50k miles, while the OEM laser platinums are designed for 80k-100k miles. I personally would never run any type of spark plug for 100k miles though.

Oh and don't use Z1 fluid, it has way too much friction modifiers. Stick with DW-1. Some people like myself have also been running Red Line Racing ATF which has no friction modifiers for quicker shifts and less heat generation. I won't go back to honda fluids again.

 

Who manufactures the DW-1? is it something i can get at a local car store? but have you ever had to replace your tranny since using that oil?

 

But thank you for the spark plug information!

 

dw-1 is the honda fluid from dealer
they stopped making the old formula

get the right spark plugs in there ASAP- it will fix several problems
Also run 91 MINIMUM Octane- if they sell 93-94 where you live, thats what you run.
not 87 not 89
the ECU is designed for the car to perform its best on 94,,the highest pump/street gas in the usa
and it will adjust for 91 octane,,thats why its called a Minimum~

throw a can of seafoam in half a tank, change the plugs to correct ones @8$ each x6
and ck tire pressures

 

01-03 came with double platinum, 3rd gen is iridium center with platinum tipped ground. Both are considered long life, 100-120,000 mile plugs. The iridium ix has no precious metal on the ground, and has a projected life span of about 45-50,000 miles.

 

So do you recommend the OEM ones, or the Iridium IX: ZFR5FIX-11? i'm confused.

- Also doing a tranny flush on my car wouldn't harm it in anyway with 101,500 miles on it would it? the current tranny fluid is a poop color and i need to change it asap..

 

So you are saying get the ATF DW-1 tranny oil from honda?

- I don't pour less than 92 Octane, depending on where i'm at.

- I will be getting a tranny flush soon due to my oil being so old and a dirty color.

- Will be changing Spark Plugs next time the weather is right around here, the back end is such a pain in the butt to get the spark plugs out.. Ehh gotta do what you gotta do. all tires are at 35 PSI,

- Do you recommend 1/3 of the sea foam in the crank case, another 1/3 in the vacuum line, and the last of it in the gas tank? thats what a mechanic friend told me i should do to get the best outcome of seafoam.

 

Also do any of you guys know where i can get a decent pair of Fog lights? including the bracket and all..

Sorry for all the questions

 

At that mileage, do not do a 3x3 drain in one day or it may cause your tranny to slip and go south. Just drain it once...about 3 quarts or so will drain out. Fill it back up between the marks on the dipstick....again, about 3 quarts. Double check the level after driving it around the block.
Then drive it for a few weeks. Personally, I would drive it for a month so the tranny gets acclimated with this new 3 quarts of fluid. Then do drain #2 and repeat the same process. Then finally do drain #3. After that, I would do a drain with every oil change. And don't forget to change the black tranny filter on top of the transmission housing, visible when you open the hood.

 

I just ordered 12 qts of ATF DW-1, but so you're suggesting i don't get a flush? wouldn't the dealership warn me on getting a flush if it's risking the life of my tranny?

 

Whatever you do, do it in 3 or more steps. Change once, drive 1,000 to 3,000 miles repeat as many times as necessary. Maybe it's coincidental, but a lot of high mileage acura 5 speeds die right after a 3 x 3 or 3 x 4 atf change. I think the redline racing and d4 mix is a better choice than any honda fluid. Read "I hate cars" and "innacurate's" threads on the 3rd gen side. Search redline racing atf to start.

 

I already had ordered the oil, i think i'm just going to do a drain and fill on my car, don't want to take any risk

 

I would try maybe having your transmission flushed. Once I got mine done on my 2003 3.2TL my fuel economy went from 18/20 mpg to 22/23 in the city going about 360 miles on a tank.

 

But with that being said, i'm still at a pretty high percentage of my transmission going out if i got a flush..

- Going back to the bad gas mileage, i have realized i can smell gas under my hood when my engine is somewhat warmed up, anyone know what that could be, or what is causing that?

- And anyone else's car turn off pretty rough? like it turns off fine, but it seems like it shuts off pretty hard..

 

maybe when you get the right plugs etc in--it will run correctly
Look for a fuel leak!!!

Seafoam= please see our diy for info--your friend doesnt know how to treat a TL the best you can
1/3 can is not enough!! thats old advertising they left on the can

1 can in just under half tank of gas,, do that twice if not comfortable with vac port/manifold direct method
or do gas tank 1 can, manifold vac 1/2 can
and 1/2 can in oil day a before change

 

is your trans original or warranty unit?--those have blue paint on bolt heads of trans and associated brackets = gives us an idea of actual trans miles

MEASURE the drained fluid, between 3 and 3.4 qts will come out
replace exactly
Ck fluid level per book--and contrary to a post above- its not ckd after `driving around the block` see owner book or any of the post on doing it right

the trans holds a total of 7.3 but the rest is trapped in the torque convertor
It all circulates and mixes together.

 

the FLUSH we all say to avoid, is a machine powered system at a regular shop or even a trans shop,,not using hondas fluid (but are using dextron3)
that messes our trans up bad,,especially if high fluid miles/clutches are failing already,,selenoids clogged,,, -can stop trans in its tracks!

Acura dealers use a special machine, and have the car running in gear -on a lift-
to push out all the old fluid, as new fluid is constantly added from the top

You can do this too,,see `the accord method` on here or youtube
ignore part at end about additives, not for the TL trans!