Do they change your spark plugs when you get a revised engine?

[Sentientbydesign]

My fuel economy has suffered a lot since the new engine went in. I went from 17.5-18mpg down to <16 for city driving.

Even highway driving isn't getting me anything over 20. I was going to change the spark plugs prior to the new engine going in, but when they did it, I figured they must have put new ones in too. Maybe not???

On the list of things to do include:

Synthetic engine oilTransmission oilDiff oilNitrogen for the tires (service advisor said he got 2 mpg out of his F150 after switching. The dealership currently doesn't offer the service, so I think he's telling the truth).

[awdjdmtalon]

I would hope they come w/ new plugs in them. The long block I just put in a VW Passat came w/ plugs in it.

The poor MPG is due to the engine not being broken in 100%. VW's don't acheive max MPG until around 20K miles.

The biggest advantage to Nitrogen in the tires is, the tire pressure remains almost constant. There is very little fluxuation in pressure due to temps. This is due to nitrogen being more stable then the air you get out of the hose. Partially due to lack of moisture. Plus the molocules are larger then O2. So they are less prone to leaching out of the rubber.

If any place want to charge you more then $25 to put nitorgen in your tires, keep looking.

And ask them how pure the nitrogen in the tires will be. It should be 95% or more. If not it is not worth it. The air out of the hose is about 78% nitrogen to begin with.

The way they acheive the 95% or greater, is by the machine deflating the tires to @3 psi (so the bead doesn't come off the rim). Then refilling to operating pressure, then deflating again to @10 psi, and refilling to operating pressure. Usually 2 times is enought to get the proper %. But you can also request that they do it 3 or more times to get the maximum % possible. Usually about 98%.

[Sentientbydesign]

Thanks Jerry,

That's awesome info!

[telcoman]

My fuel economy has suffered a lot since the new engine went in. I went from 17.5-18mpg down to <16 for city driving.

Even highway driving isn't getting me anything over 20. I was going to change the spark plugs prior to the new engine going in, but when they did it, I figured they must have put new ones in too. Maybe not???

On the list of things to do include:

Synthetic engine oilTransmission oilDiff oilNitrogen for the tires (service advisor said he got 2 mpg out of his F150 after switching. The dealership currently doesn't offer the service, so I think he's telling the truth).

Nate

What is your tire pressure and how much weight is in your trunk?

The best way to test your MPG would be to fill up and take a 300-400 mile trip on cruise control and then check your MPG.

I notice a considerable difference between highway driving and short trips in traffic. My 100 mile daily commute is mostly all highway driving. On trips to Florida from NJ, I reached 28 MPG a few times. All regular 87 octane

Telcoman

[Sentientbydesign]

Telco,

I'm not sure what my tire pressure is. That's one of those things I know I should check, but rarely do check. I think the shop filled it to 35psi, but that was a month or two ago.

Long trips are hard to come by. Even a 100 mile trip can have excessive stop and go traffic involved. The combination of population, lack of good public transportation, and the most water down gas in the nation gives us horrible fuel economy.

[SteveTheTech]

Hey Nate,

The new long block does come with new plugs, so I would not worry about it. Jerry is right about the break in period. I would change the oil a little early if it's possible to remove and crap from casting. It's pretty much the only thing that comes with them, your VTC sensors also are new. All the manifolds coolant piping and mounts are all original.

I must have missed the conversations earlier about you new motor, how many miles do you have on it? I've got one of those to do tomorrow horray.

Check the tire pressure, first for your fuel econ issues. I don't know about Cali but in normal states they are starting to reformulate their gas for winter mixture. I doubt that is going to greatly effect your MPGs but every little bit helps.

[Sentientbydesign]

I've had a revised engine a little longer than you've been a member. That's probably why you didn't hear about it.

I think I've got 4k-5k miles on it.

Thanks for the info. Tire pressure and lubricants should be done this weekend if I can squeeze some time out.

[SteveTheTech]

That's what I figured they just started dealing with it. I get so into the active topics I rarely look at the archives.

I would keep an eye on it and not stress it too much if you have no other driveability concerns. If you base idle is set correctly and nothing feels out of the ordinary just keep from abusing it too much for another thousand miles or so.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I was going to say... I hope they come with them if not the ports would get full of junk when they ship the motors!

Good work steve!

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

There is no chance of anything in the engine. It looks like every imported engine is hand taped with copious amounts of masking tape. There is a good 3/4 or a roll of tape on every hole in the long block assembly.

Don't worry about it.

However since I missed this conversation originally the updated motor is not a sure thing I have several customers with 6speeds that have never had an issue (I check every single ones oil level before replacing) that have never lost a drop.

[SteveTheTech]

Hey I replaced a VQ35VHR today and I took ~30 pics of the process. Any interest in seeing it?

I still hold the shop record of 7 hours and 15 minutes from time in to time out.

[Jacko3]

Steve:

I would love to see the pics. Please, share.

[Jacko3]

Oh, the best thing about Nitrogen in the tires is that I have noticed that the wear on my tires are as even as it can possibly be. It means I can go on one wheel alignment per each set of rear tires, and two for each set of front tires. I am happy and extremely pleased with the wear rating on the Toyo Proxes T1R on my car filled with pure Nitrogen.

[Jacko3]

Nate:

My revised VQ35DE engine is fine. I think my MPG got worse when they started adding ethanol in the gas. Eventhen, when i drive normally, I get about 24 MPG on the highway, but when i step on it, I get somewhere like 20MPG on the highway.

However, this is so, as long as I don't use the 3rd gear too often. My 4th gear is my best and most lovely gear. The 4th gear in the G-35 C 6MT is so fuel efficient under WOT that I am just so impressed and pleased with it. I love my 4th gear simply because I can go WOT and still save tons of gas.

My 3rd gear burns the gas twice as fast and it tanks at 90 miles per hour. The next worst which isn't too bad, is the 2nd gear. I only use these two gears often once I want to drag the car and once I have some money in my wallet. For daily driving, I think I use the 4th and 5th gear a whole lot more.

[Sentientbydesign]

Jacko,

You're funny. "...My 3rd gear burns the gas twice as fast ..."

Since you mentioned alignments and tires, I just remembered looking at my fronts on Wednesday and realizing that they are very evenly worn.

This is especially surprising considering the last two pairs feathered badly and this pair are R compound. The alignment I got must have helped a lot.

[Jacko3]

Nate:

Beleive me, I am afraid of going WOT in the 3rd gear----I literally see the needle move. I don't know why this is so. Any ideas, anyone?

[SteveTheTech]

Nate:

Beleive me, I am afraid of going WOT in the 3rd gear----I literally see the needle move. I don't know why this is so. Any ideas, anyone?

Wide Open Throttle has the injectors at an extremely wide pulse duration. This can be resolved by simply not driving at WOT.

EDIT- I will post the pics from the motor job when I get the bucket working again, or when I get home ill put em on iServe.

[Jacko3]

Steve:

You know it ain't gonna happen Hell would have to freeze over first, before that happens.

[SteveTheTech]

Ok so three days later I manage to give up on getting these pics in ascending order since my phone hates emailing pics to photobucket.

For anyone who wants to see a random assortment of VQ35VHR R & I pictures

[Jacko3]

Steve:

You are the man! Beautiful pictures. Awesome! Thanks for sharing. You know, you could take pictures of various hidden parts of the VQ engine, label them as a tutorial for neophytes like us. I am not good with the technical aspect, but I am ultra sensitive and attentive to the driving behavior and characteristics of any car.

[SteveTheTech]

That sounds fine, just let me know what you want to see and learn more about and I will do anything I can to help you.

I am the same way it drives me nuts now the wifes car makes noises and I do not know them nearly as well, so I can relate with you I just now what it could be I don't actually is.