Well, the learning curve continues, and the enjoyment is unabated.

Some of you might remember that in November I was given a TR with 288,000 kms on the clock. Well I figured out the early problems, and the fuel gauge that went walkabout returned suddenly after a brisk run up Macquarie Pass. So after 10,000kms I thought I'd share an update.

1. Oil
The car was using a reasonable amount of oil when I first got it, consuming a litre or two between servicing. I was not that surprised, given its mileage (kilometrage???) but in line with some other things, these days, apart from a puff of smoke first thing in the morning (valve guides??) it is using nearly no oil between services.

2. Petrol
The car was a gas hog when I first got it. I filled it right up and did a 'full-to-empty-to-refill' test and it used around 52 litres for less than 450 kms, and that included a local trip or two. Five months down the track, it will now deliver around 520 kmls on around 48 litres, and around even litres/kilometres when used all around town.

3. Performance
The above situations are, I believe directly linked to the third issue, the way it is being driven. I am sensitive to the engine's age, but I believe the previous owner was just short-shifting it to top and droning along. When I first got it it would not rev cleanly to 3,000RPM. Now it will happily spin to a bit over 4,200 without any misfiring, and although the torque characteristics and of the engine are hopelessly out of synch with the (manual) gearbox ratios, it can be hustled along with some elan, especially in the intermediates. It seems that rather than nursing it and perpetuating its decline, my slightly more demanding driving style has proved to be good for the car in the areas of oil consumption, fuel consumption, and performance.

Next trick is a new set of plugs and a tune-up at the next service.

Now, a question. The front struts are sacked out, seriously. Especially on the left, hitting any bump results in a smashing thump that just about shakes the stitches out of the old underwear :). So, what are my least expensive options to freshen up the front end? I'm guessing strut cartridges? Can they be fitted by myself, or will it need a mechanic to carry out this work?

Thank you all for your invaluable assistance in the past :) :).

Paul

yeah some new struts on the front is the winner

kyb delivered off ebay is about 250, most auto parts supplies can supply munroes for aboud that price or less. fitting takes maybe an hour if you take care, or 30 minutes if you got access to hydraulic spring compressors and a lift.

good luck, and to some entent i believe certain aspects of a engines condition are due to the doftly softly approach most people have. Using a wide range of revs, rather then sitting dronning along as you put it can really make a difference to spark plug life, so in turn, soot levels in the engine, so a whole miriad of effects occur under different driving habbits.

yeah KYB is probably the best option cost to performance wise, fitting is nice and simple even DIY, also given the amount of k's the original springs (if it still has them) would be on there last legs as well, also when doing the shocks (springs?) be sure to replace the bump stops as well as they might have fallen to bits given the age and k's on the car.

my 2c :P

I was not that surprised, given its mileage (kilometrage???) but in line with some other things, these days, apart from a puff of smoke first thing in the morning (valve guides??) it is using nearly no oil between services.

Most likely valve stem seals. Oil runs down the valve stem and the seals prevent it from entering the combustion chamber. When those seals are gone though it will run in and burn up, hence the puff of smoke at startup. Easy fix, put mine in to get done and it was only in the workshop for about 2 hours.

Otherwise it sounds like it's coming along well, i'll jump on the bandwagon and say replace the front struts. I put Monroe GT's in and the difference is amazing, and I imagine KYB's would be the same (but can't speak from experience).

As magna00 said, the springs probably aren't so springy anymore. Fortunately they're not too expensive. My previous car's (KR Verada) were $120, plus about $300 for front struts and fitting the whole lot.

Depending on the condition of the rest of the front suspension system, have a look at all the bushes. If they're worn, or just about nonexistent, they'll contribute greatly to the poor ride quality.

With regards to the rev-ability, have a look at the distributor cap and rotor, to see how much wear it's got on it. If it's in poor condition, the spark won't be great by the time it does what it's supposed to.

A free update thats got to be the bargain of the year!!! :bowrofl:

I'd be interested in all the things you have done to the car since you have had it, as I would not believe that all these changes in fuel and oil consumption are down to the driving style???

For struts, ive got a KS and the suspension place has ordered in some KYB's all round so that will be in shorty, so I can give you my impression then. However I have only heard very good things about them on here, they are nto much more expensive than cheap shocks, but very good, and are considered a quality performance shock, with still decent comfort.

Im not too sure about springs, to be honest I would not have thought that ages and km's would have much effect on springs, I dunno maybe th sag and get softer with time?? Dont think they would be much different though, but if you are into your car and like a decent drivign car while your at it it might be a good idea to get some slightly lowered sports springs liek King lows or the like.

The suspension stuff I think you coudl probably do yourself, but will need to get an alignment done. I decided in the end to just get a suspension place to do it all for me.

Ollie

A free update thats got to be the bargain of the year!!! :bowrofl:

I'd be interested in all the things you have done to the car since you have had it, as I would not believe that all these changes in fuel and oil consumption are down to the driving style???

For struts, ive got a KS and the suspension place has ordered in some KYB's all round so that will be in shorty, so I can give you my impression then. However I have only heard very good things about them on here, they are nto much more expensive than cheap shocks, but very good, and are considered a quality performance shock, with still decent comfort.

Im not too sure about springs, to be honest I would not have thought that ages and km's would have much effect on springs, I dunno maybe th sag and get softer with time?? Dont think they would be much different though, but if you are into your car and like a decent drivign car while your at it it might be a good idea to get some slightly lowered sports springs liek King lows or the like.

The suspension stuff I think you coudl probably do yourself, but will need to get an alignment done. I decided in the end to just get a suspension place to do it all for me.

Ollie

yeah age and km's do have an effect on springs over time they can tend to sag and become soft. Also the fuel and oil consumption could basically come down to if he changed to the correct oil and did a good service on the car, aka fuel filter or air filter can make a lot of difference espically if they are old and very worn out.

A free update thats got to be the bargain of the year!!!

:lol: Probably could have phrased that better :lol:

The update was, indeed, free; but the car in the first place was also free :lol:.

Thanks again for the good advice, folks :).

any more plans for it, wheels, lowering etc...

share your petrol secrets with me, my 4 pot friend!

EDIT: I noticed last time that after filling up, I got 130 (approx) to one quarter tank whilst thrashing the hell out of it with mates on a cruise...yet, I got 390 to a Full tank, driving normally the next week...like- WHAT THE?!!

Ahh k, forgot the car was free, makes a lil more sense now :D

Yann, I got the V6 but kinda got a similar problem, I record my fuel consumption very accurately since I got the car, and it averages just over 13L per 100km. I do a fair bit of slow city/suburb driving however, so I dont think thats too bad. However when I do a country run, the consumption goes down, but I have never got it under 10L per 100km. And the engine is in very good condition and I only ever use BP ultimate. From what I read here, I think it should at least drop under 10L per 100km in the country.

BTW in ur servicing, what have you done in the TR, filters etc???

Ollie

:oops: I wish I knew, I just drop it off at a place I trust and they do it for me, usually around $110 - $120 per service.... I should ask what he does, shouldn't I??

EDIT: I noticed last time that after filling up, I got 130 (approx) to one quarter tank whilst thrashing the hell out of it with mates on a cruise...yet, I got 390 to a Full tank, driving normally the next week...like- WHAT THE?!!

Haha i have a similar problem dude. From full to 3/4 tank, trip meter reads 150km. When it reaches 1/2, it reads 200 km. when it reaches 1/4, it reads 300km. By the time i fill up (Probably about an 1/8 of a tank) its about 350-360.
Figure that one out. Inaccurate hey! Fuel sender? My Crappy mileage figures = result of carby

Humm thats odd, my EFi V6 uses about the same ammouynt of fuel, and the issue you have with the fuel gauge is the exact same as the one I have.

Haha i have a similar problem dude. From full to 3/4 tank, trip meter reads 150km. When it reaches 1/2, it reads 200 km. when it reaches 1/4, it reads 300km. By the time i fill up (Probably about an 1/8 of a tank) its about 350-360.
Figure that one out. Inaccurate hey! Fuel sender? My Crappy mileage figures = result of carby
Had the same drama with my EFI astron.

An update on the update; I got a set of struts, new, off Fleabay, for $209 including freight (from Kempsey!). They'll arrive this week, (school hols, so I can get them fitted!)

Now, a cooling question.

The temp guage on the car never goes above half-way, no matter what the conditions, but when you get out it's got the 'burning water' smell that usually means something IS amiss. There doesn't appear to be any leakage anywhere, but I regularly have to top up the coolant bottle. Any clues??

An update of the update.

The water issue turned out to be a leak in the thermostat housing gasket. Fixed at a service, and the level in the bottle never varies now.

New struts have made a world of difference; we now only hear the bumps rather than feel they are going to tear the front end out of the car.

Oil continues to behave; expert opinion is that the valve guides are crook, but with (now) 309,000 on the engine, that's hardly surprising. It probably uses around a litre and a half - two litres between (6,000 km) services.

Fuel consumption continues to improve, and astonish. Saturday last I left Wollongong, drove to Bega, then back up Brown Mountain to Canberra, then back through Goulburn to home. We did nearly 900 kms in the day, with 573 kilometres on the last tankful (Bega out to Tathra, back to Bega and then the Brown Mountain to home stint), for a useage of 49.26 litres. That's 8.59 litres per 100 kms, or, in terms that I better understand, 32.8 miles per gallon. Speed was 100 kmh everywhere possible, and 110kmh on the freeways!! It's just an incredible little touring car.

Thanks again for the help you've given me so far, much appreciated.

Good to hear you are happy with your little find.

Always feels good to bring something back into existance

It's now a year since QIV pulled into my driveway.

Purely because I'm a closet anorak, I have kept records of all expenses, and mileage.

Here 'tis.

28,588 kms

Parts and servicing, $2261.29

Fuels, tyres and lubricants, etc, $2500.88

Rego, green slip and pink slip, $589.70

That makes a total cost over the year of $5351.87

According to my school-boy maths, that's around 19c per kilometre. Or, around $445 per month over the 12 months.

Included in that cost are new front struts, and, the best $180 I've ever spent, re-furbishing of the roof lining, no more saggy-baggy cloth :lol:.

To say that I am chuffed would be an understatement.

I'll have to find a new phrase for 'update'.

The old girl now has over 328,000 kms on her odometer, and although the only recent expenses have been servicing and a new clutch slave cylinder, the oil is starting to be consumed at a higher rate than when I first got it; (experts tell me it's the valve guides, but the same experts tell me that since I got the car for nothing, fixing it would cost more than the car is worth).

That's as maybe, but since EVERYTHING on the car, literally, still works perfectly, I'd love to investigate replacing the engine with a younger unit and keep it until it really does die.

So, what are my options, and what cost might I expect?

Answers in a plain brown envelope, please lol

here we go again

Last Thursday a local mechanic fitted new valve stem seals.

It hasn't used a drop of oil since. YAY!!!

now, what are my options in terms of basic alloy wheels to replace the old steel ones?

Nice to see this still going strong :)

My car wasnt free - but im going through lots of new or reco'd parts lately - figured I'de keep this car out of the wreckers for some time yet (97 TF). By the time im done, shouldnt die before another 140 000km :)