PDA

View Full Version : know any ways to improve an engine? make it run better, while keeping it stock?


IamChevyman5
09-08-2005, 12:52 PM
Hey,
I haven't posted in a while, probably because i haven't had a reason to. But guess what? My grand am started F'in up on me the other week. Bad too. Stallin, sputtering, real annoying stuff. My uncle is a recently retired GM engineer, so I managed to drive the car out to his house, in Oxford, Michigan, about 45 minutes away from my place. After 5 minutes of driving, he got it with the first call. He said that it was probably the Emissions gas Recirculation valve (EGR valve) so we went to Murreys to see how much to replace it on my 2.4. They quoted us at just over $200.

My uncle said that it wasn't worth it, it was bullcrap, and that what he always does with his cars is to just buy the gasket, and to clean the EGR valve out of carbon. So we found a store with my gasket, got it, and after taking it back to my uncles, about a half hour later we had the old gasket removed, carbon off, and the new gasket in place of it. A day after my uncle did all that for me, the check engine light turned off, which made it even better for me. The whole deal cost about $20 bucks to fix my car from almost undrivable. $16 dollars for a manual (because the EGR valve was really hard to find) and $2.50 for a EGR valve gasket :)

Well anyway, what I wrote all this for, and what I am asking yall is if you have any sweet tricks like this that my uncle had, that would make a car drive so much better, for so cheap. Preferrably cheap, and engine only, hopefully. Anything close to what the cleaning out of the EGR was would be sweet, and comparitive cost would be friggin awesome.

I can't wait to try all these new tricks on my own car, my brothers 150,000 mile car, and whatever other cars I can get my hands on. That EGR thing was great, no work, no money, and all return.

Thanks yall,
Dan

:flag: :jesus:

rabidpanda69
09-08-2005, 04:55 PM
plugs wires and a filter can make a pig difference.

TulaneGT
09-08-2005, 05:41 PM
When should you think about changing out plugs?

rabidpanda69
09-08-2005, 07:41 PM
Pull em out and check the condition. If the electrodes look worn down then you need new ones. Run a google search for pic examples if you dont know what to look for.

Mike94SE
09-09-2005, 12:29 AM
Kill any and all intake silencers...and use a breather, i HATE oil crap..

IamChevyman5
09-12-2005, 11:50 AM
i want more replys than this...i see 90 people look at it, why do 4 only respond? im sure more people know some good ways to fix up a used engine. Oh, by the way, you are all going to think I am retarted, because my buddy and I got a plug set, and plugs, and we couldn't figure it out on the 2.4, which is funny because the guy at AUTOZONE said the set was the way it was (we were debating with him as to why there are no actual wires) that changing the plugs and wires on this car is extreamly easy.
ALRIGHT SO YALL GOTTA SEND ME SOME MORE REPLYS!
thanks,
Dan

carlover626
09-12-2005, 03:01 PM
This is a Direct Ignition engine, and there are no plug wires. The plugs are under the cover that says DOHC or Twin Cam, I can't remember fully. But there are 4 bolts holding the cover on, remove these and the cover and vualla, you have the plugs. Instead of changing the wires, you can change the boots (I didn't)but there are no Spark Plug Wires.
Also look your coil housing over for cracks as it may need replaced. Also (to my understanding) the plugs need to be changed at about 100,000 miles if the Plattinum AC Delco plugs are used. I changed mine at about 89,000 and really didn't get too much of a MPG/power increase from the new plugs.
Hope this helps, Mike

Matt95GT
09-12-2005, 03:25 PM
In my experiences, everything that I cleaned out, "rebuilt", or otherwise didn't replace with a new part eventually failed in the same or worse manner. Most of the time it will just become a headache later.

Also, performance doesn't come free, nor can it improve above a stock engine in new condition - although eliminating any worn parts will certainly restore power and efficiency lost to age/wear.