| Author | Message | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
New member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2003 |
Two things: 1) On older carburated cars it was very critical to "blow It Out" from time to time. Carburators were fairly reliable but never had the broad spectrum cababilities of monitoring fuel at idle, quick stabs to the accelerator (therefore the acelerator pump was used to richen the air/fuel mix as a gasp of fresh air flowed past the butterflys, and wide open throttle. One was comprimised for the other. 2) Today, all cars are computer controlled measuring CO levels ( CO=unburned fuel in the combustion chamber) and HC levels ( unburned gas coming from the tailpipe). As a matter of fact a 1999 F355 actaully has two O2 sensors, one "upstream" from the cat, and one "downstream" from the cat. The OBDII meausures before and after, computes the difference and calculates the effectiveness of the cat all while measuring RPM, crankshaft position, road speed, MAP (or vacum if you will), etc, while making micro fine adjustments to the air/fuel mixture. I will say this, on a newer car, the computer "memorizes" the driving style. MANY car manufacturers recommend 15-20 start/stops to "train" your cars computer. It is a fact. | ||
| Timothy Guay (Timguay)
New member Username: Timguay Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ya baby, let it breath! Espescially with Tubi's and a K&N. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 568 Registered: 5-2001 |
A few runs toward redline, can improve performance, if only temporarily. When I did dyno runs with my 328, I made about 4 more hp on run #3 than on run #1. This was typical for many cars there... | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 4292 Registered: 12-2000 |
My car has run the best after track sessions. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1051 Registered: 4-2002 |
Are there any additives worth mentioning that will aid the Italian Tune-up? I do more around town driving than I care to admit, and my blasts down the country lanes might benefit from a little chemical help. | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Junior Member Username: Dom Post Number: 126 Registered: 11-2002 |
A quote from Pat Braden's Alfa Owner Bible: "You�ve sunk your next five years� paychecks into this sweet Italian beauty and you�re not going to abuse it, by golly. You shift at 2500 rpm and never go over 70 mph. To prove your point, the car needs tuning so often now that if you really put your foot into it you�re sure something would explode. That�s Italian cars for you. Somewhere, right now in Italy, someone�s driving exactly the same car as yours. His right foot is pressed firmly to the floor, where it has been for the last three hours. The rubber on the brake pedal shows no perceptible wear. The speedometer and tachometer are both trying to bury themselves offscale. His arms are weary from cranking the wheel back and forth as he negotiates the mountain roads. His eyes gleam and his heart is glad for he has never once had cause to do more than regular maintenance to his thoroughbred of a car that has uncounted kilometers on its engine. He�s right and you�re wrong!" Dom | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1017 Registered: 1-2002 |
Mitch is right. The Italian Tuneup does ANY car a world of good!!! | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Intermediate Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 1196 Registered: 8-2001 |
On every outing, a few runs to redline seems to keep my F-car happy.  | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 445 Registered: 2-2003 |
One point I'd add is that the latest generation, with flexible mapping in the CPU, only run really well after a bit of a flogging, and need time to "wake up" from battery disconnected slumber! My 550 came from a collector who drove it gently, and had the battery disconnected for several months. When I picked it up with 1,182miles, I thought it was strong, but not as violent as some I had driven. I kept getting on it, and had gotten to the Northern State on my way home from Greenwich, when, suddenly, a stamp on the pedal at 40mph in 3rd resulted in wild wheelspin and tire smoke!! It's been an animal ever since!! | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 920 Registered: 10-2002 |
Using these cars is the only way to keep them fit, find out what's wrong, and get it fixed. The older ones esp.load up in stop and go. I'll never forget the sound of my 275GTB clearing out at 7000+ | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 465 Registered: 4-2002 |
If you really want to clear the engine out, take it to the track and run the snot out of the car for two solid days. The car will enjoy the workout--so will the driver... | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2003 |
Worked for my old V12 and for my modern 4.0 inline six, the latter after being babied for the first few four years of its life. Two of my good friends with the same engine baby their cars, never wind them up, and when they even think about getting on it for more then gentle acceleration, they run rich, smoke black, and reek to high heaven under anything more then gradual/gentle acceleration. They have new cats, O2 sensors, ECUs are fine.. its those damn deposits the moment they jab on the throttle. When I first started demanding more of my car the last year and a half, initially, I had the same problem that went away after 2 weeks of hard driving and two tanks of treated fuel to break up deposits. I had a very slight miss at idle (noticible when cold without fail, sometimes would appear when warm) and that has completely disappeared. No more smoke like the others. I don't think 2 miles at 120MPH will do anything at all.. wouldn't frequent use for a couple of weeks throughout the RPM range with an agent to disolve buildups do more? | ||
| stephen r chong (Ethans_dad)
Junior Member Username: Ethans_dad Post Number: 191 Registered: 3-2002 |
Peter, If you check the archives, I posted a ways back a warm-start issue on my 85 QV. Just last week, the local Bay area FChat guys got together for a canyon run thru Halfmoon Bay and Devils Slide. There were plenty of opportunities to let the horses run and I for the first time, opened it up a little. Guess what? No more warm-start issue. I'm going to try and wind it out at least once every time out. Steve | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 343 Registered: 11-2002 |
Gives the driver a tune up too Pete | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Intermediate Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 1027 Registered: 5-2001 |
If you still use leaded gas it is very true. | ||
| Peter Sedlak (Peters)
Junior Member Username: Peters Post Number: 119 Registered: 1-2003 |
I have heard this one all of my life. Is there any truth that a 2 mile straight at 120+ MPH a couple times a year will burn out carbon deposit buildup and is actually good for your engine? |