| Author |
Message |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 35
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 12:07 pm: | |
The hot starting problem was isolated by my mechanic and was clearly identified in another thread regarding the 348 (clips in the fly wheel housing and dried up grease)
I'll also talk to him about a new starter as well. |
Olivier Raoust (Buzzracer)
New member
Username: Buzzracer
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 9:24 am: | |
:...and the hot start problem addressed"
If it's any help Brian, I'd look to the starter. I had same issues with my 89 T Coupe and nothing short of a new OEM starter cured the problem. That was after months (and $$$) of doing/trying different things, including rebuilding original starter (don't waste your money). Car's been starting fine for the past couple of years. If interested in more info, contact me directly.
Regards,
Olivier |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member
Username: Peter
Post Number: 2915
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:49 pm: | |
Brian: "And stay away from Shell. Amazing how many recommendations for Union 76 and Chevron I've received (with Mobil being a good back up) and how many "stay away from Shell" I've heard."
Funny, because I stick to Shell and stay far away from Chevron (I've seen what the additives in Chevron do to aluminum... It ain't pretty...). |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 5581
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:40 pm: | |
good news |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 10:35 pm: | |
Great to hear you have isolated the problem. I personally have never had a bad tank of gas, and I have little brand loyalty. I have heard the biggest thing to look for is a busy station. Small, low volume places are the ones that can get bad stuff in their gas from sitting, they are also the ones that don't change the filters on the pumps enough (ever noticed how slow it is to pump sometimes? Needs the filter replaced). |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 33
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 7:52 pm: | |
well, with the Ferrari Driving Club not being close, I burned through 2/3 of the gas with very little problem (just starting problems which again, didn't exist before bad gas).
Went down today to Union 76, filled up with 91 octane and some more octane boost. Car started right up no problem.
Then drove it up the 73 to John Wayne Airport, then turned around. Not once did I hear any pinging or slow throttle response. Then decided to really gun the engine (pinging was happening during hard acceleration before the fill up). Not once did I hear pinging.
We'll see over the next couple of days if the problem really is gone. Just going out and starting up my car will be a big test. If it shows trouble still starting up, off to the shop it goes. I plan to call my mechanic and let him know everything that's happened this weekend and see what he says.
Car is going back (pending this problem really is gone and no other problems manifest themselves) in late August, early September to have brakes and the hot start problem addressed.
Everyone's info here has been helpful.
And stay away from Shell. Amazing how many recommendations for Union 76 and Chevron I've received (with Mobil being a good back up) and how many "stay away from Shell" I've heard. |
DGS (Dgs)
Junior Member
Username: Dgs
Post Number: 167
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 8:07 pm: | |
If there's all that much impact, you might want to consider whether you want to run that much bad gas through your engine, or drain it out (at the filter). Yes, it would take a lot of cans to hold a full tank's worth, but it might save you having to replace your fuel filter ... or worse.
As for disposal of the old fuel -- you could always take 18 milk jugs of bad gas back where you got it. It will either tell them they need to examine their storage tanks ... or they'll just pour the junk back in with the rest of it. Most stations don't really check their storage tank except for level, so often the first indication they get of a problem is a lot of irate customers. |
Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member
Username: Andyilles
Post Number: 166
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 8:06 pm: | |
Brian... any chance your distributor bolts got loose and your timing shifted?
Best regards,
Andy |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 31
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 7:42 pm: | |
Turns out the Mondial (and likely all late model Ferrari's) have a screen to prevent siphoning of the gas, so I couldn't do that.
Added NOS Racing octane boost, and that reduced pinging by 50%. It's still there but no where as severe and often as I heard (and appears when I open up the throttle.
Even Jay Leno (yep, that one) gave me some advice about gas tanks and gas in general. Anyway, running the tank down and will go to a QUALITY gas station. Everyone has repeatedly (people I talk to) said Chevron and Union 76 is at the top of their list.
What else sucks is that the car has trouble starting up (especially cold) and idling (very rough, struggles to maintain 1000RPM). Even giving gas via the pedal doesn't help when it's running. It always feels like it's going to conk out and upon a fresh start (first start of the day) does repeatedly. Takes about 5-6 turns of the key and prayer to keep the engine running. Once on my way, goes away.
And that problem DID NOT exist before this bad tank of gas!!!!!!! |
Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member
Username: Andyilles
Post Number: 163
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 11:34 am: | |
DUH! You're 100% right about lead & cats, DGS!!! Glad you caught that. Ok... so I'll wear a hair shirt and flog myself for a day or two for my oversight, lol. Actually, LL Avgas has about 3x the lead auto gas ever did... so all the worse for cats.
We use VP Racing Gas here (to 104 unleaded).. you guys have it out there? |
DGS (Dgs)
Junior Member
Username: Dgs
Post Number: 165
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 6:45 am: | |
Oops, Andy, 100LL is leaded gas. "Low lead" is relative to old avgas and has as much lead as the old leaded car gas. Not really good for a car with cats, like Brian's Mondial T.
In CA, you might find 100 octane Union 76 racing fuel at the local track. I've been hearing CA people on the STi lists talking about mixing 100 racing with 91 pump to get to 96 to avoid the pinging on that engine. |
steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member
Username: Ferraridriver
Post Number: 96
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 3:22 am: | |
Hi Brian
Sound the same to me, the fuel may be low grade/quality. One good thing over here in the UK, the standard fuel octane is 95 and we also have super fuel which is 97. This makes the car run great!. Do I have you details on my mondial T register? e-mail me: [email protected] Thanks Steve |
Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member
Username: Andyilles
Post Number: 162
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 10:05 pm: | |
Guys... the easiest/cheapest way to differentially diagnose that one is to simply head to your nearest general aviation airport and tank up with 100 or 110 LL Avgas.
Best regards,
Andy
[email protected] |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 30
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 6:13 pm: | |
Thanks...just confered with my mechanic, gave me advice similar to yours. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1204
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 5:26 pm: | |
Could also be an exhaust rattle or something as well. I agree, relax, and you might try running a can of octane boost or something to see if you can get it to go away. Otherwise, a helper, to assist in listening for the sound and location may be in order..... |
Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Intermediate Member
Username: Bws88tr
Post Number: 2328
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 5:22 pm: | |
FROM WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING..IT SOUNDS LIKE WATERED DOWN OR POSSIBLE BAD GAS...LET THE TANK RUN OUT AND REFILL WITH AMOCO OR CHEVRON HI TEST..IF THE PROBLEM NEVER EXISTED UNTIL YOU FILLED IT UP..I WOULDNT WORRY ABOUT IT..RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR RIDE
REGARDS,
BRUCE |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 4:55 pm: | |
Okay, never experienced this sound today, but a friend riding with me says it's engine pinging.
I was nearly out of gas when I went to a Shell and loaded up on 91 octane (highest available locally). However, when I left the gas station, upon acceleration, around 5000-7000RPM I hear a rattling sound (sounds partially like rattling, pinging).
He says its pinging, and I want to know if I'm damaging my car by driving this way, and what's the solution (aside from never frequenting that station again)? Would octane boost help? Is it watered down gas that I'm more or less screwed until I fill up elsewhere?
Really nervous right now...don't need an expensive repair. And no, never heard it before today |