Hey everyone, just wondered if anyone had any ideas on what to do to restore some of the performance from it's younger days. I know she needs new shocks and struts, but thinking more in lines with what to do about the general sluggishness. She's just not as quick as she was when she was younger. Any suggestions?

 

plugs and wires....tune up should help

 

Good idea codeman.....I did the plugs about 25K ago, but didn't do the wires. Do you know if there are any good write ups on doing the wires for a V6? My goal is to do all of my maintenance and mods myself......well, the ones that make sense to do at home.

.....and since the plugs are so cheap, I may even add new ones again. Do you think any one type of plug or wires are better than another?

 

Just do a full tune up. You should get alot of that performance back.

 

do a compression check just to see if everything is ok in there

 

When you say full tune up.....what would that entail. I had asked my dealer about a tune up at 100K and they just seemed to be like "well, what do you want us to do?".

 

Glenn,

Maybe I'm a bit of a newb, but how do you do the compression check?

 

Plugs, Wires, Coil Packs.

 

FUEL PUMP FOR SURE!

 

In all likelihood, neither are you.

 

HAHA thats too funny! I'm not as good as I once was. But I was good once, as I ever was!

 

OH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN...

 

Oh, so very true. Haha.....maybe the only "sluggishness" is the 20 lbs I've gained over the last 10 years.

.....sounds like wires are a definite one and I'll take a look at the coil pack and fuel pump too. ....that is, if they won't set me back too far and I can do the install myself. Otherwise, I may have to wait a while.

 

why?

 

This guy is doing a compression test. He is holding a compression tester. Pull all plugs screw the tester in and then turn the engine over a few times. Write the results from the tester down. Test each cylinder. There should be less than 10% difference between the results for each cylinder.

 

when you replace the wires, make sure you only do one at a time, so you dont get one backwards

 

150k just go ahead and do the V8 swap : ) you can prob rent a compression tester from like autozone or advance auto.

 

Change your plug wires if you don't remember the last time you changed them. Also, change your fuel filter too.

 

My dad is a mechanic and he HATES those fuel additives by STP and Mobil 1, etc.

He used to use them (ironically, on his 66 GT) and when he rebuilt it, there was a weird chemical burn mark on each piston head. He swears it was because of the additives. And there is reason to trust him.

BUT.

I use those things religiously (and hide the evidence... seriously...). I have a 2000 v-6 with 112k miles, he has a 2001 v-6 with 120k (driven MUCH lighter than mine). I recently took his to work; the engine has that sluggish feeling you are probably talking about.

He keeps his engine tuned up as much as mine; the only real difference is the use of those fuel system cleaner additives that I use; I notice the effects every time I use it.

Also, I use the high mileage Valvoline 5-30 synthetic while my father uses the same 'ol by-the-book Motorcraft. Might have something to do with it.

 

SEAFOAM!