mr2-digest Tuesday, December 23 1997 Volume 02 : Number 015 Re: MR2/MKI: New owner questions MR2 Oils Question! MR2 re: leaf blower RE: MR2 black magic Re: Pontiac MR2 challenge... Re: MR2 Can you believe this challenge? MR2 Xmas MR2 GTECH PURCHASE MR2 MKII Turbo - Ticking and Manifolds/EGR... GOODBYE MR2 Folks Re: MR2 Xmas Re: MR2/MKI: New owner questions Re: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? Re: MR2 MK2 - Turbo - Need replacement 3S-GTE engine Re: MR2 mk1_mod (leafcharger) Re: MR2 black magic RE: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? MR2 Xmas ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 11:02:51 -0800 From: Steve N Subject: Re: MR2/MKI: New owner questions > 1. Is Valvoline Durablend 10W-30 a good oil for use in this car (for use > in Texas)? I looked at the oil FAQs but I seem to have read somewhere that > the 4A-GE likes thicker oil. How about NAPA Gold oil filter? I will move > to the Toyota oil filter at the next oil change. Around here, Mobil 1 is the king of sythetic oils. I am sure the valvoline is not bad, but mobil 1 was the one that started this whole synthetic oil thing, and they have spent large amounts of money and time to research and make this oil. It makes a noticeable difference in my mki. As far a filters go, many around here like to use the Toyota brand filter feeling it is the best. Others however have said that the toyota filter is just a rebadged purolator filter. Fram had ranked the best in an oil filter test that is floating around on the net somewhere, while mobil one had just come out with their own super duper filter that is $10 a pop that supposedly filters better than any other filter in the world. I use toyota, but may try the mobil if I catch it on sale. > 2. The car has very high idle at startup (~ 2k - 3k rpm). It keeps to this > level for a long time (at least 2 minutes after I start driving in > addition to warming it up for 30 seconds). I would be grateful for any > clues on fixing this, as all cars I have come across come down to "warm" > idle within 30 secs of *startup*. The mki is supossed to have a 1200 rpm differecne between cold startup and warm. (I have a 1600 rpm difference cold:2500 warm:800) You can adjust the idle with the idle screw next to the throttle body. The more important thing here is to get the warm idle to around 800 rpms rather than worry about the cold start up idle. (the idle screw adjusts both hot and cold, the computer is the one that slowly brings down the idle as car warms up.) > 4. What do you guys think of AMSOIL reusable air filter as compared to the > Toyota stock filter? I do not want to get K&N etc just yet. It has been shown in dyno testing that the reuseable filters in the mki show no gain for hp. Read about the powermax setup on mr2.com. It gives you 5 hp across the board, and is not that expensive of a mod. I did mine for $110. > 5. Spark plugs were ~$8/- each at the dealer (Lou Fusz Toyota)! Any > suggestions for aftermarket replacements that work as well (Bosch Plats or > NGK Plats for example) but are cheaper? I have heard good things about NGK. The bosch plats only have a thin coating of platnium on the tip. I would either go stock or NGK. > 6. Is the engine compartment meant to be this dusty? On my MR2, it looks > as if everything is coated with dust. The front trunk is quite spotless by > comparison. Is this normal? Ahhh! Trying to keep the engine clean! It is hard, because for every dirt road you go on, the dust has time to rise up and get in the engine compartment much more so over a front engine car. It is very hard to keep mine clean. > 7. The steering wheel looks quite bad. Toyota replacements appeared to be > around $550/- at least (local dealer, vinyl steering). Aftermarket "Grant" > steering was around $60/- with kit. Any suggestions? I wouldn't worry with a toyota one unless you like the stock look. You can get a REAL nice Momo wheel for approx. $200. Much cheaper than $550! Steve N. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 09:32:39 -0800 From: "Simon T." Subject: MR2 Oils Question! Is it better to use thicker oil or thinner oil for the MKI. I am from Vancouver BC Canada and have an 86' MKI n/a using 10w30. Someone told me my car would runs better on thinner oil. Is that true, I always through thicker would give me a smoother engine. And someone also told me run thinner oil on a newer engine and thinner on older one...hummm...very confusing. And how about the temparture range? Thninner or thicker is better...or stick with 10w30. Simon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:45:10 -0500 From: "Miller, Bill [PRI]" Subject: MR2 re: leaf blower 3) i bought the best power inverter that frys offer. it is rated 300 watts continuous that can produce 115 volts AC. will this be sufficient to power the 12 amps leaf blower? If your leaf blower really draws 12 amps, you are WAY under w/ your inverter. General rule of them is volts x amps = watts. In your case, that would be 115volts x 12amps = 1380watts. Based upon your figures, the inverter you have is good for only ~2.6 amps. You really should check this out before you try to use it. If you try and pull 1380 watts through an inverter that's only rated for 300 watts, you will have a serious fire situation on your hands and will probably burn out the motor on the blower very quickly (or perpetually tripping the breaker on the inverter). I admire your initiative and inventivness. Good luck and have a nice holiday. Regards, Bill ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:54:45 -0500 From: Chris Conlon Subject: RE: MR2 black magic > << Just one question guys - the silicone gunk that was the subject of > discussion a few weeks/months ago - I'm not sure of the name - can anyone > confirm if it was "Westley's Black Magic." (thanks jon)? > > > nope, it's just called "Black Magic" > > Westley's Black magic is a different product, the one we are talking about has > a picture of a large black truck on the front. I think Blue Coral bought or owns or is Black Magic and Westley's. I tried to find "Westley's Black Magic" one day, but all I could find was "Black Magic", with references to Westley's and Blue Coral on the back. (Not to mention how everything was a registered trademark of everything else, such that writing this email is probably a crime...) Try www.bluecoral.com for additional confusion. This site lists Black Magic and Westley's products (can't find Westley's Black Magic tho). obMR2content: The stuff works well, but a new passenger-side A-pillar weatherstrip is in my future nonetheless. Chris C. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 11:17:46 -0000 From: "Corey Lawson" Subject: Re: Pontiac MR2 challenge... >Experience says that you should never under-estimate American muscle >car power in the straight line. I believe the '97 Grand Prix has a >supercharged option with 240 HP & more importantly...280 Ft/Lbs of >torque on tap... >Micky >'89 SC MR2 Plusses and minuses for the Pontiac: + You can probably put at least 4 people in the Grand Prix. + Plenty of cupholders - - Front-wheel drive - - >3000 lb dry weight for the car, thus wasting the torque. - - It's a GM (the bonus is that there are probably more GM wrenches than MR2 wrenches). - - You can put at least 4 people in the Grand Prix. Of course, these are pretty much the opposites for the MR2. Now, if the Grand Prix had the LT1 V-8 and rear-wheel drive (i.e., a 4-door 'Vette/TA-Firebird/Camaro)... Ho ho ho. - -Corey Lawson clawson@ucsd.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:42:03 -0600 From: "Chris King" Subject: Re: MR2 Can you believe this challenge? If all that is correct though, a manual should be even or faster with a 2. Chris K. 91 NA - ---------- > From: David Kirkpatrick > To: Toyota MR2 mailing list > Subject: Re: MR2 Can you believe this challenge? > Date: Tuesday, December 23, 1997 3:07 AM > > FYI, according to this month's Road & Track road test summaries, the 240hp > supercharged '97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP has the following stats (w/ auto > trans - no info on manual, if available): > > 0-60__________________6.8 > 1/4 Mi.______________15.2 > Top speed_____________126 (limited) > 60-0__________________143 ft. > 80-0__________________255 ft. > Skidpad, g___________0.78 > Slalom, mph__________60.0 > Fuel mileage, mpg_____19.0 > > All of the above figures are comfortably bettered by a stock MkII turbo > (except perhaps mileage :D). > I believe you are justified, Thomas. Micky's Mk I SC might have some > trouble in the straight line, though.... > > Dave > Red '91 MkII turbo > davekirk@ibm.net > > >Experience says that you should never under-estimate American muscle > >car power in the straight line. I believe the '97 Grand Prix has a > >supercharged option with 240 HP & more importantly...280 Ft/Lbs of > >torque on tap... > >Micky > >'89 SC MR2 > > >> From: "Thomas Guy" > >> Subject: MR2 Can you believe this challenge? > >> > >> Hey everyone - > >> > >> I had to share this with you. I have a '93 Teal MR2 Turbo that as you > all > >> know is QUICK! Anyway, a coworker of mine just took delivery on a '97 > >> Pontiac Grand Prix (also known as the Grand Pricks). She believes this > old > >> man's car can beat the Mister Two! I told her, "You know what would > happen > >> after your car beats mine, don't you?" She said, "What?" I said, "You > >> would wake up!" > >> Perhaps not the best thing to say to someone who just bought a new car > that > >> they are proud of, but I can't have people impugning the reputation of > the > >> MR2 can I? > >> C > >> Y > >> A > >> > >> > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 20:54:24 +0100 From: Falco Zeidler Subject: MR2 Xmas Hi, Merry Christmas to all and all MR2`s. Falco ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 12:09:00 -0800 (PST) From: Not Available Subject: MR2 GTECH PURCHASE Hello all, I am considering buying 12 or more GTECH's and was wondering if anybody wanted in on the deal. I believe that I can get the price at $125.95 plus shipping. The normal price on these items is $139.95 plus shipping, so we can save $14.00 on every GTECH. Shipping will depend on where you live, since UPS or snail mail charges different rates. I would like to do this as soon as possible, so if you are ready to buy let me know. I can accept the following means of payment: 1- credit card (visa or master card) 2- check (personal or bank) 3- money order Money order and credit card would be the fastest since I do not have to wait for anything to clear. Please respond to me as quickly as possible. Let me know if you want in and how you want to pay. I will private my address for those interested. so I dont get alot of junk mail from the internet sent to me. Hope to see alot of mail soon. I cant wait to get mine after what people have said about them. P.S. If you dont know what they are, you can visit the website at www.gtechpro.com _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 15:29:01 -0500 From: "Laughlin, Jeffrey" Subject: MR2 MKII Turbo - Ticking and Manifolds/EGR... Regarding the ticking noise many of us are apparently hearing... Terry Saltzman sez: >>if it "ticks" then egr tube, broken exhaust studs, cracked >>manifold, warped manifold, all depending on the year, make, model >>(Y/M/M) of your mr2. My '93 Turbo has a nasty ticking noise on cold start and continues until the car is warm. During that time, any load on the engine makes the ticking sound like I've got a deisel under the hood. Once the car gets warm, it seems to drive ok and have plenty of power. How does the "depending on the year, make, model" apply to my MR2 (1993 Turbo - JTSW22N2P0069884)? EGR or exhaust manifold? (Please be the EGR!!!!!) TIA, Jeff jeffrey.laughlin@transquest.com laughlin@avana.net ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 12:31:24 -0800 From: "Lee, Marcus A." Subject: GOODBYE MR2 Folks Alas I have sold my beloved MR2Turbo and will be leaving the list soon. I thank you all for your support in the MR2 related endeavors. If anyone in the bay area is interested i still have a set of Yokohama RSiis on Stock 91 turbo wheels for sale should anyone find the need. Also, I have a pair of Yokohama AVSis 205/50/15s... good for 93+ fronts... 90% tread left. Left me know if there is interest.... If anyone needs to reach me directly please email me at >marcl739@aol.com. Thanks. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Dec 1997 20:48:38 -0000 From: Felix Morley Finch Subject: Re: MR2 Xmas >>In article <1.5.4.32.19971223195424.006908d4@mail.zedat.fu-berlin.de>, Falco Zeidler writes: > Merry Christmas to all and all MR2`s. Did y'all know that MR2s are mentioned in the bible? It's true -- remember what the 3 wise men brought? "... and myrrh, too"... - -- ... _._. ._ ._. . _._. ._. ___ .__ ._. . .__. ._ .. ._. Felix Finch: scarecrow repairman & rocket surgeon / felix@crowfix.com PGP = 91 B3 94 7C E9 E8 76 2D E1 63 51 AA A0 48 89 2F I've found a solution to Fermat's Last Theorem but I see I've run out of room o ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:01:57 -0800 (PST) From: myt@cypress.com (Micky Thutiyakul / Product Engineer) Subject: Re: MR2/MKI: New owner questions > From: FZZR > Subject: Re: MR2/MKI: New owner questions > > Welcome to the MR2. I myself run Castrol 10w-40. That seems to run fine. > I would use Mobil one but because it burns just a little oil I figure it is > like throwing money away. The high idle is normal at startup. When I first > bought mine I thought the same thing but it appears to just be normal. For Yes, but it shouldn't be staying at 2K for more than 30 seconds. Esp. if it's being driven. Even on a very cold day the engine should roar up to 2K~3k at start up and then immediately settle down to 1.5K rpms or lower until it warms up. > 2. The car has very high idle at startup (~ 2k - 3k rpm). It keeps to this > level for a long time (at least 2 minutes after I start driving in > addition to warming it up for 30 seconds). I would be grateful for any > clues on fixing this, as all cars I have come across come down to "warm" > idle within 30 secs of *startup*. Micky '89 SC MR2 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 12:35:07 -0800 From: "Sabrina and Alex Pun" Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? - -----Original Message----- From: Karen or Jeffrey To: Christopher Heiser ; 'MR2 List' Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 11:18 PM Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? >Happy holidays! The cold weather is making good boost in >California. :) > >- Jeffrey (MR2less for a week in SF) Yeah, my car sure is pulling strong. Does a GReddy IC have the same effect? Alex (boosting high in SF) Pun Yellow 91 MR2T (Trust exhaust, K&N FIPK, GReddy PRofec, GReddy Boost Cut Controller, HKS 46mm boost gauge) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 15:39:14 -0600 From: "Andrew P. Tasi" Subject: Re: MR2 MK2 - Turbo - Need replacement 3S-GTE engine There should be no problem retrieving old digests from validgh.com: TO GET pre-12/18/97 DIGESTS: mr2-digest-request@validgh.com "help" mr2-digest-request@validgh.com "index" mr2-digest-request@validgh.com "get v01.n0NN" - -----Original Message----- From: Diefenthaler Peter [Snip,snip!] >I know this was posted a while back, but I was not able to get past >digests >due to the recent digest changeover. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 13:58:57 -0800 From: wmontoya@znet.com (Wayne Montoya) Subject: Re: MR2 mk1_mod (leafcharger) Aries wrote: "i bought the best power inverter that frys offer. it is rated 300 watts continuous that can produce 115 volts AC. will this be sufficient to power the 12 amps leaf blower?" well, if it does indeed draw 12A @ 115V... Power = I*V = 12*115 = 1380 watts... or 4.6 times more than 300W. so you can but hope that 12A is the short duration start-up inrush current (a passable assumption) but to operate on 300W, it actually would need to run at I = P/V = 300/115 = 2.6 amps continuous. kinda low for a "high power" motor. with an ameter you could measure the steady state current the motor draws directly (when plugged into an electrical outlet), or put a very low known resistance current shunt in-line and get the current by measuring voltage across the shunt... or you could just try it and see... keep an eye on your power converter; if it starts smoking, you might want to pull the plug. regards... wm - --------------------------------------------------------------- W. Montoya... Scientist, Racer, Bozo... Team Bozo/AFM#25 me ---> wmontoya@znet.com "Who ever said punky music and racing motorcycles don't mix..." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 17:06:00 EST From: MR2Turbo91 Subject: Re: MR2 black magic In a message dated 97-12-23 14:09:05 EST, you write: << I think Blue Coral bought or owns or is Black Magic and Westley's. I tried to find "Westley's Black Magic" one day, but all I could find was "Black Magic", with references to Westley's and Blue Coral on the back. (Not to mention how everything was a registered trademark of everything else, such that writing this email is probably a crime...) >> Ok, OK, so I was being picky.... I'm not sure of Westley's, but I have the bottle in my hand and it it a black and white lable with Black magic in silver with red surroundings, a picture of a Ford pickup, all black, and it says Black Magic Trim & Tire shine: super Thick Silicone Contains no water. on the back it mentions that it is a trademark of Blue Coral with no reference to Westleys... but I believe you are correct, Westley's is owned by Blue Coral.... Austin T ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 14:09:47 -0800 From: "AVERY DINAUER" Subject: RE: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? Well I wasn't going to say anything, but, DAMN I've been boosing awesome in the last few days! Usually there are little blips in the boost, not big, but noticeable. Now, with all the cool dry air, it's completely continuos. And it pulls a lot harder and longer... G-tech time! Avery- santa rosa, calif. - ---------- From: Sabrina and Alex Pun[SMTP:kapnalex@ix.netcom.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 1997 12:35 PM To: 'MR2 List' Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? - -----Original Message----- From: Karen or Jeffrey To: Christopher Heiser ; 'MR2 List' Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 11:18 PM Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo - What Fuel Cut? >Happy holidays! The cold weather is making good boost in >California. :) > >- Jeffrey (MR2less for a week in SF) Yeah, my car sure is pulling strong. Does a GReddy IC have the same effect? Alex (boosting high in SF) Pun Yellow 91 MR2T (Trust exhaust, K&N FIPK, GReddy PRofec, GReddy Boost Cut Controller, HKS 46mm boost gauge) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 16:21:06 -0600 From: Allen Sanders Subject: MR2 Xmas Take your 2 out, throw on some Xmas tunes and get sideways for Santa :) Merry Christmas everybody Allen asanders@law.tulane.edu '85 na silver ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V2 #15