Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[photon]

Anyone recommend a good reasonable company or guy that will do detailing including a clay bar?

Been wanting to do my car for a while, and someone in my family left the sprinkler on partially on my car and now half of it is covered in serious water spots, so I guess might as well do it now.

Lots of guys on Kijiji but kind of leery just picking one at random.

EDIT: I guess maybe would be interested in a paint correction and ceramic coating too though I wasn't really planning on that level of expense now.

[zamler]

There is not much point in claying if you don't paint correct and protect afterwards.

[calgarygeologist]

I'm going to assume the answer is no but is there anything that can be done to regain/improve fuel economy? Our old family hauler has suffered considerably in fuel economy due to age and lack of use. It was our primary vehicle up until Covid started and back then we could rip up and down highway 2 at 120-125 and achieve 10L/100km. We went down to Waterton and Lethbridge recently and we averaged 12L. The vehicle has newer wheel bearings and two new brake calipers so in terms of resistance and drag there shouldn't be much of an issue. It also has newer spark plugs. Oil change is twice per year and last year the transfer case and rear differential fluid were changed. Is there anything else that could be done to improve things or do I just need to accept things for the way they are now? It will likely be replaced at some point in the next 12 to 18 months.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm going to assume the answer is no but is there anything that can be done to regain/improve fuel economy? Our old family hauler has suffered considerably in fuel economy due to age and lack of use. It was our primary vehicle up until Covid started and back then we could rip up and down highway 2 at 120-125 and achieve 10L/100km. We went down to Waterton and Lethbridge recently and we averaged 12L. The vehicle has newer wheel bearings and two new brake calipers so in terms of resistance and drag there shouldn't be much of an issue. It also has newer spark plugs. Oil change is twice per year and last year the transfer case and rear differential fluid were changed. Is there anything else that could be done to improve things or do I just need to accept things for the way they are now? It will likely be replaced at some point in the next 12 to 18 months.

Tires and tire pressure? Air filter?

[DownInFlames]

Do you have a mechanic you can trust? Get fluid and exhaust leaks checked. Air filter as mentioned above and also fuel filter.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by you&me

Tires and tire pressure? Air filter?

Tire pressure is fine all around and the air filter was replaced with the spring oil change. All the basic stuff is good so I'm not sure if anything else can be done relatively easily.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm going to assume the answer is no but is there anything that can be done to regain/improve fuel economy? Our old family hauler has suffered considerably in fuel economy due to age and lack of use. It was our primary vehicle up until Covid started and back then we could rip up and down highway 2 at 120-125 and achieve 10L/100km. We went down to Waterton and Lethbridge recently and we averaged 12L. The vehicle has newer wheel bearings and two new brake calipers so in terms of resistance and drag there shouldn't be much of an issue. It also has newer spark plugs. Oil change is twice per year and last year the transfer case and rear differential fluid were changed. Is there anything else that could be done to improve things or do I just need to accept things for the way they are now? It will likely be replaced at some point in the next 12 to 18 months.

When I moved to the GTA I nerded out hard on hypermiling. I was very strict about maxing my RPM at 2000 while accelerating (it wasn’t jerk speed or anything, but much slower than I typically would), coasting into red lights from way further back, and max 110 on the highway. I added around 200 km to a full tank compared to my typical usage.

[81MC]

An exhaust leak can make the o2 sensor read leaner than it actually is, which wouldn’t typically throw a code. But you’d probably hear something.

What’s more probably, and harder to diagnose, is just an o2 sensor going bad. Assuming it’s mechanically sound otherwise, o2 sensors can start to go bad without throwing a code. Typically this will have that negative fuel economy impact you’re seeing. But you’d have to do some serious comparisons and see what’s more economical - throwing sensors in it vs. the realized fuel economy loss.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm going to assume the answer is no but is there anything that can be done to regain/improve fuel economy? Our old family hauler has suffered considerably in fuel economy due to age and lack of use. It was our primary vehicle up until Covid started and back then we could rip up and down highway 2 at 120-125 and achieve 10L/100km. We went down to Waterton and Lethbridge recently and we averaged 12L. The vehicle has newer wheel bearings and two new brake calipers so in terms of resistance and drag there shouldn't be much of an issue. It also has newer spark plugs. Oil change is twice per year and last year the transfer case and rear differential fluid were changed. Is there anything else that could be done to improve things or do I just need to accept things for the way they are now? It will likely be replaced at some point in the next 12 to 18 months.

Was it really windy?

I always find I get worse mileage driving down 22 with a strong crosswind. So if it was just this trip it could just be that.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by 81MC

An exhaust leak can make the o2 sensor read leaner than it actually is, which wouldn’t typically throw a code. But you’d probably hear something.

What’s more probably, and harder to diagnose, is just an o2 sensor going bad. Assuming it’s mechanically sound otherwise, o2 sensors can start to go bad without throwing a code. Typically this will have that negative fuel economy impact you’re seeing. But you’d have to do some serious comparisons and see what’s more economical - throwing sensors in it vs. the realized fuel economy loss.

I can try putting two new O2 sensors into the manifolds to see if that helps at all. It looks like I can get sensors for $40 each and swapping them out is relatively easy.

Originally Posted by GGG

Was it really windy?

I always find I get worse mileage driving down 22 with a strong crosswind. So if it was just this trip it could just be that.

It wasn't windy at all. Definitely not windy enough to notice any impact on the vehicle being pushed around from gusts.

The only difference that might have impacted aero and fuel economy this trip is that I had a 4 bike platform carrier on the hitch with our mountain bikes. Maybe that created enough drag to drop fuel economy about 20%?

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by photon

Anyone recommend a good reasonable company or guy that will do detailing including a clay bar?

Been wanting to do my car for a while, and someone in my family left the sprinkler on partially on my car and now half of it is covered in serious water spots, so I guess might as well do it now.

Lots of guys on Kijiji but kind of leery just picking one at random.

EDIT: I guess maybe would be interested in a paint correction and ceramic coating too though I wasn't really planning on that level of expense now.

Doctor Detail on Southport Road SW. Gold package is only $500 right now ($100 off).

Spoiler!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I can try putting two new O2 sensors into the manifolds to see if that helps at all. It looks like I can get sensors for $40 each and swapping them out is relatively easy.



It wasn't windy at all. Definitely not windy enough to notice any impact on the vehicle being pushed around from gusts.

The only difference that might have impacted aero and fuel economy this trip is that I had a 4 bike platform carrier on the hitch with our mountain bikes. Maybe that created enough drag to drop fuel economy about 20%?

Oh, ya, that would absoluty cut into it. You disrupt the air flow quite a bit at the back end, and create lots of drag. 20% might be a little excessive, but I'd guess it's at least 10%.

[81MC]

Absolutely.
Cars run so efficiently these days, and are engineered to maximize economy, so that any disruption has a pretty noticeable impact. A 90s Tahoe probably wouldn’t see that great of a difference, because it’s already an aerodynamic horror show. But a newer vehicle that is getting 10L/100km is going to feel any sort of impediment.

I wouldn’t even worry about it. That’s an obvious cause.

[BagoPucks]

Oil, air filter, windows, air temperature, AC, tire pressures and added weight can easily make up 10%

[BagoPucks]

Oops just read the previous posts. Lol seems crazy but those brakes that got done, how good was the install?

[speede5]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I can try putting two new O2 sensors into the manifolds to see if that helps at all. It looks like I can get sensors for $40 each and swapping them out is relatively easy.?

When dealing with exhaust components it's wise to save this comment for after the job is done.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by speede5

When dealing with exhaust components it's wise to save this comment for after the job is done.

*hovers hand over crystal ball*

I see... WD-40 and plenty of swearing in your future....

[burn_this_city]

[zamler]

That's because they used a generic bolt.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

That's clearly a strut pinch bolt. We've all been there once, and now know instead of taking that one bolt out to get access to your job, you instead remove every single other part on the car's suspension to avoid touching it.