Engine smoother now! What made the diff???

[Snookium]

FOr engine wash, better to spray WD40 evenly then use air gun to flush out all the dirt. This is a very cheap and safe method. Wun damage your wiring and alternator. Finally it will look very shinny and new.

[Str2]

Do not spray WD40 on bolta and nuts...Friend of mine later found some of them came loosen.

Wipe with diesel and use air gun to blow off other sand particles (as done by workshops).

Avoid water in engine as other problems may crop up.Car wash sure want to wash everything but avoid this temptation.

[Kianbeng]

Me not happy again. No more zest liao.

 

Don't know why now the engine idle become back to very low. Like original. So got vibration again. Infact, after the mech tuned it....after 1 week, it went back to very low idling.

 

I think the ECU probably compensate it back. Is there really no way to adjust the idle other than using a computer to tune the ECU? Thought the idle should be adjustable, only the air/fuel ratio is not?

[Kianbeng]

5K after servicing, I can hear engine noise again. Really must be the new engine oil that time. sigh.

 

Hey bro have you tuned your mazda before? My idle fell down again....easily vibrates when half clutch. The mech's tuning only lasted 1 week before it went back. Now I ask him again he said maybe because my ECU adjusted it back. Previously he used a screw driver to turn a screw on the throttle body. Actually I thought thats the air/fuel ratio?

[Thermodynamics]

Hi Guys,

 

I've did quite a bit of things last sat.

 

1) Oil change (standard carrefour cxxxxxe)

2) Oil filter (this time bought original. Last time occasionally also will)

3) Air filter (change every 20 or 30K. Religiously bought no brand ones)

4) Spark plugs. Last time always buy the $2.80 bosch plugs. Now it's the $2.50 autolite plugs

5) Tuned the "slow" idling to a bit faster so that engine don't vibrate that much.

6) Wash engine

 

After servicing, the following day, I realised that when I started the car, the engine sound was a bit quieter. Usually, for the past 4 years (I always listen carefully everytime I start the car one - habit), esp when I start the car in the morning, I'll hear a few seconds of tappet sound....then no more. Now, I completely can't hear it liao when I start the car. So seems to be an improvement.

 

Last time...I remembered when the car was super new....Mazda Motors was using the normal thick engine oil. Always hear the tappety sound for like 10secs when cold start. Then when I started using fully synthetic, Mobil1, Shell Helix, blah....Then I realised that the tappety sound only last for first few 3-5 secs. Btw, the tappet sound very light only. Since 2 years back, I started using cxxxxxe liao.

 

And only after this servicing, I realised the diff. So happy. What do you guys think it could be the prob or servicing that made this difference? Can't be the car wash right? But it's the only significant thing done so far! 4 years of tappet sound leh. now suddenly don't have liao.

 

so happy you know.

 

Well, for me I say almost everything you did (except washing engine bay) made a little contribution here and there. Hence you get the synergistic effect of a more lively engine.

[Thermodynamics]

Maybe your engine is now crying for new oil? Give it to her!

[Pisces69]

Maybe your engine mounts need to b changed already. Most cars need to change after 3-4 years.

 

If not too bad, just use till 5 years then change cos by the time for next change at 10 years, u gonna scrap.

 

Do not increase your idle spped too much. The handbook sud have the proper RPM.

 

Switch off all unnecessary electricals, gear in neutral & adjust with a hot engine then leave it.

 

If your ECU keeps lowering your idle speed, there must b a good reason why.

[Kianbeng]

But the oil I'm using is MB229.3 standard leh. change every 10K is very good liao I thought.

[Kianbeng]

Engine mounts changed at 130K I think. Now 145K.

[Thermodynamics]

But how is your usage pattern like? As Bro Genie has recommended, if you take forever to clock 10000km then an OCI of 6 mths is very good rather than changing oil every 7 to 8 mths when you reach 10000km.

[Vit4wd]

I change my engine oil (send for servicing) only once every 12 months, usually hit 9K to 10K km in 12 mth.

 

Have been doing this for as long as I can remember, and my car is still working fine.

 

While it is true that engine oil oxidises and deteriorates in quality over time, an oil change of of max tretched to 12 mths is fine.. otherwise my engine would have screwed up long ago if this practise causes engine problems.

Edited September 30, 2006 by Vit4wd

[Pisces69]

If your mounts r so new, u sud not b able to feel any vibrations if u idle at the correct RPM which sud b abt 800-900 RPM.

 

If u still feel vibs at this RPM, cud b your mounts were not done properly or of poor quality if they detiorate so quickly.

 

Another reason cud b your engine has excessive vibrations. Check if all 4 of your cylinders r firing properly.

[Pisces69]

I take about 14 months to reach 10K km & that's when I do an oil change/service.

 

So far, no problems.

 

PS: I dont drive that much.

[Dumb]

Hi Guys,

 

I've did quite a bit of things last sat.

 

1) Oil change (standard carrefour cxxxxxe)

2) Oil filter (this time bought original. Last time occasionally also will)

3) Air filter (change every 20 or 30K. Religiously bought no brand ones)

4) Spark plugs. Last time always buy the $2.80 bosch plugs. Now it's the $2.50 autolite plugs

5) Tuned the "slow" idling to a bit faster so that engine don't vibrate that much.

6) Wash engine

 

After servicing, the following day, I realised that when I started the car, the engine sound was a bit quieter. Usually, for the past 4 years (I always listen carefully everytime I start the car one - habit), esp when I start the car in the morning, I'll hear a few seconds of tappet sound....then no more. Now, I completely can't hear it liao when I start the car. So seems to be an improvement.

 

Last time...I remembered when the car was super new....Mazda Motors was using the normal thick engine oil. Always hear the tappety sound for like 10secs when cold start. Then when I started using fully synthetic, Mobil1, Shell Helix, blah....Then I realised that the tappety sound only last for first few 3-5 secs. Btw, the tappet sound very light only. Since 2 years back, I started using cxxxxxe liao.

 

And only after this servicing, I realised the diff. So happy. What do you guys think it could be the prob or servicing that made this difference? Can't be the car wash right? But it's the only significant thing done so far! 4 years of tappet sound leh. now suddenly don't have liao.

 

so happy you know.

 

 

 

A good servicing and engine oil are the main factors. Just changing engine oil alone will not make the drive smooth.

[Kianbeng]

My OCI very short. Coz I clock avg 30+k per year. hai!

[Kianbeng]

My RPM at idle is very low one leh. about 600RPM. Thats why the mechanic was trying to make it higher. But within a week, it fell down again.

 

I then heard the mechanic said some places have special machines that can plug into my 323. Once thats plugged in, it'll find out all the possible problems in the engine. Feel like going for it. ie, Cityspeed in SinMing has it. But I need to call them to find out if they can do a diagnostic only without repair. I wonder how much they'll charge me.

 

Just recently there was a case. This guy went to a Mazda323 workshop with such a special ECU machine. Then car ownder didn't want to proceed with repair. Then workshop charged $80 for service. Owner felt it was too expensive. So don't want to pay. Workshop said "no pay, no car". Then owner called police. Wah... Then end up settled for lower fees. Nowadays, some of these workshops are pirates + gangsters.

[Arowana1]

if not doing also must pay for labour for using the machine rite?

 

est labour is $50 per hour for normal sweat and blood. hence $80 is ok after take in cost of the equipment used.

[Thermodynamics]

At least you can have short regular OCI.