My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
From: USA
My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
Is it my imagination that sometimes the car drives awesome feels good and sometimes it feels weird all sorts of noises or feels like that anyway.. like if its ****ty out the car seems to sound weird.. but when it's nice out it's awesome.. is it just me or what
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 627
From: Memphis
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
One thing i noticed is that when it is real humid, it seems like the engine bogs down a little bit. But when it is not so humid, on a 60-70 degree day, it runs like heaven.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 823
From:
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
If you have to run premium in a stock GT, something is up with your engine. Probably carboned up pretty bad which just gets worse if you use premium all the time. I use 89 regular+ which is just enough to keep my engine really smooth. You have to use a good decarboning "fuel system" additive from time to time to get the crap out of your engine. Also change the fuel filter regularly, at least every 15,000 miles or less. One cure that helps in the real hot and humid summers is to use a 180 degree thermostat. It shouldn't bog down or overheat (run hot) with this stat. 160 is too low for good engine performance. Steeda suggests the 180. I put mine in with underdrive pulleys and all is still perfect. Still gets good heat in colder weather also.
Only Cobra's and other 32V Mustangs require premium gas at all. You are pissing away alot of extra $$$ if you use premium in a stock SOHC GT. Only if you have custom heads with a higher compression ratio or have screwed with advancing your timing should you have to ever use premium with your GT.
Other known problems with poor running are bad O2 sensors and mass air meter. If you take out or at least disconnect your air filter box, you should be able to clean your MAF sensor wires with a good electrical contact cleaner. These dirty sensor wires can cause all kinds of problems. Malfunctioning O2 sensor(s) can also cause tons of havoc with the smooth running of your Mustang. Many times the stock Motorcraft platinum plugs can begin to misfire and also cause engine problems. I have heard of this condition many times. I use the straight NGK "V" plugs that Steeda carries tons of for all year Mustangs and haven't had any fouling or misfire problems. Also check for any signs of moisture around your coils. This, too, can sometimes cause poor electical discharge to your plugs. It has been my experience that coil problems usually translate to higher rpm breakdown more than anything else.
Keep those engines clean....enjoy your rides!
Only Cobra's and other 32V Mustangs require premium gas at all. You are pissing away alot of extra $$$ if you use premium in a stock SOHC GT. Only if you have custom heads with a higher compression ratio or have screwed with advancing your timing should you have to ever use premium with your GT.
Other known problems with poor running are bad O2 sensors and mass air meter. If you take out or at least disconnect your air filter box, you should be able to clean your MAF sensor wires with a good electrical contact cleaner. These dirty sensor wires can cause all kinds of problems. Malfunctioning O2 sensor(s) can also cause tons of havoc with the smooth running of your Mustang. Many times the stock Motorcraft platinum plugs can begin to misfire and also cause engine problems. I have heard of this condition many times. I use the straight NGK "V" plugs that Steeda carries tons of for all year Mustangs and haven't had any fouling or misfire problems. Also check for any signs of moisture around your coils. This, too, can sometimes cause poor electical discharge to your plugs. It has been my experience that coil problems usually translate to higher rpm breakdown more than anything else.
Keep those engines clean....enjoy your rides!
4th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,907
From:
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
up here in NH weve been getting rain for almost 2 straight months now, and my car runs like **** in the rain. it shifts bad and just runs like crap. but when its dry out, and warm...it runs like a new car.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 44
From:
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
Dunno bought you all, but mine feels awsome some days and like crap on others to, runs super great in anything below 70 and horribly anything above. I no cold is better, just overall the car somedays just feels like it doesnt want to drive and others it does
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 334
From: Ohio
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
I will tell you what, I ran BP gas one time on my car becouse it was the only thing around. It started to sputter, and almost want to stall out. I have heard nothing but bad things about BP gas.........
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 94
From: Waterloo, IA
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
ORIGINAL: Deannostang
If you have to run premium in a stock GT, something is up with your engine. Probably carboned up pretty bad which just gets worse if you use premium all the time. I use 89 regular+ which is just enough to keep my engine really smooth. You have to use a good decarboning "fuel system" additive from time to time to get the crap out of your engine. Also change the fuel filter regularly, at least every 15,000 miles or less. One cure that helps in the real hot and humid summers is to use a 180 degree thermostat. It shouldn't bog down or overheat (run hot) with this stat. 160 is too low for good engine performance. Steeda suggests the 180. I put mine in with underdrive pulleys and all is still perfect. Still gets good heat in colder weather also.
Only Cobra's and other 32V Mustangs require premium gas at all. You are pissing away alot of extra $$$ if you use premium in a stock SOHC GT. Only if you have custom heads with a higher compression ratio or have screwed with advancing your timing should you have to ever use premium with your GT.
Other known problems with poor running are bad O2 sensors and mass air meter. If you take out or at least disconnect your air filter box, you should be able to clean your MAF sensor wires with a good electrical contact cleaner. These dirty sensor wires can cause all kinds of problems. Malfunctioning O2 sensor(s) can also cause tons of havoc with the smooth running of your Mustang. Many times the stock Motorcraft platinum plugs can begin to misfire and also cause engine problems. I have heard of this condition many times. I use the straight NGK "V" plugs that Steeda carries tons of for all year Mustangs and haven't had any fouling or misfire problems. Also check for any signs of moisture around your coils. This, too, can sometimes cause poor electical discharge to your plugs. It has been my experience that coil problems usually translate to higher rpm breakdown more than anything else.
Keep those engines clean....enjoy your rides!
If you have to run premium in a stock GT, something is up with your engine. Probably carboned up pretty bad which just gets worse if you use premium all the time. I use 89 regular+ which is just enough to keep my engine really smooth. You have to use a good decarboning "fuel system" additive from time to time to get the crap out of your engine. Also change the fuel filter regularly, at least every 15,000 miles or less. One cure that helps in the real hot and humid summers is to use a 180 degree thermostat. It shouldn't bog down or overheat (run hot) with this stat. 160 is too low for good engine performance. Steeda suggests the 180. I put mine in with underdrive pulleys and all is still perfect. Still gets good heat in colder weather also.
Only Cobra's and other 32V Mustangs require premium gas at all. You are pissing away alot of extra $$$ if you use premium in a stock SOHC GT. Only if you have custom heads with a higher compression ratio or have screwed with advancing your timing should you have to ever use premium with your GT.
Other known problems with poor running are bad O2 sensors and mass air meter. If you take out or at least disconnect your air filter box, you should be able to clean your MAF sensor wires with a good electrical contact cleaner. These dirty sensor wires can cause all kinds of problems. Malfunctioning O2 sensor(s) can also cause tons of havoc with the smooth running of your Mustang. Many times the stock Motorcraft platinum plugs can begin to misfire and also cause engine problems. I have heard of this condition many times. I use the straight NGK "V" plugs that Steeda carries tons of for all year Mustangs and haven't had any fouling or misfire problems. Also check for any signs of moisture around your coils. This, too, can sometimes cause poor electical discharge to your plugs. It has been my experience that coil problems usually translate to higher rpm breakdown more than anything else.
Keep those engines clean....enjoy your rides!
Malfunctioning O2 sensor(s) can also cause tons of havoc with the smooth running of your Mustang. Is this true? If so then that may be my problem cause my car has been throwing a P0153 code that deals with the upstream 02 sensor on the pass. side. Cars been idleing a little rough but not real bad. I have just been clearign the code but maybe I'll change it out see what happens.[sm=icon_rock.gif]
4th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,266
From: Iowa
RE: My imagination or.. 2002 GT engine..inside
Deannostang,
I think that's the first post I've read so far that pretty much convinces me to stop running Premium. I've read about everything else in doing all the research with this vehicle, but I overlooked that one thing. Perhaps this is why my car is fine on some days, and not on others?
I'll do a trial phase and see if that clears it up.
I have been running Premium (92-93) for about 3 months, what should I do to get rid of the carbon buildup that may have occured? Or what should I do to clear up anything that running Premium could have caused?
I think that's the first post I've read so far that pretty much convinces me to stop running Premium. I've read about everything else in doing all the research with this vehicle, but I overlooked that one thing. Perhaps this is why my car is fine on some days, and not on others?
I'll do a trial phase and see if that clears it up.
I have been running Premium (92-93) for about 3 months, what should I do to get rid of the carbon buildup that may have occured? Or what should I do to clear up anything that running Premium could have caused?