zach1328

Hey guys, i was just driving around today and my buddy was in my car, so we decided to time the 0-60 for fun.
We just timed it on an ipod touch, so ofcourse the results wern't very accurate....BUT,

For the most part it was taking about 10.5-11 seconds just to do 0-60.

So, my car cleary isn't running the stock 0-60 time and i was just wondering how to restore some of the lost power?

Oh and btw i got some new rims on my car a few months ago.
They're tsw and are the mesh rims which typically don't look to good on W124's IMO..But i think it looks pretty good.

http://www.wheelsnext.com/images/whe...ton_hs_2_W.jpg

The rims are 17x8 with cooper zeon tires.

Saijin_Naib

Ever think to weigh your new rim+tire combo against stock?
Larger rims typically = more weight, plus larger diameter = more inertia to overcome.

Both factors = slower times.

Is this the only thing contributing? Who knows, but it isn't helping for sure.

zach1328

Well i know the rims would be slower than the stock times and all, but not 2.5 seconds slower.
Do i maybe have a compression leak or something like that?

Saijin_Naib

I don't know. Have access to a compression gauge? Pretty straightforward to test. Just take out all your sparkplugs, thread it into one of the cylinders, then crank the engine and get a reading.

zach1328

Oh okay thanks. I didn't realize it was the easy to test if it has a compression leak.

Cause i dont think new rims should slow the 0-60 down by like 2.5 seconds.
I mean maybe by like .5s but even then it should be running under 9s.

And also my car also always makes a wierd sound from the engine thats just there 24/7 when the car is on. I can't describe the sound but its there. Any idea what that would be from?

Saijin_Naib

No. There is no possible way to diagnose anything with a description of weird sound that can't be described. You're going to have to do better than that.

Record + up it to Youtube.

190E 16V

I don't know if it is related, but on my 190E, a couple of months after changing to heavier wheels, my engine started making a weird noise too.

It was low on power, as well. A friend of mine, with a Civic, told me that it was excessive wear on my alignment bearings.

The noise finally went away after changing the engine block, and putting in fresh oil of a heavier grade.
It felt faster 0-60, by at least .4 to .6 of a second, I think.

BTW, the newer-style, shiny, highly polished, rims have less air resistance, that will sometimes cancel out the effects of their extra weight. The asian aftermarket manufacturers have been working on this for years.

Arnie

Plugged-up cataletic converter? Easy to check: drill two little holes in the exhaust pipe: one just before and one just after the converter. Start the car and feel the pressure of gases coming out of the holes, it should be about the same.

If the pressure is noticably higher form a pre-cat hole then from the post-cat hole, your cat is plugged up.

zach1328

Hm well the noise from my car was there long before i got new rims/tires, and i have no idea what it is tbh.
And i did notice the braking is slightly better ever since i got the new rims, i think cause the brakes breathe better and stay cooler.

But i was thinking about the slower acceleration..and what came to me is..
I live in Texas and the temperature is in the upper 90s most of the time, so im sure that contributed to the slower 0-60 time.
I'd be willing to bet the 8.2s stock 0-60 time was taken in 60-75 degree temps.

And im not too sure i want to drill holes in my exhaust system?
And speaking of exhaust systems, i might get an aftermarket exhaust around christmas time.
So anyone have any recomendations on what kind i should get?
What sounds good on the 300E 2.8 DOHC?

I don't want it to be like ricer sound, but i dont want it to be too deep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8yH1Ojs0Io

I would like it to kind of sound like that if possible..
Any ideas..?
Also, just curious..How much horsepower/torque will most exhaust sytems give?
I wouldn't expect any more than like 5-7 hp, but thats still a good bit.
Thanks

Saijin_Naib

Zach, search for this info. It has been covered to exhaustion. It has even been discussed in my mods thread.

zach1328

Alrighttttt Thanks.
O yeah i had a very important question..

I heard "sea foam" is really good for cleaning out your engine and fuel injectors etc.
Is it safe to use that on our cars or not?

I figured even if it works a little bit (given it is safe) then it will increase fuel economy and performance a tad tad tad bit.

Oh and sorry for all these questions..its just that, my car was keeping up with some decently fast cars, and i didnt really care too too much at the time.
Then i found out that it was running over 10s 0-60, it made me realize that the car can actually be quite fast (esp for being 1993).
So i just really want the car to be running at its full potential... =)

taughtmepatienc

Before you do anything else, you must do a leakdown test. Carefully inspect the plugs when you pull them for the compressor. If you are getting blow-by, take the rims off, sell them, then junk the car.

Blow-by is a cancer that will only get worse until you need a completely new engine.

DO NOT waste money any other parts until you've done this test. Take it to a mechanic... it will be the best $70 you've ever spent. If the results of the leakdown test are not good, DO NOT waste money on a rebuilt engine. These cars are simply not worth the expense... especially for a teenager that just dropped money on rims...

zach1328

Taughtmepatienc..I assure you my car does not have any leaks that are that bad. My car has minimal problems, the shop i take my car to takes great care of it. If "blow-by" is really that severe my car would already have problems and/or i would be able to tell.

It runs well, idles as well as any other car does, starts up nicely (probably cause i got a new battery this morning, old battery was 10 years old).
My car is serviced every 3-4 months, and then the oil change every 2,500-3,000 miles.
And its only at 108k miles so i would really hope it doesn't have any problems that severe.

I'm pretty sure it just needs a tune up or something. Its really slow off the line and i was told that it just might need a tune up. Once i get past the 3k rev line it takes off.

So, im going to pull out the service records when i get a chance and see what has gone a while without being replaced.

Arnie also told me it could be from my cataletic converter, so a new exhaust system should solve that problem.

Thank You for the Response though. I'll check my service records and if it hasn't ever had a leakdown test then i will do as you say and have it checked out.

Thanks again =).

taughtmepatienc

I would look for vacuum leaks, which can cause bogging off the line. Try to pinpoint the source of your "weird" noise and spray some propane on it. If the idle surges, you have a vacuum leak.

zach1328

Well i thought maybe i had a vacuum leak but i was told it would be very obvious. The only problem off the line is it kind of gets stuck at 2k revs. If i floor it off the line the revs go up to 2k about immediately, then they just sit at 2k till it gets going a little bit.

Idk if its any leaks or anything that are causing the power loss..

This is what i think:
1) My rims are 17x8, so they are heavier. They have more rolling resistance, which creates more coeficient of drag.
2) I had another passenger in the car which is an extra 150 lbs.
3) The outside temperature was about 90 degrees farenheit.
4) My car needs a new air filter, and i probably need to get the fuel system/injecters cleaned out.

So, im going to get my injectors cleaned out, and put in a k&n air filter.
Get rid of my 2nd passenger and try running the 0-60 again in cooler temperatures.

After that it should be running slightly faster. Maybe like 10s or so.
And a full tune up might solve my problem with getting off the line faster.

But ill probably take ur advice and just have a leakdown test on it..won't be too much money and its probably a good idea just incase.

Thanks

Oh and as for the "Weird" noise i think its either the main cooling fan or one of the pulleys.

zach1328

Just for the record my dad bought the rims and window tint for me. And he would also be buying the exhaust for me if i end up getting it.

And after all of the money my dad has put in the car i dont think he would want to just junk the car. He's put over $5,000 into it from replacing worn parts and any broken parts.
Generally speaking, if something goes wrong with the car..We have it fixed within 24 hours.

We have always had it serviced at "European Auto Performance" and they keep service records for us, which we also keep copies of. So, they basically contact us and let us know when we need to do what to the car.

Sorry for the post, but that was a very derogatory comment. I just think the comment made it sound like i don't care for my car. I love my car, and its worth wayyyyyy more than a few thousand dollars to me.
It only has 108k miles on it, and has been taken care of pretty well.

Saijin_Naib

Does it sound like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDA0LKl24JE

If so, viscous fan clutch. $$$

zach1328

Na it doesn't really sound quite like that.

I don't think its anything serious, because when we took it to the shop when it started doing that..They said it isn't really anything worth fixing.

The only reason i want it to be fixed is because its a little bit embarrasing. Like its a very noticable sound.

Saijin_Naib

So if the shop made the call that it wasn't important enough to worry about fixing, they know what it is.

Why don't you ask them then post the result here?