New owner - introduction and questions

[Eelblady]

Hi all, many thanks for creating and maintaining this excellent resource - it was a great help in researching my recent purchase (H reg S3C in sapphire blue with magnolia leather). I've got a hold of the bible and plan to do my own maintenance.

I'm based on Wirral and will probably be seen around and about most weekends as well as commutes to Liverpool (can't resist the tunnel!)

Few questions if I could:

1. Can anyone recommend a specialist in the NW area (good to have a fallback if I need it!)?

2. She runs a bit rough after starting from cold, wants to die if not very careful with the throttle. Could be a feature of these engines, but would prefer to sort if possible. I've seen all the posts on the throttle pot, my pot looks new and the engine seems to run worse with it disconnected so am inclined to think its not that. Have also put new plugs in, Magnecor leads are pretty new, have cleaned and greased all top-end engine connections. Anybody got any different or better pointers?

3. Fuel economy just running around, 8 to 10 mile journeys, is 15mpg. This seems a bit low and could be linked to the above and might help in pointers as to what to look at?

4. I understand, from Steve Heath's bible that she will run on normal and super unleaded, but does anybody have better experience with super? Am tempted to try it next few tank fulls to see if it makes any difference.

Thanks for reading

[ketvrin]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your purchase...

ref your problem, it would be worth checking here:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm

also, is your engine temperature coming up to normal OK or is she running cool? that would cause overfuelling.
ISCV would be worth checking
and just a thought... you havent got one of those battery isolators for extra security have you ? you know the type where you unscrew the connection to break the positive suppy... doing this resets your ECU each time you disconnect so will always feel lumpy as it never gets a chance to settle properly. anyway, just a thought

enjoy your new purchase and the tunnels in particular

K

[Gerald-TVR]

Eelblady said:

2. She runs a bit rough after starting from cold, wants to die if not very careful with the throttle.

Fairley normal I would say

Eelblady said:

3. Fuel economy just running around, 8 to 10 mile journeys, is 15mpg. This seems a bit low and could be linked to the above and might help in pointers as to what to look at?

Do some longer runs and then average it out, should be about 25 mpg unless you hammer it

Eelblady said:

4. I understand, from Steve Heath's bible that she will run on normal and super unleaded, but does anybody have better experience with super? Am tempted to try it next few tank fulls to see if it makes any difference.

Use the cheaper stuff I never noticed any difference (except to my wallet)

[Eelblady]

Thanks both, reassuring answers.

No battery isolator, might fiddle with the iscv when I get a mo, but longer runs sounds more fun!

[orange_dodo]

Hi, Nice to see a new owner here. This place really is an invaluable resource and can help reduce the swearing and damage to inanimate objects when you just can't solve a problem!

Eelblady said:

2. She runs a bit rough after starting from cold, wants to die if not very careful with the throttle. Could be a feature of these engines, but would prefer to sort if possible. I've seen all the posts on the throttle pot, my pot looks new and the engine seems to run worse with it disconnected so am inclined to think its not that. Have also put new plugs in, Magnecor leads are pretty new, have cleaned and greased all top-end engine connections. Anybody got any different or better pointers?

Mine has always been a little fragile when cold, it really don't like doing much, especially low speed driving. Mine never wants to die though, just don't like changing rpm until it's warm. Two things I did very soon after getting mine that really helped the car was cleaning up the chassis earth in the engine bay (and the chassis to battery cable) and changing the injectors. Car ran significantly better after both those changes.

Eelblady said:

3. Fuel economy just running around, 8 to 10 mile journeys, is 15mpg. This seems a bit low and could be linked to the above and might help in pointers as to what to look at?

I've managed 32mpg but generally I don't look I would imagine that 15 is a little low though depending on your driving style obviously.

Eelblady said:

4. I understand, from Steve Heath's bible that she will run on normal and super unleaded, but does anybody have better experience with super? Am tempted to try it next few tank fulls to see if it makes any difference.

I agree with Norman, I have used both and didn't notice a difference. If you modify the engine at all then I imagine it would be a good idea, these engines do seem to run fairly hot (they use quite a cold spark plug relative to other cars I have had) but otherwise I wouldn't bother.


Good luck and you know where to come with any more questions you have!

[Eelblady]

More good pointers - many thanks.

Reset the ecu over the weekend ( after cleaning the various sensor connectors around the engine) and fancy that it runs a bit better. The cold running characteristics don't seem far away from what seems to be the norm.

Been watching the temp gauge today and seems a little slow to reach op temp so will investigate the thermostat.

Many thanks once again

[techbotics]

Hello

Engine will struggle to get to temp in this weather, due to cooling system design flaw..it could be missing or faulty stat but is probably normal. There is s plumbing mod to rectify this but I doubt search is working.

cheers

Damian S3

[Eelblady]

techbotics said:

Hello

Engine will struggle to get to temp in this weather, due to cooling system design flaw..it could be missing or faulty stat but is probably normal. There is s plumbing mod to rectify this but I doubt search is working.

cheers

Damian S3

Thanks for that, was much colder yesterday, 'stat seemed to be working normal on start up this morning and car warmed up quickly today.

Hope search function works soon so I can look up plumbing mod!

[Gerald-TVR]

Eelblady said:

so I can look up plumbing mod!

Contact griffinr

[Griffinr]

Eelblady said:

Thanks for that, was much colder yesterday, 'stat seemed to be working normal on start up this morning and car warmed up quickly today.

Hope search function works soon so I can look up plumbing mod!

They warm up quicker when stationary as there is no air going through the rad. Even with the thermostat shut a lot of water passes throught the bypass hose to the swirl pot and then through the rad. This causes slow warm up when on the move and overcooling in the winter.
It would be a good idea to check out the water system anyway as 20 year old cooling systems can get in a bit of a state. Mine had a new rad before I bought it but was still full of brown sludge. It took gallons of water and rad flush to clean it out. Now works perfectly since it was cleaned and the bypass re-routed to the bottom hose.
Bit of history below.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Rob.

[Eelblady]

Griffinr said:

They warm up quicker when stationary as there is no air going through the rad. Even with the thermostat shut a lot of water passes throught the bypass hose to the swirl pot and then through the rad. This causes slow warm up when on the move and overcooling in the winter.
It would be a good idea to check out the water system anyway as 20 year old cooling systems can get in a bit of a state. Mine had a new rad before I bought it but was still full of brown sludge. It took gallons of water and rad flush to clean it out. Now works perfectly since it was cleaned and the bypass re-routed to the bottom hose.
Bit of history below.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Rob.

That's really helpful. Mine's had a new rad and hoses fairly recently and the coolant looks fresh so I suspect its cooling well. Will look into this job in good time before next winter.

I'm planning to use the car as an everyday driver so a few extra mpg and quicker warm up, whilst not essential, would be a help.

[Griffinr]

Eelblady said:

That's really helpful. Mine's had a new rad and hoses fairly recently and the coolant looks fresh so I suspect its cooling well. Will look into this job in good time before next winter.

I'm planning to use the car as an everyday driver so a few extra mpg and quicker warm up, whilst not essential, would be a help.

Use mine everyday also, mostly short distances but has been very reliable over last 3 years. Averaged 26 mpg over the 3 years.

Rob.

[S2Mike]

Hello, So this is where you S Series fans reside. I had not forgotten you Norman, but had to put the TVR away and get my MG sorted ready for sale, so have only given the TVR a blast round the bypass a couple of times, with its replacement timing cover housing ( Thanks Norman) and new head and manifold gaskets. No doubt as I get stuck in I will be in need of more info from you guys.

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi Mike

i have been wondering how you were getting on

Norman

[S2Mike]

Gerald-TVR said:

Hi Mike

i have been wondering how you were getting on

Norman

Yes very slow with the TVR, busy at work (Thankfully) so not had chance to sort the badges we discussed, but still here on my desk ready!
MGB hopefully up for sale in the next few weeks, before the Tax runs out on the TVR so I can stay driving topless !!! . . . Oh Err Missus.