Speed Six Santiy Check
Discussion
There is clearly a lot of TVR Tuscan S6 experience represented in the postings on this site. Well, I just got mine. Totally enamoured (and broke as a result). However I've been driving it around for a week and I've noticed a few 'things'. I wondered if you could tell me if they are normal.
1. Strong smell of petrol in the cabin - usually come at low RPM or when accelerating.
2. Whining noise from the engine (mongst all the other noise) - sounds like belts.
3. Slightly lumpy idle and slightly lumpy pick up at very low RPM e.g. in traffic.
The car is a mid 2001 S6 with 10K miles - otherwise it seems fine.
any advice appreicated
c.
1. Strong smell of petrol in the cabin - usually come at low RPM or when accelerating.
2. Whining noise from the engine (mongst all the other noise) - sounds like belts.
3. Slightly lumpy idle and slightly lumpy pick up at very low RPM e.g. in traffic.
The car is a mid 2001 S6 with 10K miles - otherwise it seems fine.
any advice appreicated
c.
I've never had a petrol smell, except when I poured it all over my leg, because I was not concentrating. The whining noise is normal, and is just the way the speed six is. I had a chimera before, and was used to the V8 burble, and it took me a while to get used to the six. Can't help with your other question I'm afraid. Enjoy it anyway. 
I can help (a bit) with the third question...
Depending on where you engine is idling will have an effect. Mine started to idle around 500 rpm and displayed all the symptoms you describe. The idle can be adjusted with a quick trip to your dealer. They should be able to do it while you wait as long as you let them know in advance of course!
Failing that, the plugs get damp very easily after a good wash or downpour as they are situated right by a water run off point which won't help and of course the starter for ten would be the HT leads.
However, all TVR's I've driven have always been lumpy in traffic, but it should pull smoothly...
I'll be interested to hear what anyone has to say about the petrol as mine does this (a June 2000 car) and I've failed so far to get an answer...
DC
Depending on where you engine is idling will have an effect. Mine started to idle around 500 rpm and displayed all the symptoms you describe. The idle can be adjusted with a quick trip to your dealer. They should be able to do it while you wait as long as you let them know in advance of course!
Failing that, the plugs get damp very easily after a good wash or downpour as they are situated right by a water run off point which won't help and of course the starter for ten would be the HT leads.
However, all TVR's I've driven have always been lumpy in traffic, but it should pull smoothly...
I'll be interested to hear what anyone has to say about the petrol as mine does this (a June 2000 car) and I've failed so far to get an answer...
DC
1. Petrol smell, I get this from time to time on cold or hot start, but goes away when driving. Only time I had a constant smell of petrol, I had a major engine problem. Also they tend to throw excess petrol out the engine breather hose into the front carbon canistor if not tuned correctly, which gives a strong smell of petrol all the time and can leak out from the front o/s wing.
2. Whining, might be you timing chain needs adjusted.
3. Lumpy sounding idle is ok, as long as it is 700rpm plus and pulls away smoothly.
Sounds like it needs a full service with tappet adjustment to me, especially if you have just got it with 10K on the clock. Much better to be safe than sorry.
Cheers
Whitey
PS. And if you have not already realised, yes, they are a bottomless pit where you throw all your money
...but on a hot day, roof off, when you nail it in 2nd and 3rd gear you will soon forgot about that...
2. Whining, might be you timing chain needs adjusted.
3. Lumpy sounding idle is ok, as long as it is 700rpm plus and pulls away smoothly.
Sounds like it needs a full service with tappet adjustment to me, especially if you have just got it with 10K on the clock. Much better to be safe than sorry.
Cheers
Whitey
PS. And if you have not already realised, yes, they are a bottomless pit where you throw all your money
...but on a hot day, roof off, when you nail it in 2nd and 3rd gear you will soon forgot about that...My July 2000 car has the petrol smell in the cabin, and has started to get more lumpy at a constant throttle, although it accelerates smoothly. It seems to be OK when cold and then gets worse as it warms up. I'm going to have a look at the HT leads this weekend but am going to get it looked at soon as it is due it's 18k service. I'd be interested in hearing any feedback.
Edited to add that as per Whitey's post, the petrol smell only occurs when starting the car and goes off fairly quickly.
>> Edited by basil brush on Thursday 12th June 09:49
>> Edited by basil brush on Thursday 12th June 13:18
Edited to add that as per Whitey's post, the petrol smell only occurs when starting the car and goes off fairly quickly.
>> Edited by basil brush on Thursday 12th June 09:49
>> Edited by basil brush on Thursday 12th June 13:18
Thanks for the advice all. Sounds like a service may be in order. The garage I bought it off said the car was 'sorted' and needed no adjustment following its 8k service. It does pull away smoothly etc - but the petrol thing is annoying (its only when moving slowly at low rpm - it goes when upto speed).
cgb.
cgb.
I've just covered the petrol smell in another post but I'll repeat it hear as it may be DANGEROUS.
The first time I filled my Tuscan to the brim was on the way home from the dealer. It had 1800 miles on the clock and it became obvious that the previous owner had never filled the tank as a large quantity of Optimax appeared in the boot floor after a short period. A little digging around under carpet (top left of boot on tank next to filling pipe) later the source of the leak became apparent. The breather hose was not connected to the tank. Not only that but the hose was the wrong internal diameter for the breather attachment to the tank. I fixed it in short order with a bit of pipe and a modified VW Polo fuel filter as an adaptor.
Don't trust that Blackpool have put your fuel system together correctly. If you think there is a problem have it investigated or if you feel brave have a go yourself as I did. The reason you can only smell it at idle/low revs is because 1 there is a slight vacuum to the tank at higher revs and the ventilationis better when you are 'making progress'.
Hope this is of some help.
The first time I filled my Tuscan to the brim was on the way home from the dealer. It had 1800 miles on the clock and it became obvious that the previous owner had never filled the tank as a large quantity of Optimax appeared in the boot floor after a short period. A little digging around under carpet (top left of boot on tank next to filling pipe) later the source of the leak became apparent. The breather hose was not connected to the tank. Not only that but the hose was the wrong internal diameter for the breather attachment to the tank. I fixed it in short order with a bit of pipe and a modified VW Polo fuel filter as an adaptor.
Don't trust that Blackpool have put your fuel system together correctly. If you think there is a problem have it investigated or if you feel brave have a go yourself as I did. The reason you can only smell it at idle/low revs is because 1 there is a slight vacuum to the tank at higher revs and the ventilationis better when you are 'making progress'.
Hope this is of some help.
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