Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth   Sunday, September 8 2002   Volume 01 : Number 947

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Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2002 21:31:39 -0400
From: "Rodriguez, Elpidio   x35617d1" <x35617@exmail.usma.army.mil>
Subject: Team3S: Used or Rebuilt Turbos?

Well, I couldn't figure out my smoke problem myself or with you all's
help so I finally decided to have a mechanic take a crack at it. The
mech supposedly  has over 12+ years experience with import sport cars.
He showed me a 5-in thick scrapbook of his "work", lots of pics of
supras, 300Z, M3s, and of course,  Stealth and 3KGTs that he has worked
on so i figured he was reputable. I start telling him the symptoms and
he's like "stop, i just fixed a TT 300Z with the  same problem last
week. I can charge you my $55 diagnostic fee and take a look at it or
you can take my word that it's a blown turbo" And then he said that
he'd bet his money it was the rear one. Seems like he knows of the
problems our car have.  Now the question, what would be better (price,
performance, and  durability wise): a pair of used turbos with low
miles, say 40K or rebuild the ones the car has now?  Also, anybody out
there near NYC or within reasonable  driving distance want to earn a few
bucks to help me with the swap cuz I really can't afford to pay a pro
mechanic to do it for me?

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 03:33:37 -0500
From: "Dan Hyde" <danielhyde@attbi.com>
Subject: Re: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

I have become convinced that the lifter tick symptom on my car may have
more to do with oil level than oil type and here is why.  When I bought
by 97 VR4  last year I was hearing lifter tick. As a matter of course, I
was on a mission to replace all fluids end-to-end and one being the
engine oil.  I had decided  to use Red Line products - a synthetic. I
presumed the prior owner had probably been using a petroleum-based oil
upon discovering one of those 'quick lube'  reminder stickers on the
inside of the windshield and wanted to flush as much of the dino oil and
dirt out as I could before I started using the high dollar  Red Line.

First step was Oil Change to Mobile1 10W-30 Synthetic / Filter: Bosch
Premium #3312 / Added CD2 Oil cleaner. Incidentally, I was hearing more
lifter tick  after I finished up and discovered I had slightly over
filled. Specs say the VR4 holds 4 Qt. Pan, .5 Qt Filter, .5 Qt Oil
Cooler. If you overfill, the crank  agitates/aerates the oil and causes
the hydraulic lash adjusters to misbehave.  I crawled back under the car
and after a few iterations, dribbled out enough  to line up to full mark
on the dip stick. Lifter tick diminished and was overall better than
before I started . I ran it with this mix for ~ 1300 Miles.

Second step was the change to Red Line 10W-30 / Filter: Purolator
PureOne PL14459. Lifter tick was less prevalent than before right after
this event but  still returned most often when the car is idling and not
setting level. I have been running for ~ 3600 miles and now rarely ever
hear the tick return.  My  oil level is currently 2/3 down from full
mark on the dip stick and I believe at this level is being subjected to
less aeration effect.  At next oil change  (very soon), I plan to fill
slightly less than to the full mark.

Dan
97 VR4
82K miles

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Carson" <rcarson1@bigred.unl.edu>
To: <team3s@stealth-3000gt.st>
Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 8:51 PM
Subject: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

< snip >
As for getting rid of my lifter tick I think it has to do with something
more than dirty oil because I am running AMZOIL with less then 1000
miles on it.  I  did note however when I switched to AMZOIL the noise
from the lifters did go down somewhat. Thanks everyone

Robert

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 08 Sep 2002 03:58:00 -0500
From: "merritt@cedar-rapids.net" <merritt@cedar-rapids.net>
Subject: Re: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

An easier way to get rid of lifter tick is to take the car out and run
it very hard. Crank up those Rs, pull lots of boost, and violate traffic
laws a few  times over. After 25 miles of such treatment, the lifter
tick is usually gone.

It's best to stick to stock Mitsu oil filters, BTW. Something to do with
an extra check valve for the turbos.

Rich/slow old grandpoop

>Second step was the change to Red Line 10W-30 / Filter: Purolator
>PureOne PL14459. Lifter tick was less prevalent than before right after

>this event but still returned most often when the car is idling and not

>setting level. I have been running for ~ 3600 miles and now rarely ever

>hear the tick

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 09:55:34 -0500
From: "Mark & Brenda" <mebmark@airmail.net>
Subject: Team3S: Blue oil smoke at idle

Hi folks, its me again the newbie. I have another prob now that I just
don't understand with my 92ES non turbo, when it's idling for more than
a minute it  will begin to pour blue smoke out the tailpipe, if I rev it
up and hold it at about 1500 to 2000 RPM it will stop but let it idle
again and it will start, it  really does it bad when the A/C is on. I
have followed my wife in it and it don't smoke going down the road and
the dipstick is not showing very much oil  consumption at all. I did a
fresh oil change when I took it home and after about 450 miles the level
is still about the same. There are no leaks to indicate  blow by, the
bottom of the engine is dry and clean. Is there some kind of valve like
a pcv that could be malfunctioning and dumping oil in the intake at
idle? or do these engines use low tension rings and maybe my oil rings
are just stuck? Thanks in advance, Mark.

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 08:39:59 -0700
From: "fastmax" <fastmax@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

I've been touting that as a cure for lifter tick for two years ---- a
weekend at the track usually cures any lifter problems for a few
thousand miles at  least.

As to filters, that extra check valve line is some kind of commie lie
--- the factory filters and for that matter most quality filters have a
check valve to  prevent oil from draining out of the filter when the car
is turned off. In our engines it's of little significance as the filter
is mounted almost vertically  so the oil will not drain out anyway ---
this does not constitute an endorsement for the use of cheap filters.

        Jim Berry =====================================================
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <merritt@cedar-rapids.net>

> An easier way to get rid of lifter tick is to take the car out and run

> it very hard. Crank up those Rs, pull lots of boost, and
violate traffic laws a few times over. After 25 miles of such treatment,
the lifter tick is usually gone.
> It's best to stick to stock Mitsu oil filters, BTW. Something to do
> with an extra check valve for the turbos.
> Rich/slow old grandpoop
>
> >Second step was the change to Red Line 10W-30 / Filter: Purolator
> >PureOne PL14459. Lifter tick was less prevalent than before right
> >after this event but still returned most often when the car is idling

> >and not setting level. I have been running for ~ 3600 miles and now
> >rarely ever hear the tick

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 11:40:26 -0500
From: "Dan Hyde" <danielhyde@attbi.com>
Subject: Re: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

Rich
I concur with you 100% on the benefit of a 'run it very hard' exercise
to clear out lifter tick.  For many months after I bought my VR, I went
through the  period of having a serious wild hare up my a_s. I really
wanted to see what this car could do in the curves and experience
whatever top-end it
could deliver.   Finally, a friend with a Porsche and I decided to go
hunt for some twisty roads and be naughty for a day.  So I took a day
off  work at  mid-week before the vacation season when traffic would be
low and left Texas heading for some select back roads of Oklahoma at
5AM.  600 miles later I was  back home by late afternoon even with a
couple hours down time for needed coffee, smoke and lunch breaks along
the way. I figure we averaged something around  90 miles per hour for
the moving part of the trip and the Mitsu performed absolutely
beautifully. On a couple open stretches in Oklahoma where there was good
visibility I run her up to 140.  There was more to be had  but the voice
in my head finally said I'll be going to jail if I continue to
perpetuate this  insanity. All-in-all a great day with no tickets and I
got rid of that wild hare (Also appreciated a little peace of mind from
my K40).

Bottom line - I didn't hear any tick at all for a couple weeks after
that run.

I'll look into that stock Mitsu oil filter. This is the first I had read
a comment about it - thanks.

Dan
97 VR4
82K miles

- ----- Original Message -----
From: <merritt@cedar-rapids.net>
To: "Dan Hyde" <danielhyde@attbi.com>; "Team3S"
<Team3S@Stealth-3000GT.st>
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 3:58 AM
Subject: Re: Team3S: Thanks for the help about parts swapping

An easier way to get rid of lifter tick is to take the car out and run
it very hard. Crank up those Rs, pull lots of boost, and violate traffic
laws a few  times over. After 25 miles of such treatment, the lifter
tick is usually gone.

It's best to stick to stock Mitsu oil filters, BTW. Something to do with
an extra check valve for the turbos.

Rich/slow old grandpoop

>Second step was the change to Red Line 10W-30 / Filter: Purolator
>PureOne PL14459. Lifter tick was less prevalent than before right after

>this event but still returned most often when the car is idling and not

>setting level. I have been running for ~ 3600 miles and now rarely ever

>hear the tick

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 8 Sep 2002 19:51:04 -0400
From: "anthonymelillo" <anthonymelillo@sprintmail.com>
Subject: Team3S: Battery cable-National Backorder

I tried to get a Negative Battery Cable and the dealer told me I had to
buy it as a package with the Positive cable, which was fine. I figured I
would do a  little preventative maintenance and replace the positive
cable anyway.

After waiting a could of weeks and the cables still aren't in, I called
the dealer Friday, and he told me that the cables are still on
Nationwide backorder  and he has no idea when they will be in stock.

Anyone ever heard of this and can this be true ?

Thanks
Anthony Melillo
1997 VR-4, Firestorm Red
http://home.sprintmail.com/~anthonymelillo/3000gt.htm

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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Date: Sun, 08 Sep 2002 22:19:48 -0400
From: "Philip V. Glazatov" <gphilip@umich.edu>
Subject: Team3S: Nology Hotwires

What do you guys think about these wires: http://nology.com/hot.html

- --- Quote:
Nology HotWires are the most technologically advanced ignition wires
available. HotWires create the most powerful spark possible. HotWires
are
engineered with a special built-in capacitor, exclusive only to
HotWires.
This revolutionary design allows energy from the ignition coil to
accumulate in the capacitor until the voltage at the spark plug
electrodes
reaches the ionization point. At that split second point the entire
power
of the stored spark is discharged at once, creating a spark 300 times
more
powerful. The result is faster, more complete combustion, and most
importantly, MORE HORSEPOWER that's 100%. Smog Legal.
- --- End quote.

This sounds like a gimmick to me. I have no idea how a 2c capacitor that
is
inside of each of these wires could make things so much better that I
would
pay $263 for a set. They do not have an application for the 3S, but I am

sure something could be worked out if there is some tangible benefit.
Does
anyone have any idea why nobody else puts capacitors in their spark plug

wires?

Philip

P.S. There is a Supra guy on the AEM ECU forum who claims to have
achieved
a monstrous spark with the AEM ECU, LS1 coils and Nology Hotwires.
According to him, the Nology wires are just an additional benefit. He
says
that those LS1 coils are the ones that really kick a$$. But you have to
have the AEM ECU to be able to use them... Those LS1 coils are really
cheap
and you could have that monstrous spark for under $300. I may try it
when I
have nothing else left to do.

***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***

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End of Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth V1 #947
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