[Hot'Lantastang]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the site and really need some help. I'm a female who doesn't know alot about cars and I have a 97 mustang that's right at 90,000 miles and is really running poorly. I just don't have the power or performance that I used to have and I need to know what to do to make it right. I do have regular oil changes and tuneups done but before I take it to the shop I need to know what I'm talking about so I won't get taken advantage of. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Please help me love my mustang again!! Thanks!

 

[jrspony]

You may want to consider switching to a higher milage oil, like Valvoline MaxLife, or any oil that says it's recomended for cars over 75,000 miles. Or, when you get your oil changed again, get full synthetic or a synthetic blend. Something you could do your self is add a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to you gas tank after your next fill up. You can get a bottle of that from Wal-mart.

 

[jrspony]

Another thing...When you do take it to a shop, jus let them look at it, then get back on here, tell everyone what the mechanic said, and i'm sure someone on here can let you know what's needed and what's not

 

[BlueStreak03]

The injector cleaner is a great idea for a car with higher milage. There has been some debate on here about whether switching to a synthetic at high milage is a good idea or not. Some theories are that any deposits in the engine may get loosened and wind up in bearing surfaces and cause problems. Also the detergents in the synthetic may wash away any waxy buildups around gasket sealing areas and reveal oil leaks. I personally think synthetic is still the way to go especially with a higher milage engine that needs all the help it can get from lubrication and cleaning though. And relying on waxy buildups to keep gaskets sealing properly is just a bad idea. I would also recommend a cylinder compression check. That will reveal whether your engine is losing power from cylinder wall wear and deposits on valves preventing them from closing completely.

Is the car idling properly and how is the gas milage doing also?

 

[green 01]

you should try getting this thing called terra-clean. you will have to find someone or a shop to do it. it looks like a tool box and these two arasol cans go on top. then they turn off your fuel pump and hook the arasol cans to your fuel line. the car will run from the cans for about 10 to 60 minutes depending on how dirty and gas mileage. but it is great for cleaning the engine and brings back alot of lost performance and throttle response. they say it cleans your fuel injectors, combustion chamber, cats and mufflers. check out the website. the shops shouldnt charge over about 160, because they cans cost 45.



http://www.terraclean.net/home.htm