By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Anyhow, I have a new question, has anyone had a problem with their windows? When I roll mine up or down (i have power windows) I hear what sounds like a loose part clinking... Twice on the way down and twice on the way up. The way up is louder than the way down. Any ideas? When I take the kitty back for her new catalytic converter, I will have to see if the service department can hear this noise....
But if you're concerned about anything (and I mean anything) about your Cat, have the dealer do something about it. Sometimes it takes diligence, as they don't necessarily experience it when you say it happens, but eventually, hopefully, you will be taken care of.
I reposted your gas theory in a technical topic to see what kind of a response I would get. Here is what they had to say:
"712 of 713: (locke2c) Thu 20 Jul '00 (01:22 PM)
Gasoline is stored in the ground and thus
throughout the day does not get significantly
warmer or colder. It also does not swell a great
deal unlike... say, nitromethane.
At any rate, the pump is metering only liquid
volume and I assure you that does not change. If
we were pumping pure vapor maybe that would be
worthy of discussion.
-Colin
#713 of 713: (Mr_Shiftright) Thu 20 Jul '00 (05:13 PM)
If you do in fact get better fuel mileage, it
would have more to do with the cold air outside."
Still, all in all, it's better for the environment to fill early in the day or after sunset to reduce the fuel vapors getting into the air on hot days, so I'll stick with doing it then.
It's happened to me with Turtle was spray-on type wax. My bottle of Emerald wax held up fine.
Not so weird, the cold just freezes the wax out of the solution (H.S. Chemistry class)(long ago).
Skip G.
I'm considering buying a Subaru Legacy L Wagon (2000). And since I don't want to be a "regular" to the shop, I would like to know if Subarus do well maintenance wise. I've heard from these discussions that there's a problem with the engine making a knocking noise under extreme temperatures(cold).
Some guy at a used car dealership even said that hundais (did I spell that right) do better than subarus maintenance wise. Frankly, I would have thought it would be the other way around, considering that Subaru is more expensive.
If you are happy, or unhappy with your Subaru, I'd really like to know about it.
Thanks,
Jeff
Thanks for the info, Skip. That's probably what happend. Damn cold.
Could you try getting your next couple of tanks of gas at MacEwens and watch your mileage carefully. I know it is a little out of the way from the west end but if you work down town the one on Catherine at Bank is handy. What I am trying to find out is if their low sulfur gas actually improves mileage and I suspect my Cat is too new to really tell. Please try it and let me know. I suspect that gas in the U.S. has a lower sulfur content than most of ours in Ontario.
By the way what kind of mileage are you getting in the city now?
I'm not sure what mileage I'm getting now (and I'm still using NY gas), but usually in the city I use between 10.5 and 11.5 l/100km. How about you?
(Just ribbin' ya, Dasaint ...)
As for Cougarland, since we are creating it we can make sure we get the best of both. No?
http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Show/
To follow up on the recent CSG synthetic oil discussions in this topic, just go to the above URL and click on Segment 5 (of this week's show) to listen in RealAudio.
The whole website is great at:
http://cartalk.cars.com/
You may also want to try some of your local aftermarket wheel stores. Many of the smaller, independent shops take OEM wheels in trade. Could be tough to get a perfect match of a specific wheel, though. If you are fortunate enough to find the right wheel, they most likely will balk at parting with a single. If can't take down this wall, try to get them to bite on a pair.
I feel (have felt) you pain! Good luck!
Balance 7 Mount - $12.00
Looking at Bella with no scratches or injuries - PRICELESS
Sorry, it just kept going through my head..
By the way when I was ordering my new rim today, I was going to get the 1000 mile oil change and my service guy advised against it. He said there was no such thing as break in oil. Just putting in my 2cents
FMC does recommend the oil change to
help remove excess material(usually metallic particls)
left over from the
manufacturing process of the engine.
Where do they get these service people from? Do they grow them on a farm somewhere? I should keep a running list of all the crap they tell us in a log or something.
Sorry, but thus forum is dedicated to "New Edge" Cougars, the front wheel drive 1999's and 2000's only. They are totally different from your rear wheel drive 1996, which was based on the Ford Thunderbird. Why don't you ask someone in the service department of a Ford or Mercury dealership. They won't charge you for an answer, as long as you don't ask them to do the work.
You could also ask your question here:
http://www.deja.com/topics_md.xp?group=alt.autos.mercury.cougar&search=topic
It's a newsgroup where owners from 1967 on discuss various Cougar issues.
I can't detect any smell from the exhaust, and it isn't leaking oil onto the ground. I noticed tonight that the oil filter could be turned by hand. I'm wondering if the oil filter is too loose and has been spitting oil out onto the hot exhaust under high compression. Has anyone experienced this before? How tight should the oil filter be? I seem to recall instructions that "hand tight" is tight enough.
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping there's not a more serious problem.
Thanks,
Andy.
Usually my hand tight, means I can't loosen it,(ie Jelly Jars)
it must be a murphys law or something.
Lucky you found this, check your oil level. and you should be fine.
I was able to turn the oil filter at least one full rotation by hand - pretty loose.
On closer inspection, there was a little oil dripping down the side of the filter. After tightening it and wiping the oil off, I havn't noticed the smell any more (and I gave it a good drive!).
some sorta cleaner, and it works great on the manifold
after changing the oil..cleans it up with no smell.
Hey if all else it doesn't hurt to do it.
2. Vary Engine speed RPMS if you can, I drove off the lot with my cat and drove 300 miles
back to college that day... in the rain... ick its like a wedding in a thunderstorm..just isn't so romantic...
The type of driving you describe is OK, just don't jump on it hard, or try to go for max revs, just to see what it'll do. Save that for later!
I, personaly, went for a filter and oil change at 1.5K mi, and had them take care of a few little things under the warranty.
Havn't had a problem since.
Skip G.
Did a nice wash & detail on my kitty this morning. She's sitting in the driveway just gleaming now. I have found a couple of tiny chips from rocks being thrown up from the road, so I need to get the touch-up paint. Should I use anything to remove any wax, etc., before I do the touch-ups?
Thanks
I just washed mine too and she looks great!!!
Unfortunately, my kitty is outside most of the time. So the trim around the mirrors, over and around the side windows, the little deelee-bobs where the washer fluid comes from, front license plate holder, etc.
Just my $0.02
She has a little over 2000 kms (1200 miles) so now is probably as good a time as any.
Thanks all
Your dealer is correct. They told you what the manufacturer, Ford, states in the maintenance schedule in the book in your glove compartment. You are not really doing Nimue a favor by changing her oil at only 1,200 miles. The oil filter will pick up any tiny fragments that circulate in the oil during the normal 5,000 mile recommended oil change interval. Ford does not even suggest changing oil during a "break-in" period. The gradual break-in during the first 1,000 miles on your new engine is to ensure that you don't overheat it while the mechanical tolerances are still a bit tight.
Dear Mr. XXXXXX,
Thank you for your message of 11/08/99 regarding your 1999 Mercury
Cougar. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us concerning the
type of oil in your vehicle upon delivery to the dealership, the oil
change recommendation after the break-in period and the weight of the
16-inch wheels.
After careful research into your inquiries, we have the following
information for you:
1. The oil that is in the vehicle when delivered is called "Ford 5W-30".
This is the same type of oil that is recommended in your owner's manual.
2. It is highly recommended to make an oil change after the 1,000-mile
break-in period to give your vehicle the best possible start.
/snip/