03 LS V8, Seafoam, K&N Oil Filt, Whistling, Halp.durn.goofed.

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Torx

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so its way past my maintenance time, and i done gooped this time trying to be cheap and remedy a poor mpg issue.

cleaned my maf with maf spray, that was easy. the wires were black as night, dried out, never touched them with anything. reinstalled with no problem.

instead of buying a new air filter, i washed and dried my old one, kinda pointless waste of time because there was still dirt stained on the inner folds.

used, what felt like 1/4 seafoam in this hose. and the rest poured into the tank.
KLuvM.png


Can someone tell me if i just really messed my car up. Or can you tell me an alternate hose to use with a visual picture please? I used 1/4, let it suck it up, turned the car off. let it sit for a while. took like 3 cranks and no smoke. revved the engine a bit. still no smoke. i really hope i didnt suck it into the steering, brakes, or tranny. If i didnt do it right, can you give me explicit instructions on how to properly seafoam?


noticed a faint solid continuous whistle under the hood, i checked the hoses and couldnt pinpoint it. sounded close to the egr, just wondering if this is normal, or should i get a tech to check it out?

there apparently isnt any k&n filter specific to my model of car??
ive searched and called, noone has anything to match. If this is true, whats a good alternative to use with royal purple?

gettiing crap mileage, although im going by the mpg computer readout, which is like 11mpg. Im thinking thats because the car is running, sitting and idling most of the time to warm up. unless it actualyl does calculate rolling wheels mpg.

any help is appreciated!!!

edit: also, this past summer i replaced the cops and plugs, visteon+motorcraft. fuel filter was changed about 20k miles ago.
 
Almost empty tank, 1/2 of the lower 1/4 of 93, and the rest of that seafoam. Maybe i should dilute t a bit more with fresh gas?
 
Torx said:
noticed a faint solid continuous whistle under the hood, i checked the hoses and couldnt pinpoint it. sounded close to the egr, just wondering if this is normal, or should i get a tech to check it out?

there apparently isnt any k&n filter specific to my model of car??
ive searched and called, noone has anything to match. If this is true, whats a good alternative to use with royal purple?

gettiing crap mileage, although im going by the mpg computer readout, which is like 11mpg. Im thinking thats because the car is running, sitting and idling most of the time to warm up. unless it actualyl does calculate rolling wheels mpg.

any help is appreciated!!!
Click to expand...

Sounds like at least one of those hard vacuum lines near the egr valve is broken or cracked. I broke one or two cleaning the TB just by moving the harness and got a CEL. If no CEL I would assume just a crack. The harness isn't available but with some vacuum hose and fittings you can make your own. I salvaged the old connectors, which made life a little easier.

Look for the '03-'05 T-Bird application for the K&N intake; It's 57-2562, IIRC.


The fuel computer measures MPG anytime the engine is running.

front view 2.jpg


P9032446.jpg


P9032447.jpg
 
Torx said:
Almost empty tank, 1/2 of the lower 1/4 of 93, and the rest of that seafoam. Maybe i should dilute t a bit more with fresh gas?
Click to expand...

ABSOLUTELY!!! The engine isn't designed to run on a cleaner only, you need GASOLINE! That could easily damage the engine.
 
Torx said:
... sitting and idling most of the time to warm up. ...
Click to expand...

Why are you doing this? If you are doing this for your comfort, then that's your choice. If you are doing it for the car, then you are doing the wrong thing. It's much better for the engine and the exhaust system if you just drive off after you start it. It will warm up much faster that way, so there will be less damage. (The transmission and the rest of the drive train doesn't care one way or the other.)
 
Ahh big thanks guys. Yess i will check those egr lines. Fill the tank asap and if thats really true about the warm up i'll take that advice. Sounds about right im just stuck on traditional carb setups :p

Will report back with updates and findings.

Edit: im.still stuck on which k&n oil filter to use
Im probably gonna end up using a wix or motorcraft oil filter with the royal purple. Such a pricey oil change.
 
Torx said:
... Sounds about right im just stuck on traditional carb setups :p

Will report back with updates and findings.
Click to expand...

There's quite a bit about it on the internet. I suggest you do a little research. I do remember the carburetor days. If you didn't warm the engine up on cold days, it would stall when you stepped on the gas. It's not an issue any more.

This is all that the owner's manual says about it.

"Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy."
 
Torx said:
...
Edit: im.still stuck on which k&n oil filter to use
Im probably gonna end up using a wix or motorcraft oil filter with the royal purple. Such a pricey oil change.
Click to expand...

The OEM (Motorcraft) filter is quite good and it is what most of us use. Wix would be my close second choice. I think that Mobil 1 has an oil filter that fits out now too.

Royal Purple is not that great of an oil for the price. Independent test figures on it don't come out really well. They just have aggressive marketing. Mobil 1 full synthetic is really good, as are most of the full synthetic oils. Get 0W-20 or 5W-20. You can get the Mobil 1 at a reasonable price at Walmart in the five quart jugs. Also, the book says 6.5 quarts, but put in 7 quarts to bring it to the full mark.
 
If gen 1 and gen 2 use the same oil filter you can use this one:
K&N HP-1014


It is for the Thunderbird with the 3.9. I like the K&N since you can use a wrench to to install/remove it. Definitely makes it much easier.
 
jinx8402 said:
If gen 1 and gen 2 use the same oil filter you can use this one:
K&N HP-1014


It is for the Thunderbird with the 3.9. I like the K&N since you can use a wrench to to install/remove it. Definitely makes it much easier.
Click to expand...

Filters for gen I and gen II have different Ford part numbers.
 
I also use Wix as they are still made in the USA and are put together well. On the Royal Purple, I know a number of people who had engines blow up shortly after a switch to Royal Purple. Some were new engines, some were old, some were 50K engines, and the only thing in common was switching to Royal Purple within 3000 miles of the engine's death. Personally I wouldn't use that stuff as filler to get a quart low vehicle to the end of the workweek so I could do a proper oil change.
 
jinx8402 said:
If gen 1 and gen 2 use the same oil filter you can use this one:
K&N HP-1014


It is for the Thunderbird with the 3.9. I like the K&N since you can use a wrench to to install/remove it. Definitely makes it much easier.
Click to expand...

I use the HP-1014 in both '06's.
 
re; fuel system cleaners, Berryman also makes a great product that goes in a full tank of gas...maybe measure mileage based on odometer readings and amount needed to fill up
 
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