tune up

gerzod · Post by **gerzod** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:51 pm

hi all,
being a subaru noob and just having got my first one (gen2 liberty) i have just found out that you are supposed to run the "upper engine cleaner" in the engine.
i have changed the engine oil so far (as well as tranny and diff) so i figure i might give this a go as well.

i have searched around elsewhere and from what i can see i simply remove a vacum tube off the intake manifold and spray half the can in while the engine is off, wait 15 minutes then start the engine and spray the rest in while its idling.
is this correct?
i have also read that i can expect lots of white smoke?

is there anything i have missed?
is there any way i can stuff this up haha?

also i would like to change the spark plugs as well but have never done this. i am told that you have to be careful not to overtighten them. i do not have a torque wrench but i am told no one actually uses them anyways. what is the rule of thumb for tightening the plugs? how do i know when to stop tightening them, i assume too tight or not tight enough is bad.

Cheers

GOD · Post by **GOD** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:04 pm

Yep, that's the right procedure for upper engine cleaner. There's instructions on the can, and there's no way you could stuff it up. I haven't noticed smoke when using it.

Plugs are easy on single cam engines (such as the 2.2L). A rule of thumb I've been told for tightening them is do them up by hand until they seat, then another 1/2 turn.

Dane.

gerzod · Post by **gerzod** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:23 pm

cool, thanks i shall give the upper engine cleaner a shot tmoz and see how it goes. hopefully it fixes my fuel economy because my fuel gauge is either very innacurate or my economy will be shocking, although i will find that out when i next fill up and calculate my gas mileage :S

cheers

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:25 pm

Welcome to the forums dude! Are you gonna share with us a pic of your new ride?

dunno if they fixed it in the gen 2s, but in gen 1s the fuel gauge sending unit is notoriously shit. They generally indicate empty on the gauge when they still have about 1/4 of a tank left. Fill your tank up full as full gets, reset the odometer and as you get close to 'empty' pack a full jerry can and run your subi till empty and take note of the odometer. No need to run it dry, but i find with my gen1 by the time he starts coughing i have about 30 seconds until dry. I get on average 9 to 10L/100ks with a mixture of city and highway.

Once you know your economy, work off your odometer and adjust in your head according to driving conditions (i.e. city, highway, light or lead foot, towing, mountains). General consensus is that the low fuel light is accurate, should give you about another 80-100kms.

Cheers,
Owen.

gerzod · Post by **gerzod** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:04 pm

thanks scuby, i just took the mileage figures now when i filled up and it was at 10.8L/100K but that is mostly short distance city driving. I also have no idea what the plugs are like and i just did an upper engine clean today as well so there are lots of factors in it. I was using 95ron however.

it certainly is the fuel gauge, after filling up 30L till full my tank was showing a 1/4 tank left meaning it was 1/4 of a tank innacurate reading on the gauge haha. i may end up changing the fuel sender unit, are they expensive? and is it difficult to change?

thanks for the welcome. i will try and get some pics up when i can get some good photos. gave the car a good detail the other day (clay bar + polish and wax) although its been raining on/off here in melbourne so the car is dirty again haha.

great to be part of the forums and hope to join in on a cruise if you guys go down and possibly share some mod ideas as well

Cheers,
gerzod

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:23 pm

ScubyRoo wrote:Welcome to the forums dude! Are you gonna share with us a pic of your new ride?

dunno if they fixed it in the gen 2s, but in gen 1s the fuel gauge sending unit is notoriously shit. They generally indicate empty on the gauge when they still have about 1/4 of a tank left. Fill your tank up full as full gets, reset the odometer and as you get close to 'empty' pack a full jerry can and run your subi till empty and take note of the odometer. No need to run it dry, but i find with my gen1 by the time he starts coughing i have about 30 seconds until dry. I get on average 9 to 10L/100ks with a mixture of city and highway.

Once you know your economy, work off your odometer and adjust in your head according to driving conditions (i.e. city, highway, light or lead foot, towing, mountains). General consensus is that the low fuel light is accurate, should give you about another 80-100kms.

Cheers,
Owen.

Correct Gen 2 Liberty has the same problem as gen 1 liberty.
Best way to save your wallet is to reset your ODO everytime you fill up to the neck of the fuel filler. Normally they'll go to 550kms a tank average.
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:25 pm

gerzod wrote:
it certainly is the fuel gauge, after filling up 30L till full my tank was showing a 1/4 tank left meaning it was 1/4 of a tank innacurate reading on the gauge haha. i may end up changing the fuel sender unit, are they expensive? and is it difficult to change?

Don't bother - ask Subaru they'll say yes and take your doh, ask any independ subi servicer they'll say no. Ask anyone with a gen 1 or 2 lib and they'll say no. Apparently they last about 6months...

gerzod wrote:thanks for the welcome. i will try and get some pics up when i can get some good photos. gave the car a good detail the other day (clay bar + polish and wax) although its been raining on/off here in melbourne so the car is dirty again haha.

great to be part of the forums and hope to join in on a cruise if you guys go down and possibly share some mod ideas as well

Cheers,
gerzod

Where are you in melbs?

gerzod · Post by **gerzod** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:35 pm

thanks for the tip with the fuel sender. its funny coz it seems to be a common problem on lots of cars, it was notorious on my old car as well (honda).

im in moorabin.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:56 pm

Sensor unit... ive forgotten the price but its something like $475 for AWD version.
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:09 am

AlpineRaven wrote:Sensor unit... ive forgotten the price but its something like $475 for AWD version.
Cheers
AP

Ya I was told $500 by my local... why bother? Just use the odo I reckon...

gerzod wrote:thanks for the tip with the fuel sender. its funny coz it seems to be a common problem on lots of cars, it was notorious on my old car as well (honda).

im in moorabin.

Sweet, I'm in frankston - if you need a hand with anything feel free to look me up. Just PM me from here and I'll send you my details

Does your gen 2 lib have the air suspension? AWD? Wagon or sedan?

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:41 am

ScubyRoo wrote:Ya I was told $500 by my local... why bother? Just use the odo I reckon...

Sweet, I'm in frankston - if you need a hand with anything feel free to look me up. Just PM me from here and I'll send you my details

Does your gen 2 lib have the air suspension? AWD? Wagon or sedan?

Gen 2 doesn't have airbag suspensions.
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:10 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:Gen 2 doesn't have airbag suspensions.
Cheers
AP

There u go... did they make the clearance the same as air sus raised or standard?

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:15 pm

ScubyRoo wrote:There u go... did they make the clearance the same as air sus raised or standard?

A small comment, there IS airbaged gen2 legacy but they're in America, none in Australia. The Gen 2 Liberty are Standard height. You had an option to buy outback which is raised.
Cheers
AP

gerzod · Post by **gerzod** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:20 pm

thanks scooby, its a manual gx awd sedan, no aribag sussy. all stock as a rock.