I had previously added a can of Techron Fuel System Cleaner. This was the first treated tank. Today the Vette need filling up and I recorded the incident.
In the second video please excuse the legs shot.
This first is the status as I pulled in to gas up.
I haven’t done much writing about my C6 Corvette, mainly because it has really been a great car (still is) even with the technology glitches.
However, as you might have gathered from the title there is an issue that I thought I’d jot down along with some possible causes and some preventive measures.
I recently had the problem with my gas gauge flopping round and kicking off the low fuel warning. Interesting enough it only happened immediately after filling up. It is an immediate reaction when I turn the car on. During this most recent incident the gauge remained flat-lined for what seemed a bit longer then it has in the past. I’m talking 20 miles or more with 3 stops full and shut down. It was accompanied by the engine light, which remained on after the gauge went back to normal and the low fuel warning stopped.
The Vette ran perfectly during the event so I’m not too worried , but still you don’t want to have to call the flatbed.
So I dropped a note on my corvette clubs site ACE (Arizona Corvette Enthusiasts) http://www.arizonacorvetteenthusiasts.net and to see what they thought.
Most swear by Chevron gas with its Techron cleaning agent and some were thinking it might be a sending unit and some said it is a common problem with C5 ( the previous generation of Corvettes).
Here are some comments:
—“Use some Seafoam (Autozone, Checker etc.) per directions on the bottle. Techron works also.” My NOTE: Seafoam is tough stuff, you have to be sure to change your fuel filter shortly there after.
—“Same thing would happen to me with Roxxane II (c5). It would show empty when I filled her up. I would use 2 bottles of Techron and then one bottle at every fill up for the next 4 tanks. Problem went away for a while. Then I would use one bottle every 2 tanks and that kept the demon away.”
This one was exteremly helpful……”Well, stop putting gas in it, maybe the problem goes away.”
—“It’s a level sender issue for sure. If Techron doesn’t solve it, you’ll either have to learn to live with it, or replace the faulty sensor. Do you have any way to check the codes to see which sensor is unhappy?” ( I don’t so if it acts up again, I’ll have to take it in.)
—“Two possibilities…. sulphur build up on the sending unit or the sending unit going out. I understand they are a biotch to change.”
—“My C5 had the problem unless I ran Chevron gas in it. About the second tank of non Chevron the gauge would go crazy. I would switch back and the problem went away.”
—“This was a common occurrence on the ‘early’ C5’s. It usually happened when high sulphur content fuel was put in. Some of the fixes were switching gas to adding a bottle of Techron every once in a while. The real ‘fix’ was a reflash at the dealer. Apparently the sender was a bit too sensitive, so they slowed it down.
I had the issue occasionally on my 99, but when I put a 2002 Z06 operating system into the computer, it went away.
Since you have a C6, I would expect that the issue isn’t a reflash. My guess would be that maybe you got some high sulphur content fuel or your sender is acting up in some way, maybe a poor or intermittent connection somewhere along the line.
—“You could try a treatment with Techron and see if that ‘cleans’ it up. ”
—“I was using the Techron trick in my C5. I switched to Gumout Regane Fuel System Cleaner. I t seems to help, although my gauge still jumps to E at times when below 1/3 of a tank. Good luck. It sucks to not really know how much fuel is in your tank. Although a Vette is light in comparison to other cars, I just can’t see myself pushing it into the gas station.”
So there you have a round of discussion on the topic.
Now the fuel leveling sensor is used because the C6 had two tanks and this keeps the tanks level. Which is important especially if you are running auto cross. Here is area a couple of graphics from http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com:
So you can see that it would a chore to replace. So I’m going to try the Techron and hope it works. I’ve been cautioned that I need the Fuel System Cleaner – not the injector cleaner. Here’s a pic:
Get the Fuel System Cleaner.
I’ve used my first 12 oz can and I’m currently at half a tank. I’ll fill it up again in a couple of days (Yes..when you normally drive it like you just stole it you tend to have to fill up – now and again..mostly..again!) and I’ll try to capture the event on my trusty Android.
Stay tuned (up). {someone please say they get that}
So you’ve read my review and I promised to drop a note as to the “Long Lasting” part of Griot’s Garage’s – Long Lasting Tire Dressing.
Now is has rained nearly every day since I applied the dressing.
So take a look at the tires with 2 applications and 3 applications.
Tires with 2 applications of tire dressing
Here is the tire with 3 applications of tire dressing
Here is what I think as a wrap up. Long lasting to me doesn’t necessarily mean just duration, but can it stand up to everyday driving – oh—yeah…just in case I failed to mention, the Vette is my daily driver. It lived up to the Griot promise. I’ll continue using this product.
From time to time I check out a product that I hear about, in this case, from a repetitive mail from Griot’s garage. This is a catalog of sorts, with a lot of merchandise and everything you need to spruce up your ride.
Thier “Long Lasting Tire Dressing” is the first item I’ve tried.
If you recall I did a review a while back on a tire gel here is the link: ” Like and Don’t Like – Products (Tire Gel) and Tools (Thread Chasers)” http://wp.me/pKHNM-aJ
Now before we start, the bottle you see in the video has instructions and to be fair, I’ll give you any variations.
The direction say, roughly, clean the tire, apply with application pad and that a light application will give you a shine and subsequent will increase the luster. Not much there to go on.
Now you need to know that I applied the dressing with an old sock. Most manufactures always try to sell something extra and kt, which is an “applicator”, the magic potion and a terry cloth/micro fiber towel. I normally don’t go for that sales pitch. So that was the only deviation.
A couple more variables:
1. The dressing was stored in my garage. The temperature in there today was about 105 degrees. I applied the dressing while the car was in the garage.
2. The temp outside was about 108.
3. As you will see my Corvette’s tires have small sidewalls and a lot of small raised text and logo.
Ok so here are a couple before pics:
Before, notice the off-color
More of the discolor and you can see there isn't must sidewall.
OK after all these years, after the car was gone. I stopped by the house. I was met by Al, short for Albert, not Alan, as Al informed me.
I told him that I had always wanted to check on the Grande and he informed I was a bit late. He said he didn’t mind answers a few questions.
So I asked Al how got the car and he said he bought it back in 1972 from some guy. “It was a nice car with an automatic.” Of course my next question was what was under the hood and he said ‘nothing’. “Took it out about 10 years ago and parked on the side of the house.” He told me he never got the engine fixed, ” ’cause it ‘cost too much.” He ended up letting the guy that did some work on it keep. “Ya know, it might have been a 302.” He said he didn’t really know want to do with the body and just ended up hanging on to it.
So I asked him where the car end up, hoping it was sent out to be restored. He said there was this guy from Texas that would stop by every now and then and ask if it was for sale. He drives large pick up and always has an empty trailer attached. This same guy that has stopped by a co-worker of mine, who has her son’s 70 Monte Carlo and her daughter’s 1969 Camaro sitting under her car port – waiting for some TLC and try’s to convince her that she should sell them to him. She chases him off each time, but he’ll swing by a few months later.
A couple of weeks ago, Texas dude, stops by Al’s home and Al decided to get the Grande out of the yard and sold the man from Texas.
We talked a bit longer about my 1970 Mustang coupe and I showed him a couple of pics on my phone and then thanked him for his time.
For the Mustang the studs pass through the track and the nuts are under the car so a little space is need. Since most average guy’s don’t have a lift in their home garage, so I pull out the trusty 2 ton floor jack and a jack stand.
As most Mustang owners know, they were built with subframes. When jacking up the car with a floor jack place it on the frame, or use the standard scissor jack that attached to the seam at the rocker panel. Either way once it’s in the air, DO NOT FORGET to put the jack stand under the car. Yes it actually takes longer to do the set up then to remove the bolts…but take the time to be save.
2 Ton Floor Jack
Floor pan plug that protect the bolts and studs.
These plugs pry out very easily. I was able to get them out with just my fingers. Once they are removed you’ll have access to the nut. The distance between the opening and the nut requires an extension and the length of the stud requires a deep socket. These were 1/2″. The Mustang was raised in Arizona (get it? First reader to drop a comment explaining “get it” wins a DVD.) and all the plugs are in place. This kept all the road grime and what not off the studs and nuts, they separated easily.
When you are done you should have this many parts.
When I purchased the Mustang I was told that the upholstery was replaced at some point. (Keep that in mind for later as well.)
As you can see in the video I wasn’t able to get the seat out of the car. I initially I figured it was because I couldn’t pull out level enough for the studs to clear the holes due to the fact that I was holding the camera. However, after putting it down I still shouldn’t get the seat out. So I climbed back under the car and found that there was a second nut on the right rear stud. I’m guess it was doubled up, when the last installer wasn’t sure whether they already but one on? And of course you can see by the previous picture that those two nuts not the same as the others.
Part III will be coming up in a day or so.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
I know, I have a lot of work scheduled for the Mustang. This includes interior work and yes maybe doing it all at once would be a good idea. But I drive it a couple of times a week and the seat is getting worse. So I decided it needed to be fixed.
The kit is from TMI and I think I purchased it from a Mustang parts dealer, but I don’t recall which one. Here’s a couple of videos on it.
What I noticed is the black piping. I know that the car was re-upholstered before I purchased it, so I’m guessing that this was not original, at least they don’t make them in the reproduction world.
This one was in the parking lot of the a local auto parts store Checker’s or O’Rielly’s….or….all those mergers are making hard to have common name that everyone can related too (remember when there was just NAPA….can’t find them very often).
1969 Chevelle 454 Restored shell
This 1969 Chevelle was merely as shell…oh but is extremely well done restoration. The paint was excellent (makes ya wonder why it was being dragged round uncovered), the inside of the shell had been as expertly sprayed as the exterior..it was almost a shame to put in the interior in there.
Reproduction gauges and not much in the way of interior yet.
The badge on the car shows that this car housed or will house 454. But however, the 454 didn’t show up on the scene until until 1970 so this must be a retro fit.
You can see the big power plant is missing.
It looks absolutely ready to for dropping that monster engine back in and hitting the strip. Hey I don’t even mind the wheels!!!
Didn’t find the owner (or driver) , part store was crowded.
Of course this isn’t a 1970, I’ll update the data a bit later.
Some 1970 Chevelle facts:
– The 454 was produced between 1970 thru 1976.
– It produced 450 hp configured with 4bbl carb
– It was designated the LS6 with 475 ftlbs of torque and 9.0:1 compression ratio
The majority of the Chevelle’s (approx. 13,000) had V8 in 1970 and approx. 10,000 had 6 cylinders.
