Scion tC

[zikronix]

Hey,

So my finance's car (2002 mercury cougar v6) the tranny was flaking out. So we traded in and she got a Scion tC. Any who the 161HP 4 cylnider is great for her beacuse it is actully snappier than her cougar. Anyway. Looking to improve the gas miliage and a little bit of horses.

Now I know we could get the supercharger kit for it from toyota but thats 3k and doesnt help gas miliage at all. There is also the cold air intake. Which should improve both hp and gas but thats 250.00

I was thinking what about a standard k&n filter and some bosch platinium 2's or 4's and maybe some msd cables.

Out of all of this i suspect the filter to make the biggest difference. Do you think I will gain anything.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: zikronix
Hey,

So my finance's car (2002 mercury cougar v6) the tranny was flaking out. So we traded in and she got a Scion tC. Any who the 161HP 4 cylnider is great for her beacuse it is actully snappier than her cougar. Anyway. Looking to improve the gas miliage and a little bit of horses.

Now I know we could get the supercharger kit for it from toyota but thats 3k and doesnt help gas miliage at all. There is also the cold air intake. Which should improve both hp and gas but thats 250.00

I was thinking what about a standard k&n filter and some bosch platinium 2's or 4's and maybe some msd cables.

Out of all of this i suspect the filter to make the biggest difference. Do you think I will gain anything.

You will not gain anything. Any slight gain in HP from the K&N is due to increased airflow because it doesnt filter particles as well.

The cold air intake will do little for gas, and hp will go up at the top end, and lose torque at the lower end. You also open yourself up for hydrolocking your engine, which is very, very bad.

Spark plugs arent going to make a difference, and neither are wires.

If you want performance, get the supercharger. Otherwise, dont waste your money.

 

[Black88GTA]

Generally, higher performance and better gas mileage are mutually exclusive. All the things you mentioned (by themselves) are a waste of money, although a couple of those things would make sense with supporting mods.

You might start with a free flowing exhaust. Shouldn't be too expensive, and a fairly easy DIY mod, as long as they make a kit for that car. Don't expect huge gains, but you might see 2-4 hp or so, and gas mileage should be unaffected.

 

[zikronix]

ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: zikronix
ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

Important parts bolded

Oil based filter is really worthless imho, sure its reusable but such a pain to clean and reoil without overoiling it and destroying your MAF readings. Just take 10 seconds to drop in a paper/foam filter(versus a few hours to clean it) every 30 k miles. Intakes amke your car sound louder, nothing else unless you have more supporting mods(at least a tune and a cat back exhaust, preferably a performance header too). They will not make it get better mileage.

I'd go for synthetic, thats what i used to use in my performance cars. Now I have a Camry 4 cylinder(same motor as the TC) and I really cant jsutify the expense since I could care less about this pos.

If you do get oil changed though, toyota has recently approved 0w20 or 5w20(forgot which) for the 2AZFE so you should get more power using the lower viscosity oil compared to the 5W30 in my 2AZFE.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: zikronix
ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

New plugs will improve mileage...if your current plugs are way past their "change by" date. If you're rockin 120k miles on original plugs, then yes, you will see a difference. But with a new car, they will not help.

I had the Bosch Platinum +4 in my Trans Am for a while...the car hated them, and they fouled out. Put Delco Rapidfires in there, and the car ran better than ever. YMMV, of course, but lots of people have had problems with the platinum +4s.

K&N does flow a bit better, but doesn't filter quite as well as a cheapy paper filter, and particles in engine = not good. Not worth the hassle of remembering to take it out, clean and re-oil it, and replace it IMO. I used to run those, now I just run paper filters and toss em when they get dirty.

Synthetic oil is good, but 5x the price of regular dino oil. In that car, honestly, it won't make a difference as long as you change it regularly. You can go farther between changes with synth, and (from personal experience) it makes things run a bit cooler, but if I were you I would just stick with regular oil and make sure it's changed on time.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: zikronix
ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

New plugs will improve mileage...if your current plugs are way past their "change by" date. If you're rockin 120k miles on original plugs, then yes, you will see a difference. But with a new car, they will not help.

I had the Bosch Platinum +4 in my Trans Am for a while...the car hated them, and they fouled out. Put Delco Rapidfires in there, and the car ran better than ever. YMMV, of course, but lots of people have had problems with the platinum +4s.

K&N does flow a bit better, but doesn't filter quite as well as a cheapy paper filter, and particles in engine = not good. Not worth the hassle of remembering to take it out, clean and re-oil it, and replace it IMO. I used to run those, now I just run paper filters and toss em when they get dirty.

Synthetic oil is good, but 5x the price of regular dino oil. In that car, honestly, it won't make a difference as long as you change it regularly. You can go farther between changes with synth, and (from personal experience) it makes things run a bit cooler, but if I were you I would just stick with regular oil and make sure it's changed on time.

The main reason I prefer synthetic oil is because it flows MUCH better in the winter here in NY. If you live in a more mild climate, it isnt as big of a deal.

 

[zikronix]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: zikronix
ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

New plugs will improve mileage...if your current plugs are way past their "change by" date. If you're rockin 120k miles on original plugs, then yes, you will see a difference. But with a new car, they will not help.

I had the Bosch Platinum +4 in my Trans Am for a while...the car hated them, and they fouled out. Put Delco Rapidfires in there, and the car ran better than ever. YMMV, of course, but lots of people have had problems with the platinum +4s.

K&N does flow a bit better, but doesn't filter quite as well as a cheapy paper filter, and particles in engine = not good. Not worth the hassle of remembering to take it out, clean and re-oil it, and replace it IMO. I used to run those, now I just run paper filters and toss em when they get dirty.

Synthetic oil is good, but 5x the price of regular dino oil. In that car, honestly, it won't make a difference as long as you change it regularly. You can go farther between changes with synth, and (from personal experience) it makes things run a bit cooler, but if I were you I would just stick with regular oil and make sure it's changed on time.

The main reason I prefer synthetic oil is because it flows MUCH better in the winter here in NY. If you live in a more mild climate, it isnt as big of a deal.

LOL we live in az...so that waht i was thinking. you know the tC is pretty snappy for a little four banger. the altima has 175 hp but doesnt seem to have the power band that the tC engine as she doesnt have to push the pedal through the floor to get on the free way like she did with the alitima.

so in arizona you think the synthetic...she really wants this car to last and so do I as I am fed up with american vehicles and so is she. The scion being made by toyota with the camery engine we are hopeing that it will out live 75k...i think ford have a thing where they have to drop the tranny at 75k heh my nissan i had i drove for 300k then the water pump went out and it went to hell....lol

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: zikronix

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: zikronix
ok so thats some good info there. So the k&n and new plugs wont improve gas miliage? the marketing hype around them sure seems to think so. I have the bosch platinium 4 in my truck and i did notice a slight increase in easier starts and it seems to run a little smoother. but other than that nothing.

I thought the k&n filtered better because it was an oil based filter...On a side note. With the first oil change do you think we should move to synthetic oil. I know theres alot of pros and cons. There is also alot of people for and agains synthetic.

New plugs will improve mileage...if your current plugs are way past their "change by" date. If you're rockin 120k miles on original plugs, then yes, you will see a difference. But with a new car, they will not help.

I had the Bosch Platinum +4 in my Trans Am for a while...the car hated them, and they fouled out. Put Delco Rapidfires in there, and the car ran better than ever. YMMV, of course, but lots of people have had problems with the platinum +4s.

K&N does flow a bit better, but doesn't filter quite as well as a cheapy paper filter, and particles in engine = not good. Not worth the hassle of remembering to take it out, clean and re-oil it, and replace it IMO. I used to run those, now I just run paper filters and toss em when they get dirty.

Synthetic oil is good, but 5x the price of regular dino oil. In that car, honestly, it won't make a difference as long as you change it regularly. You can go farther between changes with synth, and (from personal experience) it makes things run a bit cooler, but if I were you I would just stick with regular oil and make sure it's changed on time.

The main reason I prefer synthetic oil is because it flows MUCH better in the winter here in NY. If you live in a more mild climate, it isnt as big of a deal.

LOL we live in az...so that waht i was thinking. you know the tC is pretty snappy for a little four banger. the altima has 175 hp but doesnt seem to have the power band that the tC engine as she doesnt have to push the pedal through the floor to get on the free way like she did with the alitima.

so in arizona you think the synthetic...she really wants this car to last and so do I as I am fed up with american vehicles and so is she. The scion being made by toyota with the camery engine we are hopeing that it will out live 75k...i think ford have a thing where they have to drop the tranny at 75k heh my nissan i had i drove for 300k then the water pump went out and it went to hell....lol

You can leave synthetic oil in for twice as long as you'd leave dino oil in, but it costs about 2-4x as much, depending where you go. But provides better protection overall, and you can save half the trips to the lube shop. I'd go for it.

Either way, itll last a hell of a lot longer than 75k on either oil.

 

[thomsbrain]

supercharger or nothing.

personally i'd take the $19K+ you're spending on a supercharged tC, add a bit more $, and get a real sports econobox like the Civic Si or Mazdaspeed 3.

 

[zikronix]

she looked at the mazda 3 and the civic but she just liked the feel of the tc. My goal was to keep the good gasmiliage and giver her just a hair more horse power. She doesnt have the supercharger I just know its availaible. for 3k which we wont be buying.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
supercharger or nothing.

personally i'd take the $19K+ you're spending on a supercharged tC, add a bit more $, and get a real sports econobox like the Civic Si or Mazdaspeed 3.

I wouldn't call a Civic Si a "sports econobox."