Pickup Loss

[sambo42xa]

Ok, I did a search for "loss of pickup" and found nothing. I got a 2007 with 51k on it and the only things that have been done to this animal have been new tires, air filter and oil filter changes.....that's it! Once I accelerate from a stop OR going to pass from changing lanes she doesn't have the "pickup" like she used to from new, naturally. I'm hoping I do not have to bring it to a shop since I like to do my own work. So, simple question that I'm sure has been asked on here before that there is a simple answer to but I cannot find it. I found "pickup", but it was for a guitar and marshall amp on here for sale. Any help would really be appreciated. Thnx.
sambo42xa
oh, three door liftback if that matters.

[Yaris Hilton]

I thought you were missing a truck...

[yaris-me]

Try Gumout, Regane or Chevron, Techron and clean out the fuel injectors. Tire pressure at 38 psi.

[eTiMaGo]

Seafoam Green is also highly recommended to de-gunk an engine...

[TheRealEnth]

Full Tune up, simple as that

[talnlnky]

I would be a bit surprised if you already have carbon buildup or fouled up injectors.... but who knows...

i'd check spark plugs, air filter, then do the seafoam, first in the vacuum tube (intake) and then in the gas tank, after that if the problem is still there I'd inspect the timing belt to make sure it's fine.... if there still is no improvement, it might be something stupid like a dirty Mass Airflow Sensor.

[RedRide]

I agree that your injectors might need cleaninmg as this is a common problem.

My favorinte injector/fuel sys cleaner is "Seafoam" engine treatment. I add a can to my tank about every 5-6k miles or so and it keeps everything clean. The cheapest place to get it is probably at WalMart.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/

Don't depend on the cleaners already in the gas to keep the injectors clean as the gas companys only put the bare legal minimum in it.

BTW Marshall amps are first rate. :smile:

[supmet]

seafoam at 51k? Are you guys smoking crack?

The yaris has no timing belt, its on a chain that is maintenance free.

A "full tune up" on a yaris is also known as "changing the spark plugs" - but one costs 200 and one costs 30 bucks.

How about we check filters, fluids, plugs before we possibly destroy vacuum lines and seize up a brand new engine. For all you guys know he could just be a hypermiler that doesn't realize his ECU is slowing him down because of his driving habits.

Sambo, I promise if you stick around there is lots of worthwhile stuff on this forum, and its not just a big seafoam infomercial. Usually people try to help diagnose things before they blurt out random answers that might help.

[auxmike]

Timing belt? :bonk:
Be careful where you get advice from. The internet is a dangerous place........

[RedRide]

seafoam at 51k? Are you guys smoking crack?

The yaris has no timing belt, its on a chain that is maintenance free.

A "full tune up" on a yaris is also known as "changing the spark plugs" - but one costs 200 and one costs 30 bucks.

How about we check filters, fluids, plugs before we possibly destroy vacuum lines and seize up a brand new engine. For all you guys know he could just be a hypermiler that doesn't realize his ECU is slowing him down because of his driving habits.

Sambo, I promise if you stick around there is lots of worthwhile stuff on this forum, and its not just a big seafoam infomercial. Usually people try to help diagnose things before they blurt out random answers that might help.

Yes! Seafoam at 51k miles. Why not?
If nothing else, make sure your injectors are clean before doing more involved things. Shure filters,etc might need changing,etc. However, that injectors are dirty afrter 51k miles and no cleaner hae been added is just about a given.


Also, Seafaom added to a gas tank will not "destroy" any engine components. Why do youn say this???

Random answers?

[sambo42xa]

I'll start with the injectors since it was stated, "this is a common problem", which is kind of the answer I was looking for. All Other replies, thank you.

[Yaris Hilton]

I think it's pretty low mileage for an oxygen sensor problem, but they can slowly deteriorate causing reduced fuel mileage and power loss before they fail and set a check engine light.

[sambo42xa]

I checked out the Seafoam links and I'm not really sure I want to put that stuff in my system.
Is this what some Mechanics use when cleaning Injecter's at the Dealer's/Shop's?
The Regane and Others that you would pour into your tank seems like you would have to do this on a continueing basis Everytime filling up with fuel. Being a dummy over here asking the dumb question's etc., I thought there would be something out there that you just pour into the tank and your good to go for another X amount of more miles (instead of a bottle each time at fill up...unless, by doing this, this cleans the system over a period of time?). Honestly, I think this could be the issue, dirty injecter's. And, as Other have said on here, "it's a start".

[Reddog99]

If the problem didn't exist BEFORE you did the maintenance, and it does now, then the problem isn't injectors or spark plugs. It's something to do with what you have just done.

TIRES: Did you install bigger tires? If, so, then that's the cause. A taller tire effectively changes your gearing and will reduce acceleration. Either live with it, or install tires that are the same height as stock. Or install shorter tires, which will increase acceleration.

AIR CLEANER: Did you use a stock (Toyota brand) air cleaner? If not, then this could be the cause of the problem. A cheap replacement filter could be restricting the air flow. Or if you used an aftermarket oiled filter, there might be too much oil on it (thus restricting flow).

OTHER STUFF: Examine the engine compartment for loose wires or hoses that you might have disturbed while doing your maintenance.

[supmet]

I checked out the Seafoam links and I'm not really sure I want to put that stuff in my system.


That's where I'm at. It probably helps some engines, but I have more miles on my engine then you, and I can guarantee I'm not gunked up yet. Even if there weren't horror stories about it on the internet, I still couldn't recommend sea foaming an engine at 50k miles. There is something else going on if you are noticing power loss. Like others have said, there are a lot of things you need to diagnose or check before you start pouring random cleaners in your more than likely perfectly functioning engine.

Check your air filter, tire pressure, and wires as reddog said. Also check every hose and tube under the hood for cracks and leaks. Check your belts and spark plugs.

But really, you need to give more information before you take anybody's advice. "Loss of power" could be about a million different things.

[RedRide]

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

All the so-called "horror stories" aboput Seafoam soley concern putting Seafoam in the oil, sucking it up thorough vacumn lines etc, by people who really do not know what they are doing.

There are absoluly no problems connected to Seafoam when putinng it into the gas tank, only benefits.
It's simple, just pour it into the gas tank. It's fool proof.

Keeping injectors clean should be a part of routine maintenance and whether you use Seafoam or some other sort of qualty injector/ fuels sys cleaner, just do it and stay clear of all the mis information.
The cleaners in gas are totally inadiquate for the long haul and some suplimental cleaner must be added on ocasions.

[sambo42xa]

Tires and air filter are fine (correct specs). Loss of Power meaning because, your car is in need for a Tune-Up OR dirty Injector's need attention. Apologies on my end. I should have tried to be a little more specific. I took the advice of checking hoses; lines; etc and from what I can see there is nothing that gives any indication to the problem the car is having. Like I said before from reading Other replies on here, sounds more like a tune-up OR dirty Injector/s issue. The car has never been to the Dealer/Shop since day one when I bought it. In the mean time, I MAY try out the Seafoam and use it ONLY in the fuel tank for now before I actually do a tune-up on her, or probably just do the tune-up first.
Again, thnx for ALL the replies and I'll keep you posted.

[RedRide]

BTW, have you guys heard of the "nitrogen enriched" gas from Shell?
This is a bit of a scam.

Most fuels sys cleaners contain a class of chemicles call "amines" among other things
One of the properties of amines is that they have "free" nitrogen atoms.

So, the shell gas is simply nothing different than any other gas and "nitrogen enriched" is just a marketing gimmick

[R2D2]

But amines are the cat's behind when it comes to keeping your valves clean and Shell regular contains twice the minimum required by law (it's a top tier gasoline). I've talked to some industry insiders and use Shell if at all possible-my Yaris has had nothing but Shell since the dealer tank.

R2

[RedRide]

Are you absolutly shure that Shell contains twice the legal minimum?
Since all gas additives are added to gas a the distrubution point , what and how much is added is open to variation. We all know how oil companys pretty much do what they want.

As far as the legal minimum, it's a joke to begin with anyway and twice that might still not be enough. :smile:

[R2D2]

I agree with the twice not necessarily being enough and I run fuel additive in all my gasoline right down to my lawnmower and snowblower. The additive also helps with phase seperation issues associated with ethanol fuels.

However I do not think a steady diet of the cheapest gas out there without some sort of chemical intervention is the best deal long term-eventually the deposits will start to cost more than is saved.

As I stated above I have reason to believe the Shell is as good as it gets. Everyone I have recommended it to has reported good results with consistent use-unscientific for sure but interesting none the less.

In summary I guess I'm of the opinion that even consistent Top Tier use may not be enough by itself but is a good start at least. Also in my area the Shell does not appear to be any more expensive.
R2

[Yaris Hilton]

It's true, all the bad stuff I've seen about Seafoam is from folks who haven't used it and wouldn't, imagining all kinds of terrible things that they think COULD happen.

There are fuel system cleaning additives meant for regular use as you fill up, and some that are used for periodic maintenance. Some claim to clean injectors only, some claim to clean intake ports and valves as well, and some claim to also remove carbon in the combustion chambers. Those are the "Complete Fuel System Cleaners."

[1stToyota]

a dirty Mass Airflow Sensor.

That'd be my 1st guess.

[sambo42xa]

Where is this Mass Air Flow Sensor; and, is it something I can change out myself (yes, I am mechanically inclined and do my own work)??
This way I can at least check it out.
Thnx.

[Yaris Hilton]

It's not something to change, just to clean. There have been a good many notes online about that problem, especially when aftermarket air cleaners that use an oiled filter element are installed. Search the archives for MAF.

[supmet]

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

All the so-called "horror stories" aboput Seafoam soley concern putting Seafoam in the oil, sucking it up thorough vacumn lines etc, by people who really do not know what they are doing.

There are absoluly no problems connected to Seafoam when putinng it into the gas tank, only benefits.
It's simple, just pour it into the gas tank. It's fool proof.

Keeping injectors clean should be a part of routine maintenance and whether you use Seafoam or some other sort of qualty injector/ fuels sys cleaner, just do it and stay clear of all the mis information.
The cleaners in gas are totally inadiquate for the long haul and some suplimental cleaner must be added on ocasions.

http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=59631

you gotta be careful with those products. my buddy used engine flush one time and all the shit in his engine plugged his oil screen and blew his motor.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f197/seafoam-gas-tank-dont-do-836782/


Turns out the seafoam broke all the slidge loose in the tank and cloged the pickup screen on the pump so bad it could not suck any fuel through it.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1342313-rough-idle-after-using-seafoam-additive.html


With that in mind I decided to added the SeaFoam to the gas tank rather than directly to combustion chamber via the brake booster vacuum tube.

After adding the product the I drove the C280 about 30 miles. The car ran really well and had rock solid idling.The following day my wife was driving the C280 and after a short trip to the store,she parked the car. Upon returning to the C280 and starting it, she noticed immediately that the car was idling very roughly and the CEL light came on. Driving home on the highway at highway revs , the car had smooth acceleration and drove as it normally does. Only at idle was it rough. Tried to drain fuel from Benz but needed a longer tube to siphon the gas. Decided to just use up the fuel ( full tank ) and see if it will "correct" itself as was the case with the 99 'Explorer


I drove the car this morning, and expected a rough idle at startup. Surprisingly, the car idle like a watch , this AM and during my initial 47 mile commute to work performed as it always does ( plenty of power and smooth running ). Once again ,upon leaving the highway and entering the city and having to stop I noticed that the rough idle has returned. CEL light is still on

I'm thinking fouled plugs or a fouled O2 sensor due to the carbon or guck in the combustion chamber being removed. It's strange that this morining at start up ( and for a while afterwards ) it idled beautifully. Only after the commute and entering the city , where I'd have to stop for stoplights did it idle roughly . Weird.

gas tank fool proof what???

I don't really have anything against seafoam, just 3 people recommending it without knowing ANY symptoms besides loss of power, and NO attempt to diagnose or check anything else.




"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"

kind of like having extremely limited knowledge about dude's car and recommending seafoam - right?

[1stToyota]

Where is this Mass Air Flow Sensor; and, is it something I can change out myself (yes, I am mechanically inclined and do my own work)??
This way I can at least check it out.
Thnx.

http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages//261160.jpg

That's it, upside down. 1 connector, 2 screws. You saw it when you changed your air filter. Wire-blobby thang on right in photo is for air temp, MAF heated wires are visible down in the sensor. CRC MAF cleaner works great.