nanadog

I use Amsoil 12mo/ 25,000 and it works great. I usually am closer to 16k after 12mo. Good luck!

I just tried the cleaner from Wal-Mart ($20) - it comes in foil packet- not to impressive but this stuff works. I've tried Meguiers, polishing compound, buffers, all kinds of chemicals and I am impressed with this stuff!

Out of curiosity... did the car wash offer to repair or pay?

It might've been me with the fuel pressure regulator replacement. It was an easy fix worth a shot, before tackling the filter & pump.

How does the engine perform while your driving? Hesitation or smooth? I'd be inclined to think its the fuel filter or bad/ clogged fuel pump... Good luck!

FYI... this is a simple job.

If your car is hard to start, but once it does runs fine the fuel pressure regulator might be your culprit. (Amongst other things) It helps hold fuel pressure in the line when the engine isn't running.

It cost about $100 at O Riellys (dealer $146), and takes about 5 minutes to install. It's located at the top of the engine and you don't have to remove anything to get to it. Two bolts hold it on. There is a fuel line and vacuum line attatched to it. My regulator had the vacuum connection orientated at a different angle so I needed about a 4" vacuum line cause the original was too short.

Anyone have any experience replacing one of these? The car runs great, just hard to start...

Is this a "simple" job? i hope... B)

Octane boosting will help only by controlling any pre-ignition (ie; "pinging") problems. If you don't have any "pinging" then octane booster won't help. Do you have a lot of miles?

There isn't any regulatory guidance on octane boosters, so they can "test" their product how they want. For example some boast a 2% increase in octane...but that is only 2% over what you've got in there. eg; You buy gas with an octane of 70, that booster would bring it up to 71.4 (70 x 2%)...

If you do have pinging and the booster does help, you probably have some "build -up" in the compression chamber (I'm assuming youve done the tune-ups, good air filters, etc..) that's decreased the compression chamber size thus causing the temperature to rise just enough to cause your pre-ignition...

I have a 1996 ES300 and I just had the valve seals replaced because it would smoke when it started-especially when it was parked on a hill. The problem is it is still smoking although not as much. My mechanic said that he didn't know what else could be causing this. Any ideas?

what color is the smoke? how long does the smoke last?