Engine was running horrible, but not any more... hopefully.

[marmotan]

wow, you must feel so relieved and excited to be driving a 'like new' truck! thanks for the great post - i didn't even know such a service existed. i'm sure there are a few mechanics out there who would push you straight towards the rebuild ($$!) rather than this inexpensive fix. just goes to show you how much of a beating these engines can take, and once you give them some love they are right back to factory condition. happy driving!

 

[brian2sun]

Thanks for the comments guys! I just went out and started it this morning and NO MISS!

Great post! I appreciate the long write-up. I've got 240,000 on my truck and thinking this Motorvac could be a great way to say 'thanks' to my engine. It's really only $250 for the cleaning?

They told me it was going to be about $200 + chemicals, but then I got the bill and it was $167 total! I think the tech knocked off an hour of labor because he was cool. But, yeah it shouldn't be more than $250.

It seems a lot of people are already planning on doing the same thing to their engines. It seems like you are very thorough with maintenance and repairs so I wonder how your engine got to that condition in the first place. You are not the original owner right?

I bought it with 90K on it back in '01 and have been very good with my maintenance since then (the last 102K), but who knows what happened during the first 90K/4 years. No records were available when I bought it (used car dealer).

wow, you must feel so relieved and excited to be driving a 'like new' truck! thanks for the great post - i didn't even know such a service existed. i'm sure there are a few mechanics out there who would push you straight towards the rebuild ($$!) rather than this inexpensive fix. just goes to show you how much of a beating these engines can take, and once you give them some love they are right back to factory condition. happy driving!

Thanks, yes I'm very relieved! I'm glad I got an honest tech because, yeah he could have just told me I need a rebuild and left it at that!

I had contacted URD and one other performance company recommended on here alot and both recommended the MotorVac process and stated great MPG and power improvements on higher mileage vehicles. Claim is that it brings it to near factory new clean and performs that way. Glad it seems to be working well for you.

Glad to hear URD recommends it!

 

[brian2sun]

So, before the cleaning I averaged 10.1 mpgs (I know that's just ridiculous). I went to the SoCal meet today (which was a lot of fun to hang out and check out everyone's rides) and i filled up my gas tank before I left, drove 145.6 miles round trip and topped it off when I got back in town.

I put 8.92 gallons back in it to fill it up so...
145.6 miles divided by 8.92 gallons = 16.32 mpgs after the engine cleaning!!! And that's with 33s, 4.88 gears, and an uncalibrated speedometer so my mpgs are even better than that (I figure my speedo is probably 5-10% off)! I guess the proof is in the pudding, the cleaning definitely worked! The $$ I spent on the cleaning should pay for itself in saved fuel within about 10 tanks of gas!

 

[hulk311]

MotorVac Redux...

Ok so to get this straight you had a misfire on one of your cylinders, your motorvaced it and now there is no more misfire? I have had a misfire on cylinder 2 po302 for over two months. I changed plugs and wires (100% of the people on the forums always say to do this first but 100% of the time it doesn't fix it).

Will motorvacuing the engine really solve the problem? Here is a list of available shops that have the service.

MotorVac Redux.... - Impala SS Forum

 

[brian2sun]

Ok so to get this straight you had a misfire on one of your cylinders, your motorvaced it and now there is no more misfire? I have had a misfire on cylinder 2 po302 for over two months. I changed plugs and wires (100% of the people on the forums always say to do this first but 100% of the time it doesn't fix it).

Will motorvacuing the engine really solve the problem? Here is a list of available shops that have the service.

MotorVac Redux.... - Impala SS Forum

Well, it seems to have totally fixed mine. It's been 4 days now and it starts right up, no stumbling, more power, much smoother idle, and way better gas mileage. I will be doing this every year or 2 from now on just for good measure. Before you think it's injectors or valvles, make sure it's not the coil packs (by swapping them and seeing if the miss moves to another cyl). I would also test the #2 injector.

 

[hulk311]

If I do the motorvac service should I still seafoam it or no?

 

[brian2sun]

If I do the motorvac service should I still seafoam it or no?

Seafoam, like rtgt4r said, is a "diet" version of an engine cleaning compared to the motorvac. It won't hurt, but the motorvac is much more thorough so I say don't bother and save the $10.

 

[Ham Sammich]

Very helpful!

Thanks!

 

[hulk311]

Does the motorvac service clean the oil as well or would I still need to seafoam the oil?

 

[brian2sun]

Does the motorvac service clean the oil as well or would I still need to seafoam the oil?

I don't think so. In fact, the tech told me he put a little seafoam in my oil when he did the motorvac service. If you put seafoam in there, don't be surprised if your oil is really dirty compared to normal when you go to change it - that just means the seafoam worked and that's all the grime it broke free.

 

[spongerx]

Great thread. Thanks.

 

[oriojasjr]

Much oblige!

I just wanted to say thanks a million for the posting as I just started a search this moring regarding the hesitation my truck has been having. I'm at 178k on a 98 Limited, and just finished doing a tune-up about 6 months ago after being diagnosed with the pesty cyl 3 misfire. The plan was to put her in the shop anyhow for the timing as its that time for an update anyhow, but I knew this wasn't the root of the hesitation.

I noticed it only a few weeks ago when trying to accelerate on an uphill highway- my truck started "puttering" like the little engine that COULDN'T- while trying to pass a slow-poke Hummer. >= |~ Anyhow, since then, I've taken a strong notice to some loss of power and more occasional stuttering. I've never seafoamed the truck as too much controversy on the benefits, but I will definitely be taking it in for this service. I just need to find 1) a shop in Houston that has that MotorVac, and 2) hope that the shop is a trustworthy reliable shop!

Wish me luck and I will certainly report any updates as I go. Thanks again!

 

[Duhockey]

I just wanted to say thanks a million for the posting as I just started a search this moring regarding the hesitation my truck has been having. I'm at 178k on a 98 Limited, and just finished doing a tune-up about 6 months ago after being diagnosed with the pesty cyl 3 misfire. The plan was to put her in the shop anyhow for the timing as its that time for an update anyhow, but I knew this wasn't the root of the hesitation.

I noticed it only a few weeks ago when trying to accelerate on an uphill highway- my truck started "puttering" like the little engine that COULDN'T- while trying to pass a slow-poke Hummer. >= |~ Anyhow, since then, I've taken a strong notice to some loss of power and more occasional stuttering. I've never seafoamed the truck as too much controversy on the benefits, but I will definitely be taking it in for this service. I just need to find 1) a shop in Houston that has that MotorVac, and 2) hope that the shop is a trustworthy reliable shop!

Wish me luck and I will certainly report any updates as I go. Thanks again!

these are the only 2 listed on the website in Texas, but Im pretty sure this is not a complete list

MotorVac Flush Service in Texas TX


for the rest of the states,

MotorVac Service Center Referral Service List. Where Can I Find a MotorVac Flush Service Center Near Me?  Sign Up to List Your Shop!

 

[FoneRunner]

Two in Texas? Only one in Georgia...thankfully its in the Atlanta area...why isnt this more popular? Seems like lots of people would be doing it if they had more availability!

 

[Duhockey]

Two in Texas? Only one in Georgia...thankfully its in the Atlanta area...why isnt this more popular? Seems like lots of people would be doing it if they had more availability!

Well those are only the shops that signed up to be on that list, I would call around a bit and see who has comparable services

Im sure that even the dealerships have their way of doing comparable service.

 

[brian2sun]

I just wanted to say thanks a million for the posting as I just started a search this moring regarding the hesitation my truck has been having. I'm at 178k on a 98 Limited, and just finished doing a tune-up about 6 months ago after being diagnosed with the pesty cyl 3 misfire. The plan was to put her in the shop anyhow for the timing as its that time for an update anyhow, but I knew this wasn't the root of the hesitation.

I noticed it only a few weeks ago when trying to accelerate on an uphill highway- my truck started "puttering" like the little engine that COULDN'T- while trying to pass a slow-poke Hummer. >= |~ Anyhow, since then, I've taken a strong notice to some loss of power and more occasional stuttering. I've never seafoamed the truck as too much controversy on the benefits, but I will definitely be taking it in for this service. I just need to find 1) a shop in Houston that has that MotorVac, and 2) hope that the shop is a trustworthy reliable shop!

Wish me luck and I will certainly report any updates as I go. Thanks again!

oriojasjr, you're making a wise decision. Get ready to get your mpgs and power back. Mine is still getting considerably good gas mileage all things considered (my tires, lift and gears). I'm still averaging 16 (up from about 10). Hopefully it will take care of your hesitation and your miss on #3 too, but that depends on what's causing it (whether it's fuel, valve, or ignition related).

It still could be a timing issue so I would definitely recommend getting that belt changed and doing the water pump and idler pulleys at the same time. Keep an eye on your coolant's appearance and level as well as the engine oil to rule out a head gasket (I say this is the least likely possibility). Good luck!

Two in Texas? Only one in Georgia...thankfully its in the Atlanta area...why isnt this more popular? Seems like lots of people would be doing it if they had more availability!

I think it's a fairly new technology so it hasn't made it into a lot of shops as standard equipment yet and it's also a pricey machine in a bad economy. I think you'll see more popping up though.

MotorVac is the brand I used, but there are other companies making the same type of machines (which the proper name for is an engine induction cleaning machine). Like Duhockey said, the dealerships may have they're own kind too.

 

[Duhockey]

Maybe LINY can chime in here,

but when I was with Lexus of Sacramento as a junior mechanic when I was 19, my boss and all the tecs swore by this stuff

BG Company

I have put it in all my cars with great results and they do have an inject a flush system... maybe worth trying out over the other system

 

[bigtimeweb]

I just wanted to say thanks a million for the posting as I just started a search this moring regarding the hesitation my truck has been having. I'm at 178k on a 98 Limited, and just finished doing a tune-up about 6 months ago after being diagnosed with the pesty cyl 3 misfire. The plan was to put her in the shop anyhow for the timing as its that time for an update anyhow, but I knew this wasn't the root of the hesitation.

I noticed it only a few weeks ago when trying to accelerate on an uphill highway- my truck started "puttering" like the little engine that COULDN'T- while trying to pass a slow-poke Hummer. >= |~ Anyhow, since then, I've taken a strong notice to some loss of power and more occasional stuttering. I've never seafoamed the truck as too much controversy on the benefits, but I will definitely be taking it in for this service. I just need to find 1) a shop in Houston that has that MotorVac, and 2) hope that the shop is a trustworthy reliable shop!

Wish me luck and I will certainly report any updates as I go. Thanks again!

oriojasjr


HERE is a big list from an impala forum from people reporting in on who they have used.

 

[juiceboxer]

My old High School has one of these machines, I'm going to have to give it a try! I wonder what all that carbon does to the cats, it can't be good...

 

[Headly]

Maybe LINY can chime in here,

but when I was with Lexus of Sacramento as a junior mechanic when I was 19, my boss and all the tecs swore by this stuff

BG Company

I have put it in all my cars with great results and they do have an inject a flush system... maybe worth trying out over the other system

BG is the co. my volvo mechanic said was the only one worth their weight fwiw