North American Turbocoupe Organization



Idled for 4 hours + Top Window Trim
JO346820 Offline
Member
#1
Hey all,

Just curious...I idled for 4 hours today, I've heard that idling can be the roughest thing on a car. Whats the deal with that? This Ol' Bird drove better after the idling then before! (:

Oh yes...and secondly...on the passenger side of the front windshield, the black trim above the windshield has pretty much speckled and turned white for a 2 foot swath. I've seen other TCs with this, any suggestions on how to fix it without it looking like a POS?

Thanks guys!
-Joe
127k miles in January when I bought it for $200. 138k now. A few mods for more power in the planning. (:
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tylerport Offline
Senior Member
#2
An idling engine generally has low oil pressure. Low pressure means not as much oil will get up to the top of the engine, where the cam is. I think there is something about the oil not getting as hot, too. I know that if you do alot of short trips and idling the oil will tend to thin out. The level may check OK, but then if you take a longer trip, the oil will get good and hot and burn off some impurities (like gasoline from piston blowby). When you check the oil after such a trip, the level will be lower. It didn't burn or use oil, it basicly cleansed itself.

Check with your local parts store for interior trim paint. Most likely they will have to order it for you in the color you need. Trim paint is differant than exterior paint. It has a flex agent in it which allows the paint to stretch with the plastic trim.

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Jim Portteus
NATO Member
86 Turbo Coupe, LA3 w/ Intercooler and Larger VAM, Gillis Valve, 2 1/2" Downpipe to 2" Duals w/ 18" Glasspacks, 245/50R16's, 140MPH Speedo and new paint.
Jim Portteus
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#3
Lots of that "its bad to idle for long periods" comes from the old days of carbs and mechanical cooling fans. Carbs will tend to be set to run on the rich side at idle, and dont atomize the gas well at low venturi velocities, both of which lead to crudding up or fouling plugs, gas getting into the crankcase, and diluting the oil, etc. Also, extended idling in hot weather in the old mechanically driven fan days often lead to overheating. BTDT.

With a EFI system running closed loop at idle, the motor gets the correct A/F ratio, and the electric fan switching on and off keeps the motor from overheating.

Oil press is lower at idle, but load on the engine is also at its lowest, so I dont really see a big problem there.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 02 Taurus Vulcan(wifes car)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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philS Offline
Senior Member
#4
My dual-carbed Mini, if left to idle for more than a few minutes (without keeping the revs up) will start to foul the plugs. Plus it has a hot cam so it doen't like to idle in the first place.

But on the EFI Bird it's a different story. As long as your fan(s) work properly, you should be fine. When you're idling you're not getting as much circulation from the water pump, and not as much charging from the alternator. 4 hours is a bit much, though. Did you get stuck in traffic?

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86 TC 3" Exhaust w/ Cat, 17 psi, 1.5" lower, Vovlo intercooler, Saab 900 cooling system
73 Austin Mini 1275
Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

86 TC, 73 Mini, 64 Mini Van, Saturn wagon
Click here to beat a ricer.
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JO346820 Offline
Member
#5
Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies, very informative. I have a brand new 3 core radiator and thermostat. Even at idle the thing stays well below the half way mark on the temperature gauge. Of course, we all know that means nothing on these cars (:
The reason it was idling is because I was in there with a girl. I had the car off for 30 minutes but the radio on, it nearly drained the battery...but it started right up after some slow cranking. By the way, center consoles...not so fun in that situation, however, Power Seats are a definite plus (:

As for the trim I was talking about. It's exterior above the windshield on the passenger side. I wouldn't mind painting it, but it's highly visible so I want it to look good. And I want it to match, so I would probably have to paint it all the way around? Since the rest is faded with time.

Thanks guys!

-Joe
127k miles in January when I bought it for $200. 138k now. A few mods for more power in the planning. (:
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Hybridbird Offline
Posting Freak
#6
WHOA!!!!!!!!4 hours in the car with a chick??That poor center console......sounds like the little extra wear that did occur was definitely worth it! [Image: wink.gif] [Image: biggrin.gif]

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Too much fun, what's that mean?That's like too much boost,there's no such thing.
"Finch....get the f*ck away from that Ficus......that's a jizz-free Ficus!"
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segfaultxr7 Offline
Posting Freak
#7
Quote:Originally posted by Jeff K:
Also, extended idling in hot weather in the old mechanically driven fan days often lead to overheating. BTDT.

My 93 Cougar had a clutch fan. It always ran its coolest when I'd sit in Washington DC traffic for 2+ hours at a time. Even in the summer with the a/c on, it would dip into the cold range from the fan constantly blowing on the radiator. I like that more than the electric fan making the temp constantly swing back and forth between 180 and 210.

Then again that damn Cougar popped a head gasket at 65k miles and the TC is just getting broken in at 100k. [Image: smile.gif]
88 TC 5-speed
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