to drive 20 hours (about 1300 miles) on a trip to another state?

It's a 1995 model (V6 cuz I can't handle pwr), and has about 156k miles.

I know it leaks coolant, so I'll stock up on antifreeze and get 1-2 oil things.

But, please let me know what I can do to make this trip safe and reliable.

4/21/2006 3:23:34 PM

a can of gas and matches

4/21/2006 3:24:27 PM

look man

I am looking for serious helpful replies.

If you wanna be a douchebag fratboy, please IM me at "esgargs"

4/21/2006 3:25:14 PM

We all hate him, but if his question seems legit

then don't turn the thread into a flame war

that happens enough in chit chat

4/21/2006 3:29:47 PM

um have u been keeping up on maintenance if so you're fine. if not change ur oil, plugs, air filter to help out gas mileage, check ur tire condition, are ur tires balanced, does ur car have any exhaust leaks that can put you to sleep while driving it.

blah blah make sure ur rear diff is full. it hsould amke the trip if not oh well!

4/21/2006 3:30:01 PM

Thanks for the reply, toyota

I have been getting regular oil changes. Air filter was replaced last week. Gas mileage sucks as is (20 highway), tires have nice tread although the sides are faintly beginning to wear out. I reckon there is an exhaust leak but the last time I got it checked none of it was leaking into the interior of the car.

The differential is full.

4/21/2006 3:32:13 PM

when i go on long trips I wash the car up nice and vac out the inside. Just makes for a nicer ride. Also I always clean the windsheild!

CONFIRM YOUR SPARE HAS ENOUGH AIR!!!!!!!!

4/21/2006 3:44:43 PM

I have AAA regular membership, which I am thinking of upgrading to Plus.

Also, is it ok to drive on somewhat old brake pads?

4/21/2006 3:46:24 PM

the brake pads are fine, unless they are actually worn out (or close enough that they will be by the time you finish the trip).

if they're half or 2/3 worn or whatever, that's perfectly fine.

4/21/2006 4:18:05 PM

How do I check the wear?

All I know is that the rear pads sometimes make a grinding noise when it's wet/raining.

4/21/2006 4:20:47 PM

does it have disc or drum brakes in the rear?

(disc brakes look like the ones in the front, drums look, well, different. don't know how to describe it)

4/21/2006 4:35:13 PM

Your ride only gets 20 on the highway? I can get about 21-22 in my V8 jeep doing 75-80. I averaged 26mpg coming back from the Charlotte area on 49/64 last weekend.

4/21/2006 4:49:28 PM

thats pretty bad gas mileage there.. i get close to 30 in my v-6 firebird... on the highway that is.

4/21/2006 4:55:57 PM

yeah that gas mileage is horrible. on long trips in my celica i always leave the windows at least cracked, i may have an exhaust leak that i dont know about. if the tires are wearing out on the sides, either your car is out of alignment or ur tires are over inflated.

about 20mpg on the highway.. that is horrible do you leave it in 4th gear or something?

and rear brakes, who need sthem. i usually check my break wear on the celica when i take the tires off to rotate them, look at the rotor where the caliper meets it. you'll see your break pad in there. u get the idea.

is this car a manual? is that the original clutch? does it slip, i wouldnt want to take a slipping clutch on a long trip.

4/21/2006 4:59:49 PM

Quote :

"if the tires are wearing out on the sides, either your car is out of alignment or ur tires are over inflated."

under inflated

4/21/2006 5:05:59 PM

^ yep, underinflated

which will also hurt gas mileage

4/21/2006 5:14:46 PM

yeah, hell, i've gotten 20 mpg around town out of a 4cyl Jeep Wrangler on 31" tires (although it wouldn't get anywhere NEAR that on the highway)

i get like 23-24 mpg around town in my S2000, even with the supercharger and 225 front/255 rear tires...and 25-26 on the highway.

4/21/2006 5:32:17 PM

Check the inflation on your tires, definitely. If you're concerned about your brake pads, you can usually take it somewhere and get them checked out for a small fee. Hell, somebody on here might do it for a 6-pack.

That gas mileage doesn't seem right to me either, but except for the extra fuel it might cost you on the trip, shouldn't be directly related. After 156K and 11 years, I wouldn't expect a Ford 3.8 to be in tip-top shape anyway.

4/21/2006 5:55:29 PM

oops hahaha

4/21/2006 5:59:20 PM

^^I would damn near expect it to be better than that, though. Wonder what kind of condition the O2 sensor is in.

20 is horrendous unless you're stuck in second gear. Being that it is a Ford automatic, I don't find that to be out of the question... Their reputation precedes them.

4/21/2006 7:00:10 PM

Well, to be honest, I never cared to precisely measure the gas mileage, but I am sure I get less than 20 in the city. ON a refill of 10 gallons, the car goes about 200 miles before it needs to be filled again. But then, gas mileage is the least of my concerns. I knew about it before I bought the car. I think the 1995 model was factory rated to give 17 city and 23 highway.

I am sure underinflation is the cause of the tire conditions as I get air checked only once every 3,000 miles. I have no idea about the o2 sensor. The front and rear brakes are disc brakes, and I suspect the rear ones to be somewhat worn out because occassionally the hand brake doesn't do its job on inclines.

The car is a manual, and I think there's no problems with the clutch. I do not know if it's the original clutch, but I have put more than 10k miles on it since I bought it in September. IMO, it doesn't slip.

Any more advice? I have never worked on a car, so if you people think there's something I need to get checked for sure for such a long trip, I'll get it done.

Thanks

4/21/2006 8:45:46 PM

if your tires are substantially underinflated that could be 5mpg right there

4/21/2006 9:34:52 PM

holy crap, you don't know ANYTHING about the mechanics of ANY automobile, period. lol

your parking brake not holding your car on an incline has very little to do with your pads being bad or not. Also, considering that your car has rear drums, pads have nothing to do with it. If your parking brake isn't holding it, how about you get your parking brake cable tightened?

I'm just sitting here wondering why the fuck you bought this car? That being one with shitty quality, performance, AND bad gas mileage.

WELL DONE

4/21/2006 10:46:51 PM

it has a rear drum?

what abt the grinding?

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 10:49 PM. Reason : .]

4/21/2006 10:47:55 PM

You really should check your tire inflation more often than at every oil change. $2 tire pressure gauge, $.50 to use the air at most gas stations, 5 minutes. I'd do it at *least* once a month.

4/21/2006 11:17:44 PM

I get 20mpg in my 32V cobra, and I bang the hell outta it every light or sign. and I DO leave it in 4th.

4/21/2006 11:24:37 PM

^^^It has disc as all 94+ stangs have rear disc.

[Edited on April 21, 2006 at 11:26 PM. Reason : /]

4/21/2006 11:25:42 PM

man, i feel sorry for you

i have pretty much the same damn car only a '96 (didn't buy it, just wrecked my '85 toyota truck and have been very sorry about it ever since)....anyways, mine is well over 100k and i try not to take her on long road trips anymore...if you do have to take her on the trip i would suggest:

1) coolant (definitely need this)
2) tire wear (damn mustangs of this model can fuck up some tires)...get them balanced and/or replaced
3) brakes
4) oil (possibly changing the filter)
5) anything else your trustworthy mechanic can suggest that doesn't cost over $100

4/22/2006 1:26:46 AM

keep em coming

4/22/2006 3:57:01 PM

what? I have a 1994, with the 5.0, and I get better than that on the highway, Ive gotten a best of 24mpg on the highway. Im not sure why you would get that bad of gas mileage.

4/22/2006 4:50:15 PM

slow and only 24 mpg? that sucks

4/22/2006 5:02:02 PM

I can't handle more than 95 mph

so I like it slow.

But keep the valuable comments rolling.

4/22/2006 5:02:53 PM

alright, scottyc, so my car is not as fast as your bimmer, which you paid a shitload of money for, and then spent even more money on overpriced parts to make it faster. If I was as big a douche as you are, and had as much money as you to throw away into my car, with the cost effectiveness of modifying a mustang, especially a 5.0, I would smoke you all day long.

So quit being a fucking toolbag and bragging about your overpriced car that will make you (or your parents) bankrupt one day. You sir, are a douche.

4/22/2006 9:32:54 PM

This is dumb as shit. You are all faggots. Who cares how big yer car-penis is?

4/22/2006 9:40:03 PM

I wonder how great a $15k Bimmer would perform.

4/22/2006 10:20:01 PM

haha you are funny, i bet you paid more for ur rustang than i did my bmw. Learn a little and shut the fuck up.

4/23/2006 2:59:32 AM

Dude, just shut the fuck up

no one wants to hear your rambling.


JUST


SHUT

THE FUCK UP

and CLOSE YOUR CUNT

4/23/2006 4:08:27 AM

I will bet I did not, Im not afraid to admit, I payed less than $7000 for my mustang. Im pretty sure you payed a lot more than that for your precious BMW.

[Edited on April 23, 2006 at 12:10 PM. Reason : .]

4/23/2006 12:10:04 PM

you still don't get it

4/23/2006 3:12:22 PM

your right, I dont get why you keep trying to insult me and my car all the time, after that last round, I was ready to let it go, I stated that your car looks nice, and is probably well done, but it was just you that was a tool, and I let it go at that, I was not going around rebel rousing and bullshit, and I made a simple comment about the 6-banger, and it degrades to you making some smart ass comment about my car. Seriously, I've heard your same moot bragging points multiple times over, and I dont care. Like I said, I was willing to let it go and admit your car is nice despite being overrated, and you are a douche so why dont you agree to the same kind of deal; you think my car is shit, and Im a douche. I really dont care what you think, so stop being a bitch all the time and shut your mouth, and I will too

4/23/2006 5:24:44 PM

Dude, just shut the fuck up

no one wants to hear your rambling.


JUST


SHUT

THE FUCK UP

and CLOSE YOUR CUNT

4/23/2006 6:47:54 PM

or we could just lock this thread and inform you to just get an airplane ticket. If you need to drive 1300 miles, thats about 65+ gallons of gas if you got 20 or less mpg. With gas prices around 2.90, thats about 188.5 bucks one way. Round trip would cost you 377 in just gas.

4/23/2006 7:01:13 PM

since when did the Garage become a financial advisor suburb?

Dude, just shut the fuck up

no one wants to hear your rambling.


JUST


SHUT

THE FUCK UP

and CLOSE YOUR CUNT

4/23/2006 7:01:40 PM

see this is why he was suspended

what the fuck $leg

4/23/2006 7:05:21 PM

just trying to help. is it worth it to you to drive that unreliable car 1300 miles one way with the uncertainty of it crapping out on you? I mean if you need to drive that far, there are other ways to get there.

4/23/2006 7:05:53 PM

I didn't ask for a decision.

Can't your bitch ass read the first post?

4/23/2006 7:08:13 PM

whatever, its up to you

Has the belt been changed recently? what about water pump? Just keep a set of wrenches, flashlight, batteries, drinking water, and jumper cables just in case.

4/23/2006 7:14:11 PM

haven't changed any of that lately, but I am planning to get a comprehensive checkup done on Monday.

Money isn't an issue here.

So please keep up with the helpful posts.

4/23/2006 7:21:57 PM

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ben94GT your car is still SLOW

4/23/2006 7:22:05 PM

I know my car is slow, thats alright, Im sure yours is not that fast either; however im pretty sure I could take out the ragged-assed old bmw in your photo gallery. Unfortunatley for you, A red bmw with a bunch of money wasted into it will not compensate for your undersized penis. With that being said, Elementary school is over scottyc, time to grow up kid; nobody likes an arrogant shit talking douche. Leave it alone.

4/23/2006 8:27:07 PM