95 Chev Lumina 3.1L V6 / (sluggish)

[strombony]

Once the car warms up, when I step on the gas from a complete stop, the car doesn't hesitate, but what it seems to do is want to get up to speed very slowly. Does anyone know what may cause an enge to feel sluggish like this? It has 138k on it, and was tuned up 1.5 years ago. Oil changed every 3 monthes.

Or is this typical operation of this sort of engine?

 

[Turk]

Need more info, could be too many things.......

Is it the engine, or drivetrain holding it back, is it just recent or been doing it a long time?

 

[strombony]

seems recent, All I know is, from a complete stop, I step on the gas and the engine just doesnt have that "pep" wree the the front end would shift upward under a stronger acceleration...(front wheel drive)...once you get to 10, 15, 20 mph, the the acceleration feels perfectly normal....

Other than that...that is all I know...so it may not be a question that can be answered without diagnosis...???

 

[MrCritical]

How many miles on fuel filter?

 

[strombony]

It is due to be changed in about 4-5 thousand more miles...
I almost have 30k on the fuel filter.... why? Can a clogged fuel filter cause a veh to act this way?

 

[strombony]

Originally Posted By: strombony
It is due to be changed in about 4-5 thousand more miles...
I almost have 30k on the fuel filter.... why? Can a clogged fuel filter cause a veh to act this way?


ONe other thing, the tans fluid is clean (still red) but it to is due to be changed as I almost have 2 years on it.

 

[Turk]

Well, we don't know how many miles on the tune-up, so if the plugs could be due, I'd change them.

How many miles on the wires?

A change in gas? Where do you get it?

Air filter clogged?

How many miles on the Oxygen sensors?

How about a compression test - maybe she's wore out.

 

[Turk]

Could be too much ethanol in the gas too. Mine is sluggish with that craaap in it.

 

[strombony]

Just what I thought...could be a hundred different factors...off to the races.

 

[Tosh]

How is response at high speed without downshifting? If it seems to struggle, it could also indicate fuel filter. But no sense tracing a fault without being completely tuned up. How's the MPGs?

 

[Turk]

A lot of shotgun guessing going on.

So, I'd do this - if one is bad, correct it, if not go to the next:

1) Pull a plug or two & see how they look.

2) Replace the fuel filter.

3) See if you got a mega-clogged air filter.

4) See if you got a mega-clogged PCV valve.

5) Seafoam the injection system.

6) Put in Techron, Amsoil PI, Techron or Seafoam in the gas & rev it up some over the tank fill.

7) Run that gas out & put in fresh, BP or Top Tier gas. Or get Non-Oxy gas.

8) See if something is dragging down the engine like a water pump or alternator, etc.

There's your Saturday project

- let us know.....

 

[Triple_Se7en]

What brand of gas do you use most? Do you fill-up when a tanker truck is refueling your gas station?

 

[eljefino]

Maybe the transmission isn't starting in 1st? Try a manual downshift to low when it gets pokey.

If there's a mass airflow sensor, there could be lint on the little sensor wire... clean this, delicately, with CRC contact cleaner or (worse) carb/throttle body/brake cleaner.

If it's like most GMs from that era, it'll take a universal single-wire o2 sensor that's only $18 at autozone, and 2 minutes spent splicing it in. May be worth it for the fuel payback-- getting rid of the bog would be a secondary effect.

 

[strombony]

I only have 10k on this current tune up on this vehicle. One thing I noticed.. Before the tune-up, I replaced the PCV myself with an aftermarket one that may not be seating properly as there is oil/moisture all around it..My mechanic told me that I should go to the GM dealer and get one from them with the rubber grommet...He said that with some parts, you are better off not buy aftermarket...This may be one of them...although, not sure if that could be causing this sluggishness. Never the less, I will still have my mechanic check the plugs/wires/fuel filter...I suppose a part can go bad regardless of low miles on them...never know.

 

[strombony]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
What brand of gas do you use most? Do you fill-up when a tanker truck is refueling your gas station?


As for gasoline, I use strictly BP which sells Amoco fuels. I use their 87 octane..egnine does not knock or hesitate...simply acts as I described.