Sluggish 182 compared to one that's done double the miles?

[ingram172]

Hi guys,

I love my 182 and always thought it was healthy until I drove a friends car with almost double the miles.
Mine has done 70k and this was nearly on 140k!
It was low down where the main difference was, mine felt like I had an anchor hanging from the back.
The high miler just felt so much more free and willing to accelerate.
Both are 182's, mines stock, this had a Milltek but that's all, cat still in place.
I have recently done my plugs so I know they are ok.
Both cars were warm so not the usual cold start/map issues, also neither car has been remapped.
Any ideas on what the issue could be?

Thanks :up:

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Your timing is out?

They say the higher milers are the fastest

 

[JamesBryan]

Poor timing can be a killer on these.

Seen them make as low as 130-140bhp with messed up timing.

 

[ingram172]

Could be out, the person I purchased it from was a 'Renault Master Mechanic' and he said he did them himself, so no proof.
Is there a way for a home (incompetent) mechanic to check timing? Or is it a specialist job? I don't think there are any in Cornwall?

 

[JamesBryan]

You could stick it on a dyno and see what it makes, preferably one that is reputable in your area.

Pure Motorsport may be able to check it for you, they're in Cornwall.

Or possibly Dan at SJM Automotive in Street near Glastonbury.

 

[ingram172]

I would be scared it would blow up if the timing might be out 😅
I best get in touch with one of those guys, are Ktec any good as they are a similar distance?

 

[Daz...]

I would personally try Dan at SJM before ktec.

 

[ingram172]

Thanks, will go with that first, looking at a 7 hour round drive so I hope thats the issue lol!

 

[imprezaworks]

have you had the belts done?

 

[ingram172]

Not in my ownership, as the previous owner was adamant he had done them.

 

[imprezaworks]

Maybe ha had, maybe that's the issue?

Did he say by whom? Bob from the co-op would not fill me with confidence.

 

[JamesBryan]

7 hour round trip, where do you live lands end?

 

[JamesBryan]

Try Pure Motorsport first, they're Padstow/Wadebridge way

Give Nick a call 01841 531 102

 

[bloke]

Try Pure Motorsport first, they're Padstow/Wadebridge way

Give Nick a call 01841 531 102

they don't do mechanical anymore.

 

[JamesBryan]

they don't do mechanical anymore.

Ahh don't they.

I was talking to Nick at Cadwell on Monday at Time Attack. That Ph1 he's got is rapid at 250bhp N/A!

 

[ADS_V6]

Maybe ha had, maybe that's the issue?

Did he say by whom? Bob from the co-op would not fill me with confidence.

Derek from Tesco did mine and I got club card points too

 

[imprezaworks]

Winning

 

[ingram172]

Maybe ha had, maybe that's the issue?

Did he say by whom? Bob from the co-op would not fill me with confidence.

Yes this is why I think I have the issue! He did them, and said he had 20 years experience of working in Renault's, and is a college mechanical lecturer.

7 hour round trip, where do you live lands end?

Haha actually very close to Lands End!

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah just get the timing chacked, will probably be that.

 

[ingram172]

Will do!
Thanks for the help guys :up:

 

[JamesBryan]

Have a side by side race with your mate from 30-70, if he pulls away by quite a bit then yours is not right.

 

[ingram172]

Have a side by side race with your mate from 30-70, if he pulls away by quite a bit then yours is not right.

I wouldn't dare engage in such an activity 😂

 

[JamesBryan]

I wouldn't dare engage in such an activity 😂

Not racing, it's making progress together :tonguewink:

 

[ingram172]

That's what I will tell the police officer :smiley:

 

[Stay Puft]

Sometimes it's just how they are. My 172 (15yrs old, 111k miles) made 12bhp more than a 05 plate 182 on lowish mileage. The dyno bloke said the 182 was heathly etc, just a 'slow one' at 155bhp.

 

[JamesBryan]

Sometimes it's just how they are. My 172 (15yrs old, 111k miles) made 12bhp more than a 05 plate 182 on lowish mileage. The dyno bloke said the 182 was heathly etc, just a 'slow one' at 155bhp.

155bhp! All 182's i've seen have been in the 170's and 180's.

 

[Danos]

How incompetent are you? It's really not that difficult to check the timing. Putting it right is the difficult part.

 

[imprezaworks]

You mean competant

 

[Amos91]

How are you sure the other car has not been mapped in the past? You've basically described the difference a remap makes on these.

 

[Smiffyboy1990]

100% will be Timing related.

 

[R3k1355]

No-one else finds it suspect the previous owner described himself as a 'Renault Master Mechanic' ???

Probably makes the tea 😂😂

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah but he was the best at it.

 

[Danos]

You mean competant

That's not a word.

 

[imprezaworks]

Righty.

 

[JamesBryan]

But competent is :tongueclosed:

 

[imprezaworks]

Like that time on countdown

 

[Dom_capper]

'20 years experienced Renault master mechanics' are a total joke in my experience. I'd go to a specialist and get the timing checked, steer well clear of main dealers.

 

[loggyboy]

Could be out, the person I purchased it from was a 'Renault Master Mechanic' and he said he did them himself, so no proof.
Is there a way for a home (incompetent) mechanic to check timing? Or is it a specialist job? I don't think there are any in Cornwall?

A fairly easy way is to check the cam alignment, (buy the 2 cam end caps before you start (about £10)) pull/lever the old ones off, rotate the engine till 1 cam notch is parallel with the top of the head, and check to see if the other cam is also parallel, if not then timing is out. then refit the new end caps (evenly and carefully) - Now this is no guarantee, as it could be the top to bottom end timing thats out, but for the sake of an hour and £10 its a good start.
Also check your airfilter, my old 172 made very low power on a RR, but torque profile as generally reviewed by those who know and didnt indicate the timing was out, and the airfilter was mentioned, which was cheap cone, far too small, old and clogged. Sadly i wrote the car off before i got time to check, but im confident it would have made a difference.

 

[bloke]

A fairly easy way is to check the cam alignment, (buy the 2 cam end caps before you start (about £10)) pull/lever the old ones off, rotate the engine till 1 cam notch is parallel with the top of the head, and check to see if the other cam is also parallel, if not then timing is out. then refit the new end caps (evenly and carefully) - Now this is no guarantee, as it could be the top to bottom end timing thats out, but for the sake of an hour and £10 its a good start.
Also check your airfilter, my old 172 made very low power on a RR, but torque profile as generally reviewed by those who know and didnt indicate the timing was out, and the airfilter was mentioned, which was cheap cone, far too small, old and clogged. Sadly i wrote the car off before i got time to check, but im confident it would have made a difference.

could always just line the timing mark up on the flywheel first and then check cam slots.

 

[ingram172]

How incompetent are you? It's really not that difficult to check the timing. Putting it right is the difficult part.

I'm OK with nuts and bolts, but when specialist tools, brute force, or a steady hand is required, I suck!

How are you sure the other car has not been mapped in the past? You've basically described the difference a remap makes on these.

I would like to say I'm almost 100% sure it wasn't remapped as it was a 1 owner car, and the lady purchased it because she liked the colour (apparently).
Can a remap back that much of a difference??

A fairly easy way is to check the cam alignment, (buy the 2 cam end caps before you start (about £10)) pull/lever the old ones off, rotate the engine till 1 cam notch is parallel with the top of the head, and check to see if the other cam is also parallel, if not then timing is out. then refit the new end caps (evenly and carefully) - Now this is no guarantee, as it could be the top to bottom end timing thats out, but for the sake of an hour and £10 its a good start.
Also check your airfilter, my old 172 made very low power on a RR, but torque profile as generally reviewed by those who know and didnt indicate the timing was out, and the airfilter was mentioned, which was cheap cone, far too small, old and clogged. Sadly i wrote the car off before i got time to check, but im confident it would have made a difference.

This sounds beyond me to be honest, but I might try as it might be a while before I can afford to take it to a specialist. The filter is a new Ktec one (K&N lookalike?) so I know that's OK.
Will I be causing damage by using the car with timing out? I don't thrash the car by any means, but if communing in it will do damage I want to avoid it if possible.