Recent content by iliveonnitro

$300 is a lot to spend on just an ECU...hell my old car got a full custom tune/emission codes erased/raised shift points/etc for that much. In an otherwise stock car, what are the advantages of putting in an MP3 ECU?

Crap...I do. Where does this problem lie? Is it the bushings, rub against the heat shield?

So what worthwhile mods will not make my car louder? How much will gas mileage be affected?

This is on my '03 P5, 40k miles, 5sp. I've noticed a small problem whenever the weather is abnormally cold, or after driving my car for ~1hr: shifting becomes very difficult. While in neutral and the car is cool or warmed up, the shifter will default to the central position and shift easily...

This is a gas station's way of making you fill up more. To (pretty) accurately calculate your gas mileage, fill up your tank until it auto-stops (the pressure is pretty consistant). Drive until whenever, and fill it up until it stops again. Divide your miles by the # of gallons needed to fill...

If by 0 weight you mean 0W-30: yes, it will help your cold weather starts. Maybe we should turn this into a "where are the cheapest deals on these oils" thread.

Anyone have comments about the Bridgestone Potenza G 009 or Yokohama YK520? How much gas mileage will I lose by going from 195-205? How much gas mileage will I lose going from 50 to 45? 60% highway driving, 40% city driving. Thanks!

Good to know about the transmission fluid. I also have the same problem going into first, occasionally. I usually do a second gear start (just to get barely rolling) and quickly shift to 1st and continue on.

I've never owned a stickshift car until my 03.5 MP5. I don't know if this is normal, or if I should have it checked out (under warranty?). 1) When in reverse, my car makes a weird electric-type sound. Here is my best typed impression (heh): weh-neh-neh-neh-neh-neh 2) When moving over .05mph...

Switch to heavier wt oil asap and drive it like a grandma!

To first answer your question: it doesn't matter. The best oil is the best oil, period. The only thing you should change between Turbo/NA, hot/cold, etc is viscosity. The simple fact is that you drive a mazda that puts out under 300hp. You will never fully utilize the full potential of...

Just turn the A/C off when you are about to accelerate. Also note that the A/C is disabled at full throttle. BTW, I just got 33mpg at 3500rpm in 5th gear on the highway for 244mi. But yeah, it's a high gear. 400+ miles to the tank was pretty sweet though!

Exactly what kind of bike rack is it? Do you know the model number? Are you looking to sell it? I'm going to buy a cheap 2-bike rack in the next few weeks, but haven't done enough research on the subject. I live in Schaumburg, IL and will be commuting to Madison in 2 weeks... James

Pretty sure they are 21 or 22lbs each...most likely the latter.

Thank you! That is exactly the information I needed!