Rotary-Dragon

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I've posted here, but it's been a while since I've been able to afford driving my car too =D

ANYHOW! I have a problem on my hands! I've been driving the past 3 years spring-fall and have only put around 4000km on my car, so needless to say I'm not super experienced and have never traveled very far (its ALL been to school, to the mall, to home).

To get down to business, I live in Calgary and I am planning on driving down to Toronto around mid augest, then to baltimore, and then back to Toronto and then back to Calgary... A pretty long way!

From my house in Calgary to the destination to Toronto is:
Total Distance: 1996.2 Miles / 3212.5 Kilometers
Estimated Total Time: 38 hours, 5 minutes

From Toronto to Baltimore destination it is:
Total Distance: 473.7 Miles / 762.3 Kilometers
Estimated Total Time: 9 hours, 5 minutes

So in total since both ways need to be traveled twice it is:
4939.8 Miles / 7949 Kiliometers


I worked all of that out with http://www.mapblast.com

This is definately a long way! Is there any advice people can give on the situation? My car is a 1987 GXL, 160,000km on original engine, no real work or mods done to it aside from gutting the cats... Will my car make it this far? Any preperations to take? Also, I have not tested my milage yet but any idea (estimate) how far I'd get on one tank (doing highway I suppose)? If this can be figured I, then a rough estimate for gas money can be worked out.

I priced out what air costs would be with http://www.travelocity.ca and:
$522 Calgary-Toronto ROUND TRIP, 3 hours flight
$467 Toronto-Baltimore ROUND TRIP, 6 hour flight
Total $989

That seems like a lot for flying, but the cost of preparing my car, and gas is still unknown, and hopefully less! Though, the travel time if course Significantly different! Has anyone ever taken a trip like this before in their RX7?

I'm really looking for the cheapest way to do this, but it is of course going to be expensive anyway I go.

The reason behind the trips destinations is that I have a friend in Toronto I wish to travel to meet, and then travel together to Baltimore for a few days and back to Toronto, where my friend would be dropped off at home and then I would proceed on back to Calgary after some time. (So effectively 2 people would end up paying $467 for a round trip to Baltimore and back to Toronto)

I've said a lot, and for those of you who took the time to read it - THANK YOU! For those of you who reply, also much appreciated!

This trip will not take place until mid Augest and shouldnt run any longer than the end of Augest. So time for preperations, planning and Saving is possible!

(also, am I forgetting anything?)

BLKTOPTRVL

Inspect your hoses and belts.
Get a new set and put them in the trunk - with tools - just in case.
Change your Plugs.

If your tires are good...
If your clutch is good...

and your engine has not been giving signs of trouble -- Go.

SophiaCDN

Gas, food, hotel for the trip, two oil changes along the way... It will cost you more to drive than to fly! You could also fly Baltimore Calgary direct after leaving Baltimore. I'd just fly, especially if I was worried about my car not making it.

BLKTOPTRVL

I would not change the oil during the trip...

I think you are right that the oil should be changed before the trip. I forgot about that. But, once changed, the oil in the system will be fine as long as it is topped off. And (IMO) having it changed during the trip just opens you up to another unecessary failure point.

Rotary-Dragon

Ahh extra hoses and belts are a good idea. I've never had the need to replace a hose or belt yet, so it seems I had better learn how that is done soon as well...
Food and hotels is a good point, because for a trip this long that will be a very noticable cost.

I should have also emphasized that when in Toronto I am picking up a friend who does not have a car, and taking her to baltimore and then taking her back. I figured between the two of us the cost of driving the 2 of us to Baltimore and back to Toronto would be cheaper than us both buying a $467 round trip

Rotary-Dragon

Just wanted to say, still looking for replies! very curious what kind of milage I may get and if anyone else has traveled from calgary to toronto in their 7 before, take long? many stops on the way?
Anything else aside from what was mentioned I should know?

86J

Last summer I took a trip to the states in July. My car had 200 000km on the original engine. I just changed my spark plugs and all the oils and made sure my belts were in good shape. Oh and that my A/C worked. My trip was about 15 000km over 6 weeks. If your cars is in good mechanical shape then I wouldn’t be to worried. Change your oil before and then just like you always would.

Now to the gas part.

I averaged 23 - 26 mpg on my trip but I was really never driving at a constant speed. Since you’re probably taking the Trans Canada your going to get better numbers. I never took a price total for all the gas but im shure it was lots. I think I went through about 28 tanks.

rx7_turbo2

I think it will for sure be cheaper to fly. I'll tell you why. You can do all the math you want on gas, maintenace etc, and it may be close to the price of flying. Throw in blowing a coolant hose and overheating the motor, warping one of the housings, and your done. And that's just one example. When you fly the Airline company assumes all the financial risk of mechanical failure. When you drive it's on you. What about a toasted clutch? Say you blow out a tranny seal, and fry the tranny? Flat tires? Hitting a deer? Blown oil line? I can go on if you like? Driving would certainly be more adventurous and that has a value to it of course. But if your looking to be cost effective flying is the way to go.

Amur_

Gotta agree with the main point so far - if you start your trip with a healthy car, you'll probably end the trip with a healthy car.


Take extra belts and the wrenches to change them (10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm,) don't bother with extra plugs. I'd say don't bother with extra (coolant) hoses - if they're not fairly new now, replace them before you go to all but eliminate the chance of one blowing.

Oil change - find a decent shop (not Wal-Mart!) in Baltimore to do it. $15 and you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Have a look at the fuel and brake lines beneath the car, along the driver's side frame rail. If they've got much rust on them, give serious thought to replacing them before you leave. It's not expensive if you do it yourself, but it's a fair PITA.


Bleed your brakes and your clutch, whether they need it or not. Check and top up your tranny and diff fluid. Consider buying Redline MT-90 for the tranny and Redline 75W90 for the diff, if you're not already using them.


Make sure your radiator is clean. My fav cleaning method is to spray the fins with Aluminum Rim cleaner (make sure it has the Corrosive warning on the front label) and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose, from both sides. Never use compressed air on our rads unless you like having crushed fins.


What kind of shape are your oil cooler lines in? The lines, not the fittings. The lines, as they go from the engine to the front oil cooler, run right past a straight edge that is part of the mount for the radiator. The lines rub against this edge over the life of the car and it can/will eventually cut into the hose. Ask me how I know.
If one of those lines blow while you're on this trip, you will be dead in the water. You can either spend $500 or more on new ones at a dealership, or get the lines rebuilt using your old fittings and new hose, which likely won't be done the same day, assuming you can find a place nearby that can do it.
An ounce of prevention and all that...



Fuel Economy

Consider buying a drop-in K&N air filter. My mileage increased somewhat after I installed one after I first got my 7. You pay $50 and it's the last air filter you buy (until you decide to put in a cold air intake.)

Assuming you stick to 110-120km/h, don't accelerate too quickly when merging and stick to expressways and the like, I'd say you could expect to hit 500km before your low fuel light starts winking at you. Low fuel light = your 63 litre tank is down to 11 litres. Which also means that you've got about an hour of driving or 100 or so kms left to find a gas station. I suggest you don't push your luck too far on that one.


Consider performing the Water Trick a day or two before you leave...

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/ro...injection.html

It's a maintenance technique, it won't hurt your engine and you'll be better off for having done it, whether you're going on this trip or not.

Btw, it doesn't emphasize it in the write-up, but it should - do the water injection *slowly* unless you want to turn your oil into milkshake.

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...6&postcount=10





Hope that helps...

edv

Make sure your spare tire is in good shape.
Maybe consider joining AAA. Small investment will buy you towing and 10% off a schwack of motels/restaurants along the way. Don't use their maps, tho. Get all your maps at state/prov border welcome centres.
Consider packing a puptent/sleeping bag to save some $$.
Take the 2-lane back roads whenever possible. You'll see a lot more cool stuff that way.

edit
C'mon guys. The kid has never been on a road trip! Why should he fly? You can't see the Wawa Goose from 30,000ft anyway (or Huskie the Muskie, for that matter)

Amur_

Watching the gas gauge fall like Michael Jackson's erection at the Playboy Mansion is not my idea of 'cool'.



Hear hear!

edv

Well, Amur, imagine cruising along the lazy Susquehana River on the way to Baltimore passing through all those old rust belt towns with some old Springsteen on the stereo? You don't get that on the Interstate, and certainly not here around Calgary. Just the trees are gonna freak out someone from these parts who's never been out east...

1sicsol

I bought my 93 in Baltimore and drove from Toronto to pick it up. I had a civic and whenI got home, the civic died.


Good luck

86J

lol

I burnt off a tank of gas in no time driving up to the Telluride ski hill in Colorado. But i kept it in 3rd gear at about 5000 all the way. MY N/A is so gutless.


If you can get ahold of Microsoft streets and trips you can plan out your trip. It shows all the parks and lots of camping sites. Its also great if you get lost, you can see all the small side roads.

Amur_

Make it Boulevard, Lava Hay or Harem Scarem and you've got a deal.

Amur_

Fixed it for you.

86J

I just changed it to.

Rotary-Dragon

Wow! So many replies! I will abide by all your information. Leaving with a healthy car and coming home with a healthy car seems like the moral of the thread lol.
So, it seems I should replace my fluids (oil, clutch, brakes, tranny, diff), do the water trick, check/replace hoses including brake line. Clean rad (flush it and replace coolant too), do the water trick on the engine (seems harmless like Amur_ said!), make sure tires and brakes look fine, make sure spare tire is alright and to make sure I invest in triple A!

I think thats about it? I'll try to print off as many maps/directions that matter to the trip so less chance of getting off track. That Microsoft maps program sounds pretty convenient to study as well.

I suppose after that all that I have to worry about is if my engine will make it and have to make sure I drive safely.

Hotels and food will be an added expence because I'm not too crazy about sleeping in my car even if I'm not that tall, I'll have to plan off rest stops too!

Am I forgetting anything? You guys are very helpful! I may try requesting contacts from RX7 Club members that will be on my way just incase something happens and I NEED someone rotary inclined to give me some advice, think that would be alright too?

Thanks again guys!

sudseh

I've driven my 1990 gtu from baltimore to california and back and then two days later come up here(montreal) for the gp. The only thing that went bad (and I didn't have) was brake pads. (oh, and I'm very bad about oil changes etc.)

In terms of sleeping in your car, there are tons of rest stops on most of the highways in the US where you can sleep in relative security.

for maps, try maps.google.com

Jahoo88

I went down to arizona last winter in my turbo 7. Had no problems except i had to tighten my water pump belt once during the trip. It was about 8000km in around 8 days.

The one thing i didnt do was to get an alignment done. I had too much rear to in and the rear tires were completely bald by the tiem we reached phoenix. Had to get new ones down there, so make sure u go over the car well.

Amur_

We forgot one more easy thing: front wheel bearings.

I don't remember what site I got this write-up from, but I've been using it for years now and I have no complaints. I also have been using a torque wrench instead of the pull scale (you'll see,) so don't worry about doing it that way.

And do take the time to scoop out the old grease (which will probably be black) and put in fresh grease. You can get a small tub of Quaker State Wheel Bearing Lubricant from Crappy Tire for just a few $...

Jahoo88

I would also put new belts and hoses on about 2-3 weeks before the trip. Not just before but 2-3 weeks before so taht you know they are all working properly by the time you are ready to go.

rx7racerca

iTrader: (1)

No reason to expect problems, and the the advice here is good - check/replace hoses/belts/plugs, make sure the brakes, front wheels bearings, and alignment are spec. As far as mileage, I get 25-30 mpg on the highway with my '91 GXL - typically 27-29, cruising at a steady 125kph, and as high as 32 one trip where I set the cruise at 110 pretty much all the way from Kelowna to Calgary - so mountain driving with a/c on - one tank of gas, about 630kms - never lit the low fuel light. I have a K&N in mine and RB exhaust. If the car's well maintained, you likely won't have a lot of extra work to do, just check things to make sure. You might want to throw a litre or 2 of oil in the car to add along the way - beats paying $4+ at gas stations, and then you have it handy to add in the morning before starting the day's adventure.
Hotel costs will likely nearly match your fuel costs - CAA membership can help there with some no haggle discounts at many hotels, as well as some protection against tow costs if you do run into trouble. That said, you can often get a better rate than the CAA discount (usually 10%) at a hotel just by hemming and hawing a bit when you're quoted the rack rate, like your thinking of trying the next one up the road (only works if there is a comparable next one tho!). Leave your bags in the car and the car by the front door - no need to negotiate if it looks like you're already there to stay. Something to think about in your comparision too tho' is are your airfares including all taxes, departure fees, airport improvment fees, security fees, Al Quaeda baddy list checking fee, overweight baggage surcharge - you get the idea. I find air travel is usually more expensive than car, even with the cost of hotels - assuming you can afford the time. And you actually get to see all that great scenery as more than green and blue and brown smudges 10000m below the aircraft

SophiaCDN

Air travel is more expensive than your car if you don't calculate how much your car costs you every km... I totalled up all maintenance and depreciation for my car and divided it by the number of kms... And then added in the cost of fuel (not insurance). Basically, flying to Toronto is cheaper for me than driving, although if I consider gas alone, driving is cheaper.

And who would drive 8000km before getting an oil change?

rx7racerca

iTrader: (1)

I'm pretty religious when it comes to maintenance, but even though I change my oil at 5000k intervals, I also know most oil doesn't need changing even every 10000k, especially if its easy highway miles - unless your motor has bad seals and lets a lot of blowby into the crankcase, or is otherwise contaminating the oil (eg, damaged air filter letting fine dust in). So I don't think it would be necessary to do an oil change during the trip - although he certainly could if it makes him feel better. The oil and the additive package on modern oils is often good for 15000kms or more - 5000km oil changes appeal to oil change shops and those of us who can remember the cars of the 60's and 70's, with their looser tolerances and poorer quality lubricants that were available - so even tho I do them that often, I know I don't really have to