Ztt 160 2.5 V6

Tricky160 · 29th November 2006, 18:28

Having read a thread on org, I have a question for the Guru's!

I have had my 160 for about 10 weeks, and love it. I am not certain if it is as quick as it should be?

It may just be me being fussy as I have driven some quite fast cars in the past.

It pulls really well 4000 revs and above but does seem a little sluggish below this. I am trying to drive it conseratively, so again it could be me, but I am typically only getting 22-23 mpg.

I have seen mention of vis valves, but dont know if my questions suggest this or not? Is there any way of knowing if I have problems?

I keep looking for another ztt160 2.5 to challenge to see how I do!

Phil · 29th November 2006, 18:42

any tapping or clicking from the inlet manifold? How many miles has it done?

Tricky160 · 29th November 2006, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

any tapping or clicking from the inlet manifold? How many miles has it done?

Just Done 70000, I have done 3000 of those. Havent noticed a tapping, or clicking

Tricky160 · 29th November 2006, 20:02

Come on Guys, I thought this was the nerve centre of all things technical, especiallt to help numpties like me

Simon · 29th November 2006, 20:27

A few people are saying that the VIS valves aren't operational on the 2.5litre V6 because it is de-tuned 190.

I need someone to definately confirm/deny this, though.

Other thoughts could be simple things like in need of a good service (ie, oil change and air filter, etc).

I too drive a 2.5litre V6 and to be honest, I'm quite impressed but I have not driven anything more powerful in a while. Must try my mates 1.6 Civic Vtech (the Japanese SiR II spec one) coz that's stripped and goes link stink off a shovel.

Tricky160 · 29th November 2006, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon D

A few people are saying that the VIS valves aren't operational on the 2.5litre V6 because it is de-tuned 190.

I need someone to definately confirm/deny this, though.

Other thoughts could be simple things like in need of a good service (ie, oil change and air filter, etc).

I too drive a 2.5litre V6 and to be honest, I'm quite impressed but I have not driven anything more powerful in a while. Must try my mates 1.6 Civic Vtech (the Japanese SiR II spec one) coz that's stripped and goes link stink off a shovel.

I was driving an 02 plate an M3 a year ago, so most things feel a little slow!

Simon · 29th November 2006, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky160

I was driving an 02 plate an M3 a year ago, so most things feel a little slow!

Well, yes. an M3 is a fair bit quicker than a ZT160.

I'd like to think the ZT/75 is more of 'gentlemans' car. It doesn't have to be the fastest out there because you know that driving it is the best driving exerience out there.

If your car has been serviced and everything is up to scratch so far as you know then it'd be safe to assume the engine is running fine too. Keep an eye out for things like leaking coolant levels, that knocking sound that could indicate a failed VIS motor and things like that.

You can also try putting some Millers DPP in the fuel tank with your next fuel stop to help clear out any gunk in the cars system.

Tricky160 · 29th November 2006, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon D

Well, yes. an M3 is a fair bit quicker than a ZT160.

I'd like to think the ZT/75 is more of 'gentlemans' car. It doesn't have to be the fastest out there because you know that driving it is the best driving exerience out there.

If your car has been serviced and everything is up to scratch so far as you know then it'd be safe to assume the engine is running fine too. Keep an eye out for things like leaking coolant levels, that knocking sound that could indicate a failed VIS motor and things like that.

You can also try putting some Millers DPP in the fuel tank with your next fuel stop to help clear out any gunk in the cars system.

Thanks for the advice - couldnt agree more about the cars, The m3 was an animal, but I prefer the ztt, its more comfortable, sounds as good and has slowed me down considerably to ensure I will see my children the next day

MartinW · 29th November 2006, 20:57

A comparison with a manic 4 cyl V-Tec does not hold water!

The V6 is a gruntier engine.

There is another thread going currently on the engine upgrades entitled "Squeezing more power out of" or similar.

Simon, my source of info on the VIS is Roger Parker, Tech Officer at the MGOC, and Rincewind (ex-MGR) seems to concur by saying that loading a 177Ps engine map from a 75 will activate the VIS.

Ok, in Tricky's first post he describes the classic symptoms I have suffered at times. I noticed my problem back at 37k miles (Jan 2004), not long after B&G had serviced the car and loaded an updated map from MGR. Compared to previously, the performance was less pronounced IMHO, as peak torque seemed to have dropped from 3700 to 3000rpm, although this was meant to be an improvement on fuel economy. I also noticed, though, that when I floored the throttle in lane 3, it sometimes missed slightly. I went to my local dealer and they had the car overnight, and said they had replaced a valve, which I assumed to be the VIS at the time. The same scenario happened at 57k miles and again the local dealer had the car overnight and apparently replaced the other valve under warranty (about a week before MGR's collapse). I now wonder if there was any work done at all, or whether they effected a simple cure such as I later discovered myself.

However, late last year I noticed that mine was incredibly sluggish below 3000rpm. I had started reading about the oil problems and heard that this could foul the sensors. I bought some carb cleaner and with the inlet box removed, and the engine idling, I sprayed it into the plenum and let the engine idle for a while - I gave it a very good clean. This seemed to do the trick and the car was immediately a lot more responsive again.

As to adding anything to the fuel, this is maybe helpful in cleaning the injectors, but the real problems lie upstream of the injectors, hence the carb cleaner stunt.

I seriously recommend a good quality fuel like Shell's V-power, and give it a few tankfuls to clean up properly before expecting any improvement - in fact you won't notice an improvement so much as noticing when you do use the odd tank of unleaded - sparkle is lost!

I use a fully synthetic oil which is also known to have a better lubricity than semi-synthetic so this has a very, very small benefit, too.

Then there are my mods to the inlet and the back box (see my signature).

All this is never going to make the 160 hugely powerful, but it will feel more responsive, plus the engine seems to perform better if you give it a bit more heavy right foot as the ECU seems to adapt. And as said, fitting the 75's map might activate the VIS, if it is inactive, but I have to say I suspect it is not used just judging by the lack of noticeable difference in pulling through the revs to the redline. Having compared it to a 190 there is noticeably more at the top end where the 160 seems to just get breathless instead.

JP53 · 29th November 2006, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky160

Having read a thread from the dark side, I have a question for the Guru's!

I have had my 160 for about 10 weeks, and love it. I am not certain if it is as quick as it should be?

It may just be me being fussy as I have driven some quite fast cars in the past.

It pulls really well 4000 revs and above but does seem a little sluggish below this. I am trying to drive it conseratively, so again it could be me, but I am typically only getting 22-23 mpg.

I have seen mention of vis valves, but dont know if my questions suggest this or not? Is there any way of knowing if I have problems?

I keep looking for another ztt160 2.5 to challenge to see how I do!

Part of the problem is how smooth the car is, it feels like it is going slower than it is. 70 mph feels a lot quicker in my wifes ZR than it does in my 75

29th November 2006, 18:28	#1
Tricky160 Regular poster mg zt-t Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ztt 160 2.5 V6 Having read a thread on org, I have a question for the Guru's! I have had my 160 for about 10 weeks, and love it. I am not certain if it is as quick as it should be? It may just be me being fussy as I have driven some quite fast cars in the past. It pulls really well 4000 revs and above but does seem a little sluggish below this. I am trying to drive it conseratively, so again it could be me, but I am typically only getting 22-23 mpg. I have seen mention of vis valves, but dont know if my questions suggest this or not? Is there any way of knowing if I have problems? I keep looking for another ztt160 2.5 to challenge to see how I do! Last edited by Keith; 2nd January 2007 at 09:41..

29th November 2006, 18:42	#2
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	any tapping or clicking from the inlet manifold? How many miles has it done? __________________

29th November 2006, 20:02	#4
Tricky160 Regular poster mg zt-t Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Come on Guys, I thought this was the nerve centre of all things technical, especiallt to help numpties like me

29th November 2006, 20:27	#5
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	A few people are saying that the VIS valves aren't operational on the 2.5litre V6 because it is de-tuned 190. I need someone to definately confirm/deny this, though. Other thoughts could be simple things like in need of a good service (ie, oil change and air filter, etc). I too drive a 2.5litre V6 and to be honest, I'm quite impressed but I have not driven anything more powerful in a while. Must try my mates 1.6 Civic Vtech (the Japanese SiR II spec one) coz that's stripped and goes link stink off a shovel.

29th November 2006, 20:57	#9
MartinW Newbie MG TF LE500 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chester Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	A comparison with a manic 4 cyl V-Tec does not hold water! The V6 is a gruntier engine. There is another thread going currently on the engine upgrades entitled "Squeezing more power out of" or similar. Simon, my source of info on the VIS is Roger Parker, Tech Officer at the MGOC, and Rincewind (ex-MGR) seems to concur by saying that loading a 177Ps engine map from a 75 will activate the VIS. Ok, in Tricky's first post he describes the classic symptoms I have suffered at times. I noticed my problem back at 37k miles (Jan 2004), not long after B&G had serviced the car and loaded an updated map from MGR. Compared to previously, the performance was less pronounced IMHO, as peak torque seemed to have dropped from 3700 to 3000rpm, although this was meant to be an improvement on fuel economy. I also noticed, though, that when I floored the throttle in lane 3, it sometimes missed slightly. I went to my local dealer and they had the car overnight, and said they had replaced a valve, which I assumed to be the VIS at the time. The same scenario happened at 57k miles and again the local dealer had the car overnight and apparently replaced the other valve under warranty (about a week before MGR's collapse). I now wonder if there was any work done at all, or whether they effected a simple cure such as I later discovered myself. However, late last year I noticed that mine was incredibly sluggish below 3000rpm. I had started reading about the oil problems and heard that this could foul the sensors. I bought some carb cleaner and with the inlet box removed, and the engine idling, I sprayed it into the plenum and let the engine idle for a while - I gave it a very good clean. This seemed to do the trick and the car was immediately a lot more responsive again. As to adding anything to the fuel, this is maybe helpful in cleaning the injectors, but the real problems lie upstream of the injectors, hence the carb cleaner stunt. I seriously recommend a good quality fuel like Shell's V-power, and give it a few tankfuls to clean up properly before expecting any improvement - in fact you won't notice an improvement so much as noticing when you do use the odd tank of unleaded - sparkle is lost! I use a fully synthetic oil which is also known to have a better lubricity than semi-synthetic so this has a very, very small benefit, too. Then there are my mods to the inlet and the back box (see my signature). All this is never going to make the 160 hugely powerful, but it will feel more responsive, plus the engine seems to perform better if you give it a bit more heavy right foot as the ECU seems to adapt. And as said, fitting the 75's map might activate the VIS, if it is inactive, but I have to say I suspect it is not used just judging by the lack of noticeable difference in pulling through the revs to the redline. Having compared it to a 190 there is noticeably more at the top end where the 160 seems to just get breathless instead.