Italian Tuneup??
 

Does anyone ever do a so called "italian tuneup" on their cars? For those who dont know, an "italian tuneup" is when you really boot the car lets say on the highway and drive it at high rpms for a certain period of time.

My dad borrowed my 126 the other day and came back and said that he did an italian tuneup. I got a bit pissed with him because I worry alot about my baby.

Is this actually good for the car?

guess ur dad is now banned from ur car?!

-Ren

For diesel's especially (with timing chain integrity verified), an 'eye-taliano' tune-up can do wonders for performance. The high speed/load on the engine and fuel injection systems will blow alll kinds of crud out of the works, resulting in smoother, less smoky performance.

It usually works best with some fuel injector cleaner of some sort in the tank.


Benz motors (both diesel and gas) were designed to run just fine at full output - I seriously doubt he hurt anything. It couldn't have been any worse service than what the car was engineered to do on the autobahns. Benz's are the best high-speed cruisers out there.

Regards,
- Ryan

Rule of thumb: If you floor the accelerator and black smoke comes out of the exhaust, then it needed it. If you continue to floor it and it never clears up, then uh oh!, don't do it anymore!:D

My Benz gets a good Italian tune-up every time I drive it! I drive it hard (mostly acceleration only).


95 C280 with 120k miles on it still runs, purrs, and revs like a dream!

:eek: :D :) :o :D :D ;) :eek: :)

Ahh the good ol italian tuneup.

Persoanlly I prefer doing mine afte rI have added some fuel injection cleaner.

Really helps get some of the gunk outta the engine.

My dad's former 68 vetter needed an italian tuneup once a week. or rather it got one from me ehhe..

All in all, I see no problem with opening her up and letter her breath a little harder. You might actually clean out some more carbon than normal.

Alon

Cap'n...

This one really made me laugh! I was thinking back to when I did brake stands on my '85 300D....:eek: :eek: :eek:

When the transmission started to slip:eek: :eek:

....."then, uh oh!, don't do it anymore!":p :p :p

Is there another kind of tune-up?

I trusted my dad with it. I am just too obssesed with what happens to my 126, and I care for it too much (which may be good!).

The 380 engine has the dual row timing chain and received an oil change before he did the tuneup. The engine is very reliable and I put Sunoco Ultra 94 octane gas all the time, so its getting a pretty good treatment!;) It went for the emission test so that is why he did the italian tuneup and she passed!!

ITALIAN Tune-Up Is A Racist Term...
 

It's unacceptable in these "politically correct" times to use these racist terms anymore. Just like the terms: "******-Rigging", Polish Manicure, Chinese Arithmetic, Mexican Overdrive, Russian Roulette, Etc., it should be no longer acceptable in common use.

The term "Italian Tune-Up" implys that Italians are so inept, stupid and dishonest, that they are only capable of tuning a high-performance car by driving it at high speeds with sudden acceleration in order to blow out the accumulated carbon in the engine. As many of us know, Italian machinists and mechanics are considerably more competent than that tired term would imply...

This procedure, by whatever other name you choose to use, we all know is best done after adding an injector cleaner, and just before doing an oil and filter change to eliminate the particuate that has now broken loose by the procedure, and is residing below the piston rings in the sump.

Also, it needs to be done after the engine is at proper operating temperature, and the engine is in otherwise good mechanical condition.

But let's call it "Spring Cleaning" from now on, ok?;)

.The origins of the "Italian tune-up" came from the 60's era Ferrari 12's that did not have valve seals it was metal on metal. In the city the valves would get carboned up and hence in need of an "Italian tune-up". Whether it's PC or not does not really matter to me because I am not politically correct so I am exempt for the time being. Also I say "Italian tune-up" with love and affection and I am pretty sure that in the PC handbook if you are using the word with affection it's OK.

Tonight weather permitting ya'all just might see some short video of what I mean by a REAL Italian Tune-up


;)

Italian Tune up being racist
 

I think you made a mistake, what you need to be on is the Martha Stewart web site.

The origins of the "Italian tune-up" came from the 60's era Ferrari 12's that did not
 

Here Here!!!

I agree. This did refer to Italian cars in general, and Porsches were known to respond well to this treatment. It is a well respected term in motor sports, and has nothing to do with slamming Italian anything. It may even be construed as affectionate!

rsbio,

I can't wait!

Sven, post your tumbler question on the tech help?

Kuan

The United States of the Offended
Robert D. Raiford
In my neck of the woods, which is mostly redneck, we just call it "blowing it out".:D