does this look like head gasket failure - page 3 ??

[leeparkes]

*cough*



http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 14&start=0

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks Lee, i have the spare engine in the back of the garage still, but will keep it in mind.

I think i'll do a bottom end re-furb of the spare engine as it's on the stand then later on just swap the lumps over.

[mcbonio]

Seems strange compression would be low on all cylinders and all exactly the same. Have you checked valve clearances Jim?

Perhaps this is a result of bore wash? Did you crank it for a long time when getting it running for the first time?

[jimbom30cab]

Yes mate all clearances are fine, i thought it could be bore wash also. But strange it just stopped after a good run. Am sure the all cureing miracle oil will fix it .

[mcbonio]

Hmmm I'm sceptical Jim, but it's worth a shot. What wiring loom are you using, the one from you rebuild m30?

[broadie]

Is the cam timing right? As this would change compression on all cylinders.
Best fuel additive I've come across is BG44K.

[jimbom30cab]

Chris, I made my own loom up from an M20 DME1.3 loom, it only needed a few tweaks to fit and has the big advantage of being a manual, c101 plugged loom .

Thanks Broadie

[leeparkes]

You would probably do better chucking some Redex down the plug holes and leaving overnight, apparently thats supposed to free up rings. However if its showing 80psi across ALL 6 cylinders id but money on it not being the rings.

Good luck bud

[jimbom30cab]

OK Lee, what would you think it could be then?

Only other options I thought about are timing (not touched this at all) head gasket - (it has good psi with oil down the bores) - bent valves (could be they all look to go up and down ok with the cam cover off)

Do you think it could be something else?

[jimbom30cab]

Right gents, i've had a little play tonight

I think the car is overfueling big time.

When i take the oil filler cap off and crank it over it mists up fuel, quite a lot also. When cranking there is fuel misting out of the AFM flap when i turn the key off. I think this massive overfueling is causing bore wash and here's my reasoning.

When i put some oil down the bores and crank it, there is good compression. After a while compression is lost, i think as the oil is washed away by the petrol.

The spark plugs when removed are covered in fuel.

The whole engine bay stinks of petrol.

So i recon if i sort out the overfueling then i could have the problem fixed

So, i wonder why there is so much fuel coming out.

The only thing i have changed on the engine since it ran perfect in the donor car is the engine wiring loom + injector loom. I used an M20 DME 1.3 loom with a c101 plug.

The blue sensor is brand new
The TPS is brand new OEM
The injectors are all standard and known good ones
I've tried 3 different ECUs which i know work ok.
The AFM and ICV are known excellent units as is the crank position sensor.
Dizzy cap + rotor arm + spark plugs are all brand new.
HT leads and coil are known good ones.

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Hope you checked out under the rubber boots of the plug and socket where the injector loom joins the main engine loom before you fitted it.

[DanThe]

First thing to check is the cam timing, 10 minute job

[jimbom30cab]

I've done some internet research and it seems some people have had a similar problem caused by over keen injectors. I'll check all the wiring is right.

[jimbom30cab]

It's fine Dan i'm pretty sure mate, it's not changed since it was in the donor and the engine ran perfect for 15mins on inital flash up.

In fact, i can actually get it running by getting a bump (tow) start. When it runs, it sounds sweet as anything, not even the usual tapping from the head. When it hits idle it just stops again. There is something going on causing overfueling on idle/start i think

[DanThe]

Even with petrol being fired in you should be getting much higher comp readings mate

[jimbom30cab]

yer, it was only about 60 to 70 psi

you can tell it's low as when you turn it on the starter, it sounds like a 1.1 fiesta turning over. No huff and puff compression noises you normally get.

I can't win with this car.

First i re-build an engine costing a lot of money so it's like new - had problems
So i then do a cheap and cheerful direct swap and it won't even start.

Honesly i give up, i've put about £5k into this car over the last 3 years. I might just put the lot on egay and move on with life !!

thinking about it, i quite fancy a 911

[DanThe]

First thing to check is the cam timing, 10 minute job

[mcbonio]

I thought this sounded like borewash jimbo,...

You getting good spark?

[jimbom30cab]

ok Dan, i'll check it out

The spark is good Chris, it drives fine when i bump start it.

What i'm thinking is this:

- Take out all the spark plugs and the fuel pp relay
- Chuck loads of oil down the bores and turn over on the starter - repeat a few times so the rings are well primed with oil and all the fuel has gone
- Put the plugs back in and fuel pp relay
- Start her up and give it a good run

other than that - changing the piston rings is the only other option i think.

[Shaheenk]

Fuel pressure Regulator

I had one which split and caused the same running issues. sounded like it was going to start , but the sheer amount of fuel made sure it did not.

[jimbom30cab]

thanks mate, i'll change it asap

[jimbom30cab]

If the FPR is damaged or the fuel return line is blocked would the injectors see full fuel pressure from the pump ?

[hongkongfuey]

It overfueled on the bbr starchip . The other ecu was fine. It started on the button first time round. Drove and let idle for 5 mins . Left to cool then a bit smokey then stopped. Then wouldn't restart. Sounded like turning over with no plugs in. Press test was 60-70 across the board. With oil in bore went to 150-180 straight away. When started ran fine wouldn't idle.

[hongkongfuey]

The plugs were getting wet with oil more than fuel

[jimbom30cab]

And there was a lot of oil in the induction system also

[Shaheenk]

With FPR it could be a busted diaphram which then lets fuel back into the intake , this shows itself as being mist and stuff.

pull the vacume hose off the FPR and crank to see if this is the case.

With a dud FPR you get a drop in pressure, so it's not injectors that shoot fuel in but the intake itsef gets soaked via the vacume line

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks, i tested the fpr today and the diaphragm is good.

no compression still

timing checked ok

got it running with lots of oil in the bores but soon as i left it to idle it stopped and refused to start.

am pretty sure the lack of compression is the rings.

nothing else for it i guess but the engine out, refurb the bottom end and try again

i have 2 m30 engines so should be able to make 1 good one from them

[broadie]

I dont know these engines but all cylinders being low!
Do you have an oil spray rail for under the pistons that could be blocked?

[jimbom30cab]

Thanks Broadie. I'm not sure, I don't think there is an oil spray bar under the pistons but it's been a year or more since I've seen the underside of an M30.

[jimbom30cab]

Hi,

I took the head off the original engine yesterday, the one which was giving out loads of white steam.

Do you think this damaged head gasket could have been the fault ?

looks like it's broken down to me

You can see some of it stuck between the water channels



and here is where it came from



Also, the gasket is an awful fit - look here where the oil ways are at the top and at the bottom the water ways are just a tiny hole - at the top they are large channels

is this right?



thanks

[HairyScreech]

Nahh that's just where the gasket has stuck to the block and split when you peeled it off.

The small holes in the gasket are to control the water flow around the head, a lot of gaskets get progressively larger to one end or the other.