3.5 rev limit in a 318is?!?!?!?

[lordofthewaters]

Well oil on the plugs is NOT a good thing. Sounds like maybe very bad rings or maybe valve seals, I suppose that if enough oil is getting into the combustion chamber then it could retard the spark, thus preventing the cylinder from firing, and you'd lose 25% output (it being a four cylinder). If it were firing correctly you'd see blue smoke from the oil burning...........Is it the only one coated with oil?

[asubimmer]

yeah its the only one w/ oil and it has more than I knew would be possible to get on a spark plug. it was totally wet w/ oil. and thats a great point...my car was not smoking at all so I guess that cylinder was not working...it did fell underpowered even for a 4banger.

[asubimmer]

Ok I didn't replace the missing screw yet b/c the stealership is out of em. I replaced the spark plugs b/c they needed it. I don't know what to do now...its STILL not working right.

Does anyone know what the deal could be? Its like hitting a rev limit but not as smooth at all. it gives a small pop...almost like a backfire...when its hiting the "rev limit". Its a VERY small pop sound though. Almost like the sound miatas make.

I just threw some sea foam in the gas tank to help clear up the injectors if they need it. I am gonna eat some dinner and drive it around some.

[christophbmw]

hey i didnt read any of the posts so i dont know if anyone has said this yet: if the M42's cam timing is off then the ecu will not let it rev past 3500rpm. this happened to me when my dumbass didnt assemble the cams correctly. put the engine at TDC and pull the valve cover, the back of the cams are sqaure. you need a special tool to align the cams ($156) but if you look at the cams be eye and see if they are level with the top of the head. the sides of the sqaure part should be 90 degrees with the lip that the valve cover sits on. i did my best at trying to explain, if you need more info please e-mail. hope this helped.

[lordofthewaters]

I suppose timing could be off, but you'd still have the problem with oil in the combustion chamber. This is almost certain that the rings are bent, sticking or otherwise allowing oil to migrate. I think if you can keep the oil out then you'll have solved the problem. The only way I know to do that is a ring job, and then you'll need to do all 4 and while you're at that you'd probably want a valve job too. Of course I'm not a mechanic, and haven't seen the problem either. That's just my $.02....................I'd take it to a good mechanic (not the dealership) and have them just check it out. There are two good places here in town. I dunno about Boone though. There used to be a German "autohaus" on Spring Garden Street there in G'boro, that I heard was good, but that was in 1996 too..............

[asubimmer]

yeah I guess I wil have to take it somewhere to diagnose it...then I can fix it.

[AppState325]

damnit, I need to be up there to take pics of it for you!!!! I'll be back ASAP tommorow bro

[asubimmer]

thanks man...does your camera do video...so they can see how its "caughing"...Everyone is sick at app but I didn't think my car would get a cold too :(

[asubimmer]

just moved my car and FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK IT GOT TO 6K!!! It still won't go to 7K but its getting better. I think the seafoam might be helping. I still thing its clogging injectors thats my prob.

[lordofthewaters]

That's great. But you'll still want to know where all that oil's coming from.......

[asubimmer]

its from the missing bolt that is supposed to go next to the spark plug I think. I am almost 100% sure...since it was miising for some reason?!?!

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=11&fg=15 #6

[lordofthewaters]

Try it and see. Let us know.

[asubimmer]

will do

[lordofthewaters]

Find out anything yet? I'm curious to hear what exactly the problem and solution was.

[asubimmer]

nahh its off and on now. Sometimes I can go above 4k and other times it won't. I am trying to find some 24# injectors b/c I needed some anyway. I am going to change the fuel filter also. The stealership is out of those bolts but they have one coming for me so the oil leak should stop.