Boulder e30 in need of some troubleshooting

[colorado_cabrio]

Hey guys -

So the cabrio started doing something troubling yesterday, and I'd love and input or advice. Or if you wanna swing by and grab a beer.

On start the engine feels like it's "chugging", there is a definite loss of power, and when it gets warm it's started smoking out the tailpipe. Before yesterday the car has run like a top, with no symptoms for ever.

I've checked the wires, and about to check the plugs and O2 sens.

It could be a miss, but I'm not sure never heard one on a six (much easier for me to hear and recognize the miss on 4 cylinders)

AFM? Vacuum leak? Head gasket =(

And I realize that the smoke is the biggest concern...:sad:


And advice, on better troubleshooting. I'm trying to eliminate anything simple or straight forward, before taking down to Cal.

Cheers
Brent

[stoliver54]

What color is the smoke?

[Atreus]

check engine light come on?

if so, have you done the stomp test?

any changes to your car recently? any maintenance you *could* have fudged up on?

heating/cooling issues?

smoke out of exhaust, what color is it? white/black death smoke, does it smell sweet?

when was your HG/timing belt/cooling system last worked on?


sounds like a vacuum leak+running rich, but i may be wrong...

[iamsam]

M20 or M42?

[stoliver54]

I am guessing m20 by his comment on hearing a misfire.

OP- Have you checked the plugs?

[colorado_cabrio]

Engine is m20. Smoke is white, doesn't smell like coolant, more like oil. Timing was performed 30k ago, but by PO not me.

No CEL, no stomp test. No recent engine work, so nothing to back track. Only think is a K&N, so maybe I fouled the MAF or the like with oil?

I am worried about some valve timing damage, any hint on what the symptoms of that would be?

I was just trying to pull the plugs, but my normal spark plug socket doesn't seem the right size; realized I have a 5/8 vs 13/16. So I'm headed to McGuckins to get the right socket.

[clarkkey594]

Timing belt could have jumped a tooth somehow.

[Atreus]

yeah, i agree with clark.

pull the plugs, lets see whats goin on...

[colorado_cabrio]

Ok pulled the plugs.

All are worn, and filthy. The plug for the cylinder closest to the front of the car had wet oil on it...

Did a little searching: Valve cover gasket? PCV fouled? Rings...

Does anybody have a compression gauge I could borrow? Or am I on the wrong track?

The help is really appreciated guys ! =-)

[clarkkey594]

I think that you really should check your timing first. You could have a leaking valve cover gasket (it's very common) in addition to a potentially bigger issue.

[colorado_cabrio]

Ok, so should i check the position of the timing belt? Normal process for that doesn't require removing the valve cover, right?

Should i basically go through the timing belt replacement procedure? Or should I start by looking under the valve cover to inspect for damage?

[ZombiE30]

compression tester you may be able to borrow from checker auto parts. those are easy as hell to use.
but the oil on the plug makes me think something more like valve stem oil seal.

do you have a bentley? that should give you a decent trouble shooting procedure to follow.

[iamsam]

would the head gasket allow oil into the cylinders, or is that coolant I am thinking of?

[vectorsc]

Either - recommend replacing part number M20 with part number M50 or greater.

[Atreus]

oil on the spark plug could be from a leaking/bad condition valve cover gasket, which may result in the subsequent vacuum leak, causing the hesitation/miss, and the oil is being burned off, resulting in the smoke?

just thinking out loud here....