Engine problems

Slightly Loose rear wheel hub nut?

I don't know WHAT to tell you about the differing compression figures.  A carboned-up plug is either running really rich or has bad spark (or is just a bad plug....It happens).  An oily plug is usually bad rings (I know you already know this - just typing out loud, here).

That's all I've got......

With 250 psi in one cylinder and normal in the rest, the exhaust valve must not be opening at all.  Wonder if you turn engine over with valve cover off it you could see that that exhaust valve was not opening? Could it be a wiped exhaust lob on that valve. 

250 lbs is crazy high in a type 1 motor I'll assume excess carbon build up.                                 I had a slightly loose flywheel make noise that was sob to find.

Pat Goss used to push BG products on MotorWeek (man, has he aged).  There is a tool that injects walnut shells to clean carbon deposits - I bet it is a royal pain to use on a flat 4.  They have a fuel additive that is worth $13.

https://www.amazon.com/BG-44K-...leaner/dp/B00DDVU6EI

Back in the day of the young and wild we would rev the motor up & pour small amounts of water down the carb to steam away carbon build up.

If it's carbon (I'm utterly inconvenienced) in one cylinder, the engine needs to drop out of the car. If it's a flat exhaust lobe (again, seems like a stretch), the engine needs to drop. If it's really, truly two HUNDRED and fifty pounds, on a compression test-- the engine is almost assuredly going to need to drop.

The only scenario I can envision where the engine stays in the car is if the gauge was broken by the time it got to that cylinder. 

I don't see how you'd get a big carbon build-up in 16k miles. And the sudden onset of metallic noise also indicates something acute, not a chronic thing. 

I see you checked the pushrods but I'm going to say the #2 exhaust valve does not have rocker engagement. I think Kelly had something like this go wrong on his car last year; one of the elephant-foot adjusters got spinned around wrong and his engine laid right down. 

You lose #2 and then the other three slugs have to work against it AND push the car. Now you're on the pedal and pouring fuel into her, everything is heating up, you get some blow-by, etc. etc. 

Such are Ed's theories, which are worth exactly what I charge to dispense them...

WOLFGANG posted:

With 250 psi in one cylinder and normal in the rest, the exhaust valve must not be opening at all.  Wonder if you turn engine over with valve cover off it you could see that that exhaust valve was not opening? Could it be a wiped exhaust lob on that valve. 

Wouldn't you have the same compression on cylinder #4 then? #2 and #4 use the same lobes.

^ Buy that man a chicken dinner.  My money is still on equipment and/or user error.

Sounds like you might need one of these.
High Definition Wireless Borescope!

https://thetechgarage.info/wireless#close

Do thise scopes work?

IaM-Ray posted:

Do thise scopes work?

The one Scott (one of our local mechanics) uses works great and is very easy to use.

Sorry, I was wondering about the one on the link  

IaM-Ray posted:

Sorry, I was wondering about the one on the link  

Yes they work, I use them to inspect inside walls and plumbing.

Here"s my .02 on the High Comp. reading......    Could the exhaust valve be seated and not being opened by the cam, lifter, rocker system????   That would surely cause an increase in pressure.....   Never seen it, but it fits the picture...

I'm with you.  Pull the valve cover on that side and see what's going on.  

Something is amiss in there......   Either the rocker is not rockin' or the push rod has fallen off the cup after the adjuster let go, but something is amiss.

Well, Joel.............We're waiting!   Life getting in the way of engine diagnosis??

Whoa...hey...a nice bores-cope was delivered to the men in Greenwich by (me) !

So we will see if we have a birthday candle (melted piston)...OR a 14:1 CR piston that just happened to be laying around...

Patience..."Time will Tell"

 ReV

Gordon-Thanks for the inquiry about the engine. Like you I prefer to do my own work-I really don't want anyone else messing with my tub. I just completed the eighth month of  chemotherapy which leaves me weak-normally I'd have the engine out by now. I brought the car to this shop because they have a good rep. and have a lift. They told me that if I brought it in last Monday which I did they would get right on it. It is now sitting in their shop-at least it's inside. They are busy so I have to be patient.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions and when I know more I'll pass it on.

Joel

Joel,  Prayers for a complete recovery....

Alan Merklin posted:

Joel,  Prayers for a complete recovery....

Same here Joel, prayers for a complete recovery.

Me too, Joel.  I hope all goes well.

LeonChupp posted:

Here"s my .02 on the High Comp. reading......    Could the exhaust valve be seated and not being opened by the cam, lifter, rocker system????   That would surely cause an increase in pressure.....   Never seen it, but it fits the picture...

Joel hope you get better man.

I think the valve stem would have to be broken off and completely out of the way and I don't think the valve guide would allow that to easily happen. I suppose it could under some freak circumstances but wouldn't the valve fall into the cylinder? Hell, I just found out Hugo Boss made all of the uniforms for the Nazis. It's no wonder those guys were so well dressed but what does that have to do with this topic?

Hugo Boss also designed the Porsche Factory Racing Team's outfits - Very Black and Very Classy.

Get well and get rested, Joel.  THAT's what's important, not the car.  It might be something as simple as an adjuster loosening up and not working the valve.  We'll see when they get to it and I won't bug you further.  A very good friend, my age, is about at the same point as you with her Chemo and I am in awe of the strength of people who go through it.

All the best.  gn

Wishing you the BEST with the chemo......  Gordon's right, you first, car second.....

Engine Update

After testing  compression with 3 different gauges and scoping it with 2 scopes the shop pulled the engine and found that #2 was loaded with carbon (Alan was right).They told me the piston,rings, cylinder and head were fine so they cleaned it up,lapped the valves and put it together The compression is now normal on #2 and all 4 cylinders are close and very acceptable-I forgot to ask the readings!

They also found #2  intake manifold to head gasket almost gone (sucking air) as were most exhaust gaskets. The spark on #2 &#1 is weak so will change distributor (wires and plugs ok).Also discovered was a broken pressure plate (springs?). I noticed that the arm where cable attaches to was in a weird position when I replaced the cable about 3 months ago but clutch worked fine so I forgot about it.

After it goes back together they will address the Webers-#2 idle mixture brass seat has come loose on occasion-now awaiting parts and gaskets.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes on my chemo-it is working (blood count improving) but I experience a lot of the side effects of the drug Vidaza (fatigue a big one) but I'll take the tradeoff.

Joel

Be on the mend!  Glad it wasn't major issue on engine - great to discover so many minor things at one time and address without multiple engine pulls.  Sound like you found an honest shop.

Good to hear from you, Joel.

I, too, amglad that they found a bunch of minor issues (well, OK, so the carbon build-up was a bit more than "minor", right?) and are getting them all fixed at once.  When you're feeling chipper enough to get out there speedying around, it should be trouble-free for you.  

And I agree with Wolfie - you've found a good shop, there.

Get better through the Summer.  Cool fall driving weather is approaching!

Glad to hear it got figured out and happy to hear you're on the mend, Joel. Hang in there.

Joel,

Well this here has been a real ed-u-cation.  Sorry I missed the fun, as I would have been able to offer up a lot of completely useless information about what might be wrong.  Another under the heading: many ways to go wrong. Looks like only Wolfy knows how these engines actually work: two valves per lobe.  Genius design, if you ask me.  Anyhow, carbon build-up is the culprit.  Did I miss how this got started?  Bad plug wire??  and so, if I read right (it's late and I'm moving fast) it's fixed.  Now if we can just get your old bod to sort out too, all will be good.  Sure hope that turns out right.