engine trouble
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Walla Walla USA
engine trouble
To make a long story short...I replaced the engine with a rebuilt one.....and then a few weeks later the engine got dangerously low on oil due to a bad coupling in the after market oil gauge. Oil spewed from the coupling to the wheel well so I never noticed a smell or burning oil since it never landed on the engine. (night time as well).. I made it home just as the engine was losing power. I fixed the coupling, oil etc.
I took it in to get a new carburator adjusted and the mechanic thought I had a noise that sounded like bad rocker arms. The noise is not there when idling only when power given to engine. Does this sound right and if so how much longer do I have? Rocker arms can be replaced but rather spendy unless I do it myself. Any suggestions on if the noise issue is the rocker arms? Thanks
I took it in to get a new carburator adjusted and the mechanic thought I had a noise that sounded like bad rocker arms. The noise is not there when idling only when power given to engine. Does this sound right and if so how much longer do I have? Rocker arms can be replaced but rather spendy unless I do it myself. Any suggestions on if the noise issue is the rocker arms? Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green, Ohio
engine trouble
JML,
Sorry to hear about your engine woes. I like using a length
of heater hose (about 2 feet long) as a stethoscope. Put one
end to your ear, and hold the other over (or on) various parts
of your engine (while it runs) to locate the noise (just be
careful the hose doesn't hit the fan or one of the belts).
Using this method I was able to diagnose two collapsed lifters
in my 429 so closely that I was able to pinpoint the exact
two lifters. Some people like using a long screwdriver
(hold handle to your ear, hold the blade against an engine part
and listen to the vibrations). I prefer my heater hose.
You should be able to tell where the noise is coming from, and
might get a clue what it is.
Ohio Bill
Sorry to hear about your engine woes. I like using a length
of heater hose (about 2 feet long) as a stethoscope. Put one
end to your ear, and hold the other over (or on) various parts
of your engine (while it runs) to locate the noise (just be
careful the hose doesn't hit the fan or one of the belts).
Using this method I was able to diagnose two collapsed lifters
in my 429 so closely that I was able to pinpoint the exact
two lifters. Some people like using a long screwdriver
(hold handle to your ear, hold the blade against an engine part
and listen to the vibrations). I prefer my heater hose.
You should be able to tell where the noise is coming from, and
might get a clue what it is.
Ohio Bill
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 9
From: Sun River St. George
engine trouble
You ran the engine low on oil to the point that you noticed a loss of power? I would expect engine damage caused by oil starvation and the tremendous heat produced as a consequence of that. I'd pull the pan and check the bearings, that clicking noise may be the least of your problems. Get a direct reading (calibrated) oil pressure gage and find out what the oil pressure is hot at idle. Sorry I could not be more hopeful! I like low pressure warning lights, gets my attention right away, not like some gage sneaking down.
William in Atlanta
William in Atlanta
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Walla Walla USA
engine trouble
I am not too sure how much oil was left in the engine since the idiot light never came on (?) but the engine was losing power as I came within a few houses of my driveway. Since then I have driven it and it seems okay other then a noise which I only noticed the other day. It might have been there before though. In fact it drives real nice on the highway with plenty of passing power etc. I want to take it on a trip for a few hundred miles to pick up something but am wondering will this be something that just conks out on me or will it slowly (if it does) get worse?
