When is head gasket day?

 

I hope not ever while I own the truck!
Starting to get tired of all the work on it,but I got it to do.I need to be working on my outboard's gear case, not the truck! (Lost reverse in the boat..I REALLY hate working on OMC lower units!)

 

Major Bass tournament in Winter Haven Fl. next month..have to have 'em both ready to rock and roll before then. Need to be fishing a one day on the Harris Chain in two weeks. so I gotta get busy!

 

If the plug ceramics aren't cracked & the plug wires are good & hooked up right, then look to a spark, fuel injector, or compression problem with #4.
So hook up your inductive timing light & see if spark is missing in time with the miss.
Listen to the #4 fuel injector with a stethoscope, to determine if it's click sounds different from the others, or is in time with the miss.
Listen to the engine to determine if you can hear a valve sticking around #4, in time with the miss.
If so, do a compression test on #4 cylinder.

More thoughts for consideration, let us know how it goes.

 

PawPaw's last post seems to possibly [probably] hit the nail on the head. Anyhow, no-one had asked the question... just what plugs had you installed in the cantankerous beast? If they aren't the right ones... and the ohm isn't within spec's for the wire [being new means nothing] one can't help but wonder.

 

No joy....And now this thing has made a monkey outta 2 dealership service departments and 3 independent reputable shops as well. Got air, got fuel, got spark...but #4 will NOT settle down still. Now where do we go..I am thinking about new lifters, maybe replace the computer...but how do I get a new box to read the key chip? I am admitting at this point I am stumped.

 

Thank you Castrol Syntech...at least the inside of the beast is still very clean! Who had the bright idea of these funky plastic gasket sets????

 

Paw-Paw...there did seem to be a sorta metallic knock in the general area of #4...but it was not consistent with the miss. We hooked up the plug light, the 'noid light....got gas, got spark.Just seems to be dumping fuel into 4. Moved injectors around too, but the problem stays the same. I miss my old F1 and the flathead Merc I had in it ('50)...But right now I am beaten.I have a 2 hour tow with the boat next month...and it's go or blow time. Gotta be there, even if it kills the engine once and for all.

 

Well...off to try to make enough to pay to fix this beast..gotta go to work once in a while...I'll check back later this evening ..am open to almost anything now short of arson...(in spite of all this I AM rather fond of The Beast!)

 

OK, good trouble shooting & feedback. You've been busy on this one.

So the Noid light & inductive timing light didn't show anything with respect to one or the other being absent, in time with the miss & didn't follow #4 fuel injector on the swap, then it's compression check time.

SO, pull #4 plug & do a compression test & post the number.

 

I haven't had time to work on The Beast this week...I am on call and haven't even been able to eat dinner at home.... but I am off Friday thru Sunday. I'll rerun compression tests .Wonder if the lifters are bad on #4? Didn't SEE anything when I scoped the intake,or under the valve cover. I'll let ya`know.

 

OK....comp on #4 reads 85....by comparison, comp on #1 reads 100. When I remove my gauge adapters from #4 plug hole, they are oily, oily....#1 , not.

 

OK, good feedback on the compression on #4 & finding the oil deposits.

Lets think about this some more. Since you say the engine only has 74K miles or so on it, the engine shouldn't be worn out.

SO maybe you have something like a valve guide seal leak, or worn valve guides, such that the valves are carboned up & not sealing well.

Or maybe the piston ring lands are carboned up & the rings are stuck & not sealing well.

Anyway do a compression check on the remaining cylinders & post the numbes.
Min compression is 100 psi. The lowest reading shouldn't be less than 15 psi below the highest reading.

If it looks like all cyls are low, then maybe something else is amiss, or the engine has more miles on it than you think????

In the meantime, what other options can you consider, with your fishing tournement tow coming up????

Maybe consider renting, or borrowing a truck for the tow????

If thats not an option & you have to use the Ranger, maybe consider using a good quality ester based synthetic engine oil, that can get after deposits & maybe things will improve on the tow.

Pennzoil now claims they can tidy up to 40% of deposits on the first OCI, if you like that recipe!!!!

Or maybe try something like Auto-Rx & see if it can remove enough deposits & help compression enough to get by. The tow would be a good time to try it.

Maybe consider having a professional engine decarb service performed, before the tow & see if it helps compression any.

Give it a Techron Concentrate Plus treatment during the tow, as that could help clean up the injectors, intake valves & combustion chamber deposits some more & maybe get some additional benifit?????

Some thoughts for pondering, let us know how the compression check on the remaining cyls goes.

 

I was really surprised when I pulled the valve covers....this engine has had Castrol Synthec in the crankcase since the day I bought it ( changed it my self..didn't trust the dealer, who told me no synthetic for rear end or trany was available...knew better. ) The rockers and top side was clean as new at 70k+, something I never got in other , conventional oil engines. Bear in mind, those compression numbers were based on a single crank stroke, not spinning it over. But the oil worries me.. I think maybe a valve seal myself and a fouled valve...remember I do not drive it much.Paw Paw , I think I am gonna load her up and go.2 hours at Interstate/Turnpike limits(65-70) may blow some of it out. Else the tow truck comes home with the boat! Will run it a bit more first, tho.There was oil on top of each rocker, so the lifters are pumping oil up. Keep ya posted. Not like I was still hauling 'shine in the Blue Ridge...just fishin.

 

Valve seals on even numbered bank....replaced all 6...running a lot better.Still sets same code, but I haven't had time to blow it out yet. Will let ya know.....