Help! I'm a "Gross Polluter"
12-31-2002, 02:39 PM
#16
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Thanks again everyone. I'm still leaning towards an Oxy Sensor problem (hoping is a better word) although I now know for sure that it is a counter light and not a failure indicator.
When I had some trouble with the car stumbling during hard acceleration earlier in the year, I knew there was a miss. As I mentioned before it turned out to be a plug wire. The car is idling around 600-800 RPM w/out any trouble and no problems when I go full throttle under load. I notice the ever so small delay but absolutely nothing even remotely close to when I experienced a "miss" with the bad plug wire. If this is a fuel system issue wouldn't I have more significant problems with a stumbling motor under load or trouble at idle? Since this doesn't appear to be the case and the numbers are way beyond the test limits (running rich), can an OXY sensor gone bad increase how rich it runs by THAT much? (see numbers in first my original post).
I saw comments I had made in the string I was referred to (above) and I had mentioned how last year I didn't pass smog on the first try, but then my mechanic said run it around the block get the car warm and try again...and so it passed. I ran the car a while before going to the test center this time round just to make sure I didn't have the same problem as last year but this time I wasn't so lucky. Maybe the the failure with a cold motor is an indication on what is wrong now?
One more thing (boy this one has me nervous) I was checking my oil level and noticed the oil looked kind of "foamy"....please, please, please tell me this is NOT an indication of coolant in the oil. I don't recall if my mechanic switched my oil to a synthetic from the usual goo but if so could this make the oil/lubricant look that way? The car does have a bit of a leak at the main seal but not very bad.
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
When I had some trouble with the car stumbling during hard acceleration earlier in the year, I knew there was a miss. As I mentioned before it turned out to be a plug wire. The car is idling around 600-800 RPM w/out any trouble and no problems when I go full throttle under load. I notice the ever so small delay but absolutely nothing even remotely close to when I experienced a "miss" with the bad plug wire. If this is a fuel system issue wouldn't I have more significant problems with a stumbling motor under load or trouble at idle? Since this doesn't appear to be the case and the numbers are way beyond the test limits (running rich), can an OXY sensor gone bad increase how rich it runs by THAT much? (see numbers in first my original post).
I saw comments I had made in the string I was referred to (above) and I had mentioned how last year I didn't pass smog on the first try, but then my mechanic said run it around the block get the car warm and try again...and so it passed. I ran the car a while before going to the test center this time round just to make sure I didn't have the same problem as last year but this time I wasn't so lucky. Maybe the the failure with a cold motor is an indication on what is wrong now?
One more thing (boy this one has me nervous) I was checking my oil level and noticed the oil looked kind of "foamy"....please, please, please tell me this is NOT an indication of coolant in the oil. I don't recall if my mechanic switched my oil to a synthetic from the usual goo but if so could this make the oil/lubricant look that way? The car does have a bit of a leak at the main seal but not very bad.
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">
12-31-2002, 04:38 PM
#17
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If you are suspecting a coolant in the oil there are some tell tale signs to look for. Bubbles or foam on the dip stick is definately one of them, when engine is cold look for condensation (water) on the back of the oil fill cap, you should notice the coolant level droping. If the oil starts looking like coffee with cream there is a good chance coolant is getting in. A coolant system pressure tester might be a good place to start. Test your cap. It should release aroud 15 psi. Then pressurize the system to 15 psi and check for leakdown. Although, it may not leak cold, sometimes it may only leak when the engine is hot. Good luck!
