crying here... not a good phone call
05-25-2012, 10:16 AM
#61
Rennlist Member
...if you truly have to rebuild the engine then you may want to do this your self or if you like I could help you. We could work something out. I do have space here for the engine including an engine stand . I have a bunch of connections in the part business and you could learn about the engine as well. A top end is fairly straight forward the worst part is timing the cams which just takes careful thought and checking to set. other that pretty straight forward. I dont see why you would spend more then $2k in the whole process....
I too would love to live closer to Ben!
PS: I'd gladly spend a day helping someone pull/install an engine in my area...or suspension install, etc.
05-25-2012, 11:30 AM
#63
Burning Brakes
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If you want to continue this thread it would be interesting to have a better description of the shrapnel discovered and how the test was performed and what precautions they took to compensate for a cold engine as well as where the leak is occurring (i.e. valves or rings). The shop should be able to show you first hand what they seen and if you report back your observations (i.e. a photo would be of great benefit) I'm sure this would generate more opinions. I can't imagine 3-4 seconds of running on starter fluid could cause any siginificant damage (i.e. but then, I don't have any experience with starter fluid and these engines, only the diesel which has much higher CR's and generates more heat on combustion) even if there was a backfire. The fact that it ran afterwards is encouraging.
05-25-2012, 12:07 PM
#65
Race Car
Thread Starter
shrapnel.... when I asked if he could see it, he said no... what he saw was markings/scars across the top of the piston. So. let's go with the assumption there's nothing loose in the motor.
He also said the leak seems to be on the exhaust side of the stroke, not the intake.
He also said the leak seems to be on the exhaust side of the stroke, not the intake.
05-25-2012, 12:39 PM
#66
Rennlist Member
Time to break out Occam's Razor once more...
I'm suspecting cold winters and ethanol-laden fuel could have turned your fuel into jelly in the fuel lines and it may just be a matter of ensuring that your fuel lines are clear and pumping out fresh gas.
As mentioned before, the leak-down test on a cold, long-standing motor may not signify anything as the seals could have dried up and you're not getting proper readings.
I just fired up my BMW 1200GS for the first time this season and it sounded like it was only firing on one cylinder and I thought for sure something was seriously wrong, but then I realized I stored her with hardly any fuel in the tank (no-no #1 as water condensation invariably occurs inside the tank). So I filled the tank with FRESH gas, Techron injector cleaner, and just bit the bullet and let the engine run, revving her ever so slightly. Sure enough, that awful banging went away and before long she was purring like the kitten she always was!
Through the years, I've found that Occam's Razor is just about the best tool to have in your toolbox! I hope this is the case for you.
Oh, and Hawk, you sure have a lot of friends pulling for you on this forum...this has been just about the fastest trending thread I've seen...
I'm suspecting cold winters and ethanol-laden fuel could have turned your fuel into jelly in the fuel lines and it may just be a matter of ensuring that your fuel lines are clear and pumping out fresh gas.
As mentioned before, the leak-down test on a cold, long-standing motor may not signify anything as the seals could have dried up and you're not getting proper readings.
I just fired up my BMW 1200GS for the first time this season and it sounded like it was only firing on one cylinder and I thought for sure something was seriously wrong, but then I realized I stored her with hardly any fuel in the tank (no-no #1 as water condensation invariably occurs inside the tank). So I filled the tank with FRESH gas, Techron injector cleaner, and just bit the bullet and let the engine run, revving her ever so slightly. Sure enough, that awful banging went away and before long she was purring like the kitten she always was!
Through the years, I've found that Occam's Razor is just about the best tool to have in your toolbox! I hope this is the case for you.
Oh, and Hawk, you sure have a lot of friends pulling for you on this forum...this has been just about the fastest trending thread I've seen...
05-25-2012, 01:05 PM
#67
Burning Brakes
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I understand you're a bit of a photog and I thought getting a scope photo would give you an opportunity to use the macro setting. "shrapnel.... when I asked if he could see it, he said no... what he saw was markings/scars across the top of the piston." It would bother me that he wouldn't show me what he saw. I hate to generalize, even if it's on the positive side, but I found engine builders and machinists to be the most accomodating group of people, as long as you don't waste too much of their time. My response to not turn over the engine was based on the term shrapnel, leading me to think loose objects, but if it's just scaring then I would be less concerned but still cautious. Sometimes you can cause more damage runing an engine without knowing exactly what is wrong. "He also said the leak seems to be on the exhaust side of the stroke, not the intake." This is also encouraging in that the leak is localized to the exhaust valve (i.e. likely cause by the shrapnel that passed by the exhaust valve / seat and may still be in the exhaust system for analysis) and not the cylinders/pistons so adding oil to the cylinders should not produce any different leak down results.
05-25-2012, 01:19 PM
#68
Race Car
Thread Starter
I talked to the shop, and told him I really want to get the engine running. He claims the length of time sitting really has no bearing on my leakdown numbers, in his experience anyway.
05-25-2012, 01:40 PM
#69
Burning Brakes
If it were me, I'd get my car back and start diagnosing things. Don't change out any parts unless you know they're bad. You need 3 things to make any engine run. Fuel, spark, and compression. We know that you have compression in 4 out of 5 cylinders that they checked and I'd bet #6 is fine too.
Last edited by BigMikeATL; 05-25-2012 at 02:21 PM.
05-25-2012, 02:11 PM
#70
Feel free if you want to call me and vent . This is clear to me that something is not right here . I wish I would have been able to meet up with you prior to you bringing it there.
Sorry I had a bit of a rant but this is just too fishy and bugs me.
two6two 3six4 7four2six is my cell if you want.
Mraz may also be an option for another shop if you dont feel comfortable anywhere else.
05-25-2012, 02:25 PM
#72
However, should run even with one dead hole.
05-25-2012, 02:41 PM
#73
Nordschleife Master
If he rebuilds the motor it will still have the same problem it has now .
What ever is keeping the motor from running is outside the motor .
Marks on the top of a piston can't keep a motor from running .
The starter fluid test tells me you have spark but no fuel .
Figure out why it has no fuel and get the motor running .
Once you get it running drive it around and see what the health of the motor is after you give it the "Italian tune up"
What ever is keeping the motor from running is outside the motor .
Marks on the top of a piston can't keep a motor from running .
The starter fluid test tells me you have spark but no fuel .
Figure out why it has no fuel and get the motor running .
Once you get it running drive it around and see what the health of the motor is after you give it the "Italian tune up"
05-25-2012, 02:47 PM
#75
Race Car
Thread Starter
Like I said.. they have been told to get it started, and running. then we'll talk about rebuild if the leakdown is the same.