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Rough running and smoky exhaust fuel smell

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:10 am
by vipfto
Ok guys come across a prob with mates FTO
His car is idling wee bit rough but have changed all plugs leads etc and is definatly running on all 6

The exhaust note is now deeper than usual and is blowing a whitish smoke from exhaust (And no its not head gasket!!!!) which also has a fuel smell to it It wont be piston rings as no blue colour or oil smell

When he puts in gear whole car basically shakes with foot on brake but does drive smoother when going however is a loss of power

Will check ECU codes for him tonight but I may think he has a sticking lifter or valve seat buggered? as it is obviously not burning all fuel therefore the valve is not openeing to let air into chamber

Anyone else have any ideas?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:20 am
by Bennoz
White smoke is usually burnt coolant... I know you dont think its a head gasket, but how did you check that? By looking at the oil? Because the gasket can blow directly between a water gallery & the cylinder... The only thing you'd notice would be a drop in the water level - which can vary from a very slow drop, to a very fast drop.

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:31 am
by vipfto
Checked both oil and coolant and then we pressure tested coolant system its all good

Sorry I should explain myself better the smokey colour is more clear than white but very very distinct fuel smell?? hence why I think valve or lifter

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:40 am
by Bennoz
Ah, ok. Pressure tested the cylinders?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:43 am
by vipfto
Yip front three but not the rear did remove manifold over day and plugs an noticed driver side rear cylinder ( cant remember number) had strong fuel smell and residue on plug and looked like small bit of fuel/oil residue on top of piston but hard to be sure without removing head....... and very stong fuel smell and visible vapours in manifold

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:55 am
by Bennoz
Could be sticky injector...

Just that I've never heard of a valve jamming of rocker arm breaking in an FTO..

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:19 pm
by vipfto
neither have I i'll also run a cleaner through it and take rocker cover off and check the lifters aswell as ECU check will let you know results

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:47 pm
by Sugar
i had simalar problems with my first engine swap.

checked vacuum hoses? more so the 1 on the back of the intake manifold.

exhaust note is deeper?(ie nothing like an fto?) thats what ive got at the moment. bringing up a detonation sensor when i checked codes.

and its very sluggy. down low.. but 1ce its over 3-4k its fine.



just gotta find sombody to do it :|

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:09 pm
by vipfto
dB wrote:i had simalar problems with my first engine swap.

checked vacuum hoses? more so the 1 on the back of the intake manifold.

exhaust note is deeper?(ie nothing like an fto?) thats what ive got at the moment. bringing up a detonation sensor when i checked codes.

and its very sluggy. down low.. but 1ce its over 3-4k its fine.



just gotta find sombody to do it :|
Acutally sounds similar very deep sound and slow then once revs are up seems to be better however still not as fast as normal i'll be doing ecu check tonight detonation sensor could certainly be possible I hope so for his sake I dont really have time to pull head off etc 8O all vaccum hoses are connected :D

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:13 pm
by Sugar
yep sounds almost exactly like my problem.. fuel smell is really really bad when you first start her up?


wont be easy to fix if it is your detonation sensor.. smack in the center of the v..

thats why ive left it so long lol

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:18 pm
by Bennoz
dB wrote:yep sounds almost exactly like my problem.. fuel smell is really really bad when you first start her up?


wont be easy to fix if it is your detonation sensor.. smack in the center of the v..

thats why ive left it so long lol
Yeah... you didnt give me enough beer to dig that far in to your motor :lol: Intake off for plugs was enough!

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:20 pm
by vipfto
dB wrote:yep sounds almost exactly like my problem.. fuel smell is really really bad when you first start her up?


wont be easy to fix if it is your detonation sensor.. smack in the center of the v..

thats why ive left it so long lol
Easy job mate if its that problem i'll even post up a DIY for you, just need to remove intake manifold, fuel rail etc there is bugger all there to get to it takes me maybe 45 mins to take apart just need to be carefull not to drop any nuts down there or break the gaskets :D

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:23 pm
by Sugar
if you could do a diy that would be sensational..

failing that ill just buy ben a few more beers lol

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:25 pm
by Sugar
Bennoz wrote:
dB wrote:yep sounds almost exactly like my problem.. fuel smell is really really bad when you first start her up?


wont be easy to fix if it is your detonation sensor.. smack in the center of the v..

thats why ive left it so long lol
Yeah... you didnt give me enough beer to dig that far in to your motor :lol: Intake off for plugs was enough!


so how much is enough sir?
hummm ben could you caps me the part number?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:05 pm
by Bennoz
dB wrote:
Bennoz wrote:
dB wrote:yep sounds almost exactly like my problem.. fuel smell is really really bad when you first start her up?


wont be easy to fix if it is your detonation sensor.. smack in the center of the v..

thats why ive left it so long lol
Yeah... you didnt give me enough beer to dig that far in to your motor :lol: Intake off for plugs was enough!


so how much is enough sir?
hummm ben could you caps me the part number?
Would we be safe in thinking it could also be called a "ignition failure sensor"?

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:27 pm
by Sugar
i duno lol. your the brains and brawn i just bring the hammer.


i thought it was more of a knock sensor?

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:38 am
by cjam
got my money on an injector cause ive got the same problem. it happened once before, thrashing the car for a few mins fixed it all good. but its the same again now so im going to get my efi guys to look into it over the next few days.

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:13 am
by vipfto
Did ECU check last night and NO error codes :?

I still think valve or lifter but dont have time to pull head off for him so he will have to take to shop :cry:

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:24 am
by payaya
Too many variables! First tihngs that came to my mind was blocked cat or leaky head!

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:32 am
by vipfto
exaxtly what i thought until I started to eliminate probs but for one there is no cat and two pressure tested for head gasket but like I said not my prob at mo and dont have time to look any deeper for him