I am very perplexed by this.
Went out this evening to a movie. I've got an all stock 85 GSL-SE EFI 13B. It was running perfectly when I parked it at the theater. Has been running perfectly (other than hiccup idle for 15-20 seconds at start-up until oil pressure builds) since I bought it in July. When I went to go home, it would crank and crank but not catch. I faintly smell fuel so I'm pretty sure it's getting gas. Tested for spark. Has spark.

I always let it cool for 30 seconds before I shut it off (wait for oil pressure to drop). I'm running Royal Purple 10W-40 and have been since September and it seemed to love it. I let it warm up for at least a minute whenever I start it up before I drive it. Its not burning oil more than it should be. I'm burning Chevron or Shell premium as my gas.

I have no idea why it randomly and without warning stopped running. Help!

 

The top 2 spark plugs had their pins come out when I pulled the wire off the plug. Another thing of note.

 

my first thought would be that the injectors are leaking after the engine is shut off, causing the engine to flood. replace the wires with a new set of NGK wires and pull and inspect the plugs while you're at it. you can also perform a compression test while you are pulling the plugs, just for good measure.

 

Might want to try using 87 or whatever your standard octane is instead of premium, n/a engines as far as I've researched run best on lower octane which could certainly be the cause of cold start "hiccups". I know during the month or so I ran 91 because I thought I was pinging, cold starts were harder and the car actually lost a bit of power then going back to 87 felt a lot better starting and general driving.

as well live by this motto when working on a car K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple stupid"

An engine needs 3 things to run.
1. Air and Fuel
2. Compression
3. Ignition

Some things to ask yourself.
1. Does it even so much as sputter when trying to start?
2. Have you recently done any work on the car
3. When was the last time you did a tune-up and checked things like plugs, connectors, coils etc.
4. Do you have spark?
5. Do you have any noticeable vacuum leaks?
6. Does your exhaust smell heavily like raw gasoline after trying to start it?
7. Are your plugs soaked?

 

Thanks guys.
Yeah today I pulled off the distributor cap and all my points are looking fried. So that combined with the plugs having broken connecting pins is probably my issue.
But in response to DarrenTRS:
1) Yes, but only until the oil pressure builds up to around 40 psi.
2) No
3) When I got it back in July.
4) Yes but not as strong as I should have. See above.
5) No vacuum leaks.
6) Yes
7) Yes

 

I shouldn't think you should be able to smell fuel at all. I would check out those injectors.

 

I will check the injectors when it is light once again. My garage is currently being occupied by my Honda who is getting a new engine.
Got new plugs, gapping them and will install them tomorrow as well.

 

new NGK plugs come pregapped and there is no need to try and gap them.. you will ruin them...

 

Most likely flooded this happens with my race car all the time.

 

Yeah I noticed that I wouldn't have to when I pulled them out of the box. Made me feel like an idiot hahaha

 

The raw fuel smell and sputtering on start up are a good indication of leaking injectors. Oil pressure most likely has nothing to do with it, they just happen at the same time.

 

a good place the have the injectors flow tested and cleaned is www.witchhunter.com. turn around time from initial shipping from your place and back is less than a week, excellent service.

 

Thanks guys. I'll take a look into that this weekend.