I tried many searches, but I didn't turn up anything conclusive.

I never had a blown engine before so I don't know for sure what the symptoms are here. So, here in central illinois it's like 3 below (straight, no wind chill)

So I go out, warm up my car, get in and go to work. When I leave work, the car has NO power. Probably didn't this morning, either, but I didn't really notice.

Here's what it's doing - it idles FINE, 750 rpm, no stuttering. When I get on the gas, in first, it's insanely slow to accelerate. The harder I press the gas, the more it bogs, especially over 3k. I think the exhaust smelled pretty bad, too. It doesn't bog unless the engine is under stress, so if I put it in neutral I can get it to rev all the way up no problem, but once I'm in gear, it's like all choking on me. One thing that was strange, the higher I rev the engine I hear this whistling sound coming from the engine area.

Because it is so cold outside, my initial reaction was that it's blown and I was thinking about doing the chevy small block conversion (I have an N/A) but then I thought hey it could be a vacuum leak due to the cold, too.

So anyone know what's wrong? Can anyone say for sure it's not a blown engine? I don't have compression test equipment and I'm not keen on doing one since it's so cold outside and I have no garage

 

Sounds like a vac leak more than a blown engine. Usually a blown motor idles like a lawn mower

 

neither... it woudln't idle with those 2.

 

well if it's not a vac. leak and it's not a blown engine, what could it be? Anyone have anything similar happen to them? I'll probably take it in soon and then I'll know but out of curiosity I'd like to know what it could potentially be worst case scenario.

 

This same thing happened to my girlfriend's car. I changed the fuel filter, spark plugs and spark plug wires and the problem was cured.

 

could be a plug wire or plug or something shorting out. I've had it happen to me on my Civic when Raptor13x was driving it and accidentally revved it up to 9500 (75mph in 2nd gear). The top of the engine (along which the plug wires run) shook hands with the underside of the hood (yeah it jerked that hard), which sliced one of the plug wires pretty good (not completely). So that when the car was warmed up (the plug wires were warm at least I think), it would arc a LONG way, and that cylinder wouldn't fire.

Before you dump the engine, might try new plug wires and/or new plugs.. and the basic tune-up stuff. I'd start with plug wires (but that may be because of my past experience).

 

A vacuum leak would result in a shitty idle. That ain't it.

Clogged cats will cause the probs you're having. Stick your head under the car when it's running, or after you've been driving for a while. At night, if possible. If the cats are glowing red hot, they're clogged. Replace them.

As has been said, it could be the fuel filter. Also, check the voltage to the fuel pump. Check your air filter, and the snorkle leading to the air filter. Are they clogged with debris? You never know when roadkill is gonna get sucked up in there. The engine can't make power if she can't breathe...

 

Just in case anyone else searches for clogged cat symptoms, Amur_ wins, it was indeed a clogged cat. It did not glow red, though, like people always say happens. It did get VERY hot under there and made a whistling noise. The exhaust smelled unbelievably bad.

Racing beat header (single), high flow cat, and catback should be installed by tomorrow

 

Woo-hoo!


Glad to hear it's nothing major.

 

I just reread the first post and was like "duh, clogged cat" lol