Righto, out and about today, put my foot down on the motorway, which was followed by a splutter at about 5-6k rpm. Slowed down, and noticed that at lower revs, it sounded like it was misfiring. As soon as you got above 3k though, it appeared to clear and although it sounded slightly different, it was pulling ok. A few minutes later the coolant light came on, and it was topped up with coolant accordingly. However, it was still creating boost, so its not a boost leak.

On the way back, it seemed to be the same. However, increased the revs to about 4500, when all of a sudden the car just slowed down loads and bogged down. After that, it was a struggle to accelerate and it sounded completely different. It absolutely stinks of petrol under the bonnet now, but its still creating boost and according to a friend it was popping loads of small flames

To summarize;
Complete lack of power
Bogging down loads
Too much fuel
Still boosting.

It appears to start ok ish, but i'm at a loss as to what it is, but someone has suggested the manifold could have cracked? Could it be this, or have the tips gone to the great tip heaven in the sky?
Its an FD running a single and all the bits to go with it.

 

What does the smoke out of the exhaust smell like?

Loss of coolant and some of the symptoms you describe could be a side seal, I think. A sweet smell in the exhaust fumes would call for a champaign test. Do a search for how this is done.

Gasoline smell under the "bonnet" could be a variety of things, crached manifold being one, but that would be pretty rare. I'd look at the fuel rail and seal around the injectors before jumping to that conclusion.

 

It all stinks of petrol. Couldn't smell any coolant as such and it doesn't seem to be burning it directly.

 

Sounds like you popped your motor. Compression test needed to be sure. Whats your vacuum reading? If the needle on your boost gauge bounces then you popped your motor.

 

Thats one of the bits I can't understand. The boost gauge isn't fluttering at all, as its hardly moving. Think it was about -350mm/hg, although I can't remember the scale on it. It was definitely about -350 though.

Could it be that I fouled the plugs?

 

-350 isnt too bad, although healthy stock motors pull more like 400-450, depending on rpm of course. the plugs are a possibility, but a compression check is probably a good idea. how many miles are on the motor?

 

I'm not sure how many miles are on it since the last rebuild. Its on about 75k now, but it had a rebuild sometime before 60k (prior to me owning the car)

 

Still have your air pump? eeeeeeeeeeeCan you try pulling the engine light codes? If you are getting gas out the exhaust, it probably means that some of the chambers aren't firing and yes, that could be an apex or side seal. I'd sure ttry to eliminate everything else though before spending money on a compression test.

 

Still have your air pump? Can you try pulling the engine light codes? If you are getting gas out the exhaust, it probably means that some of the chambers aren't firing and yes, that could be an apex or side seal. I'd sure ttry to eliminate everything else though before spending money on a compression test.

 

Theres no Airpump

 

motor is toast, sorry

 

Sputtering while WOT'ing could easily just be plugs. Check em'.

It sounds liek a good tune-up is in order, though I would also reccommend a compression test immediately. Look for any abnormal amounts of smoke at idle, and check your coolant levels regularly.

If your motor is un-harmed, I would reccommend plugs, wires if need be, and fuel-filter. As listed before, check for ANY kinds of leaks as well. If you're smelling fuel under the bonnet, that is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good.

Fuel under hood = fire under hood = roasted toasted and burnt to a crisp FD.

Be smart.

 

Fuel filter was changed a month ago and whilst I know what you mean by spluttering at WOT, it seemed different to that. It started having problems under load and now it sounds completely different. There seems to be a tinny rattling noise from the engine itself.

 

what does it sound like when you crank it over?

are you getting pulses like: - - - - - -
or: - - - ^ - ^

 

See link on second page for what it sounds like

 

it wants me to create an account.

 

http://media.putfile.com/rex6249

That should work

 

Dan,
you need to finfd the source of the fuel smell under the hood, first off before you catch something on fire, second perhaps an injector failed and is flooding the motor (a guess here) but I'm betting if you find the smell you'll find the problema nd can better figure out if the symtoms make sense from there.

 

I had a look and it appears to be exhaust fumes blowing from somewhere, rather than a petrol leak itself. Obviously it stinks as its running really rich.

 

I hear a metalic ring to that recording. Doesn't sound good.