morpheus

this started off not so bad, but is getting significantly worse, and im not sure where to start. the car is an 84 with an 88 6port injected engine. the injection and other electronics are handled by an electomotive tec2 computer. (engine internals done by hayes rotary) when i first got this engine installed, it ran *great* but due to my misfortunes, the car had to sit for almost 3 years. upon first starting it (after changing the plugs, fuel filter, fuel, and cranking it over by hand with atf poured into the plug holes) it ran very poor. with the pedal almost to the floor, it would barely do 30. after driving it for a while, something shot flaming out of the exhaust and it took off just like it was new. (we figured some mice had made a nest in the exhaust) i have been driving the car daily for the past 2 years. about a year ago, i noticed some smoke coming from the exhaust, sort of a blackish-blue color, when accelerating. also at high rpms, the engine backfired severely during shifts (which made for a neat fire display at night). then the smoke seemed to worsen, particulary at startup, but seemed to go away after a few minutes. things are entirely different now.

sometimes it starts fine, with no smoke, other times it smokes badly. the color: sort of a greyish color. what really worries me is that the oil pressure, after the engine has reached operating temp, is only about 30psi at idle, and the engine idles like a heavily cammed small block. furthermore, lately, during normal driving, the engine often cuts out like its missing, then begins smoking *severely* such that when i come to a stop, the smoke drifts past the car (assuming a tail wind) and the oil pressure drops to 20psi. this smoking may continue, or it might quit, or lessen after a few miles. if i pull the dipstick after stopping it, the same color smoke rises out of the tube. but what really gets me confused is that this doesnt always happen...some days the car runs just fine!

im sorry this is such a long post...

i havent gotten the software for the electromotive system, and i know its running extremely rich (much worse mileage than when i first put the engine in). is it possible that the rich condition is "washing down" the apex seals causing oil consumption? my oil level hasnt dropped in about 1000 miles. are the seals going.gone bad? if so, why does this only happen sometimes? (the smoke) or can this all be blamed on the untuned, rich running electromotive management? i checked the plugs today after blowing some serious smoke on the way home from work, and there appeared to be some oil on the plug threads, with the electrodes covered in a flakey black substance, which easily scraped off.

the oil smells a little of gas, and the last time i really got tired of this problem, i changed the oil (valvoline 10-30) and the smoke cleared for about a week and the pressure returned (about 40-50psi at idle).

i need to get the engine paid off so i can get the software to set the ignition timing and fuel delivery set correctly (jim if youre reading this, i will get that done as soon as i get the divorce finalised)

help!!!!

jeremy

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

do you have a a/f gauge? its pretty sporadic. i'd say your side seals were leaking but you've had no loss in oil. running permix? perhaps the omp is screwed up. i would also run 20w-50 in the summer. should help with oil pressure also. mine normally sits at 30psi at idle.

morpheus

no. no a/f guage. if i can ever save the money and get the electomotive software, i will be able to tell precisely what my engine is doing at all times. for all i know, perhaps the curent program/parameters have been thrown off due to battery failure or something. once i get the software, i can reset the parameters back to the original setting, if they are not there anymore.

no premix either. gas in the tank and oil in the pan. im seriously (and hopefully) thinking that a lot of gas is getting mixed with the oil, which is thinning it out. this would explain why it doesnt smoke and the pressure is up after an oil change. ill change the oil again this weekend if i can find the time...but if i have to change the oil every 600 miles, its going to take that much longer to get it paid off!

thanks for the reply, and i hope more follow
jeremy

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

yeah, i would definitely get the software before you do any damage to it. i'm pretty sure that the ecu is made to keep its maps even in a electrical shutoff. otherwise you would be reloading it all the time.