sounds like a lawnmower - help!
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- Minor Legend
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sounds like a lawnmower - help!
hello chaps
The other day I started the van after a couple of days of not running it, and it sounded like a lawnmower When I put it away after previously using it it was running fine.
It's sounding like a lawnmower when it's under any acceleration or load at all - but it sounds normal when it's coasting or going downhill.
It sometimes bunny-hops very slightly.
There's a bit of vibration coming through the gearstick and the pedals.
Compression test shows even compression on all four cylinders, but rather low at 100 (no 3 was 110). All plugs sooty around the edge with a burnt, biscuit-coloured central portion - except no 2 which was wet and not sooty.
I haven't played with the carb yet - except to check that the piston isn't sticking.
I'm less well than usual with the ME, and horribly busy (my parents are selling the property so I am tidying and clearing stuff out and cleaning the place), so I thought I would post here to see if the symptoms can give someone a clue as to what the problem is - rather than me having to try everything in turn (thus spake the novice... )
help!
wibble
The other day I started the van after a couple of days of not running it, and it sounded like a lawnmower When I put it away after previously using it it was running fine.
It's sounding like a lawnmower when it's under any acceleration or load at all - but it sounds normal when it's coasting or going downhill.
It sometimes bunny-hops very slightly.
There's a bit of vibration coming through the gearstick and the pedals.
Compression test shows even compression on all four cylinders, but rather low at 100 (no 3 was 110). All plugs sooty around the edge with a burnt, biscuit-coloured central portion - except no 2 which was wet and not sooty.
I haven't played with the carb yet - except to check that the piston isn't sticking.
I'm less well than usual with the ME, and horribly busy (my parents are selling the property so I am tidying and clearing stuff out and cleaning the place), so I thought I would post here to see if the symptoms can give someone a clue as to what the problem is - rather than me having to try everything in turn (thus spake the novice... )
help!
wibble
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- Minor Maniac
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Try another plug (and wire) if you have one in number 2.
You can pull the plug caps off while the engine is running and see which one makes no difference to the tick over (that one will be the non firing cylinder)
Use thick gloves and keep the end of the plug wire close to the block and as far as possible from your hand.
You can get shocks doing this so educational for kids an apprentices.
It does isolate non firing cylinders very well though.
Watching the engine run in the dark will reveal any sparks going astray.
You can pull the plug caps off while the engine is running and see which one makes no difference to the tick over (that one will be the non firing cylinder)
Use thick gloves and keep the end of the plug wire close to the block and as far as possible from your hand.
You can get shocks doing this so educational for kids an apprentices.
It does isolate non firing cylinders very well though.
Watching the engine run in the dark will reveal any sparks going astray.
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- Minor Legend
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Sounds like number 2 is misfiring. I'm pretty sure the carb will still be OK. Have you tried scraping the contacts in the distributor cap clean?
Alex Holden - http://www.alexholden.net/
If it doesn't work, you're not hitting it with a big enough hammer.
These compressions are all horribly low. And the #2 plug report is not encouraging. Maybe it's just oiled up - worth trying another plug and hope for the best! If it does then run alright - take it for a decent run right away - then check the compressions again on return.
Long term (but not too long) - you should make plans for an engine swap.
Long term (but not too long) - you should make plans for an engine swap.
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- Minor Legend
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Thanks very much, everyone
BMC - an engine swap is already on the cards - but I need to get to Cumbria and back first Yes they are very low compression results. I felt encouraged to find that they were even, though. I cleaned all the plugs just last week (they get sooted up as the engine is burning oil from somewhere - or running very rich - something which no one so far has been able to cure, thus {partly} the engine swap).
Alex - yes I've cleaned the contacts, just last week
MarkyB - thanks very much for the tip, I will try that tomorrow
Peetee - thanks, mate - I will try and work through that list.
Matt - I dunno! come round and mend it! I must have done the effing tappets three or four times since November and I have the scars to prove it
BMC - an engine swap is already on the cards - but I need to get to Cumbria and back first Yes they are very low compression results. I felt encouraged to find that they were even, though. I cleaned all the plugs just last week (they get sooted up as the engine is burning oil from somewhere - or running very rich - something which no one so far has been able to cure, thus {partly} the engine swap).
Alex - yes I've cleaned the contacts, just last week
MarkyB - thanks very much for the tip, I will try that tomorrow
Peetee - thanks, mate - I will try and work through that list.
Matt - I dunno! come round and mend it! I must have done the effing tappets three or four times since November and I have the scars to prove it
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- Minor Legend
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Ju - do you by any chance have the proper LCV low compression engine in the van? If so, then 100 is not too much to stress about.
If not, then it's mildly alarming but at least all are similar.
Oiling up a plug may well be down to a poor spark, however it can also be down to poor oil rings / damaged bore. Servicing the lectrics and changing that plug may help but if it's only temporarily better, then the engine is on borrowed time.
If not, then it's mildly alarming but at least all are similar.
Oiling up a plug may well be down to a poor spark, however it can also be down to poor oil rings / damaged bore. Servicing the lectrics and changing that plug may help but if it's only temporarily better, then the engine is on borrowed time.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
Even on the Low Comp engine - 100/110 is pretty desperate!
However - to get the best possible result - you need hot engine with fully charged battery. Remove all the spark plugs, and prop the throttle open slightly (to let air in) - then test each bore in turn, letting the starter run for about 5 seconds on each bore to get steady best reading.
However - to get the best possible result - you need hot engine with fully charged battery. Remove all the spark plugs, and prop the throttle open slightly (to let air in) - then test each bore in turn, letting the starter run for about 5 seconds on each bore to get steady best reading.
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- Minor Legend
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Thanks Ray How would I tell whether I had the LCV engine in, or just the standard 1098? (I've gone past stressing, and out the other side )
I suspect the oil rings, thus the projected engine swap Thanks very much for the tips xxxxxx
rayofleamington wrote:Oiling up a plug may well be down to a poor spark, however it can also be down to poor oil rings / damaged bore. Servicing the lectrics and changing that plug may help but if it's only temporarily better, then the engine is on borrowed time.
I suspect the oil rings, thus the projected engine swap Thanks very much for the tips xxxxxx
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- Minor Legend
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I think the engine number will start with something like 10M/U/L (low) vs 10M/U/H (high).wibble_puppy wrote:Thanks Ray How would I tell whether I had the LCV engine in, or just the standard 1098?
Not to mention the gradually failing oil pressure...I suspect the oil rings, thus the projected engine swap
Alex Holden - http://www.alexholden.net/
If it doesn't work, you're not hitting it with a big enough hammer.
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- Minor Legend
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Cheers for thatalex_holden wrote:I think the engine number will start with something like 10M/U/L (low) vs 10M/U/H (high).wibble_puppy wrote:Thanks Ray How would I tell whether I had the LCV engine in, or just the standard 1098?
Seems to have stabilised at the moment *touches wood*Not to mention the gradually failing oil pressure...
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- Minor Legend
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I once rebuilt a saloon engine to go in an LCV (with the heavily dished pistons), and there'll be a fair few low comp LCV engines that now have standard pistons - however the engine number is normally correct regarding high and low comp.
The only 100% sure way to tell is by taking the head off and looking at the pistons.
The only 100% sure way to tell is by taking the head off and looking at the pistons.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
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- Minor Legend
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Wibble, we all know it's kittens that purr not puppies!wibble_puppy wrote: Purring again now (and so is the engine )
Glad you found the problem, if I were you (which would be funny) I'd put a spare sparkplug in my tool kit just in case.
Here is one of our puppies purring through his daily weigh in.
<br><br>
And here again a few weeks older.
<br><br>
Sorry about going off topic!!!
This message board is like a family - you can't choose the other members!! But remember engine oil is thicker than water.
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- Minor Legend
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lol @ peetee
Yeah, i carry spare plugs - as well as every other conceivable spare and tool from jubilee clips to starter motor Sod's law will dictate though that any time I break down it will be for want of something I don't have with me - eg recently the wiper motor burned out
It was quite funny at the garage I was at yesterday having the tracking checked (after fitting polybushes to the front suspension) - every time they reached for a tool I was there before them with one of my own tools out of the kit I carry
Incidentally, very interesting having the tracking checked - I was allowed to "help" and it was most instructional
Yeah, i carry spare plugs - as well as every other conceivable spare and tool from jubilee clips to starter motor Sod's law will dictate though that any time I break down it will be for want of something I don't have with me - eg recently the wiper motor burned out
It was quite funny at the garage I was at yesterday having the tracking checked (after fitting polybushes to the front suspension) - every time they reached for a tool I was there before them with one of my own tools out of the kit I carry
Incidentally, very interesting having the tracking checked - I was allowed to "help" and it was most instructional