Stumped

[BreakinLugs]

What the hell is wrong with my car? I don't know, but I've been working like crazy for the last two days, and what do I have? Two days of work! The engine keeps missing. Two cylinders work and two cylinders don't. I bought new injectors, new plugs new wires and shocked the crap out of myself from a foot away testing the coil packs. My diagnostic computer says the coolant temp sensor is bad. That's it, nothing else! So much for that 1800 bucks. Does any one know what is happening? BTW, when its under a load(in gear), it knocks like a friggin' diesel, but when I let off the gas it winds down like nothing is wrong. I can't seem to figure it out.

 

[JamesBaumann]

If two cylinders dont work then I think the way to go is to either do a full rebuild on your motor, or replace it with another. Chances are it is an internal engine problem by the sounds of things. Two of your cylinders must have something internally malfunctioning. Stop spending money on things like injectors and take it to a mechanic to get an old engine diagnostic done. If your engine is shot, then your diagnostic computer will be shooting out all kinds of codes and everything will be all messed up, so don't trust your code reader until you know what the general problem is.

 

[bhuff30]

Does it idle normal, or on 2cyl still?
You could try a compression check.. that would reveal any internal damage or malfunctions. Hopefully, that isn't it, and you don't describe other bad symptoms.
You are sure you don't have any of the plug wires crossed, going to the wrong cylinder?
Also, check the cam and ignition timing to make sure it didn't change.

 

[BreakinLugs]

I just bought and used the compression tester. One and two cylinders have about 25 lbs of pressure and 3 and 4 have over 130lbs. It doesn't burn any oil so maybe a blown head gasket?

 

[bhuff30]

sounds like it is very likely to be a head gasket. Some other signs that may or may not appear are a milkshake instead of oil, oil in your water, bubbles coming up the radiator (check when cold), or steam out the tailpipe. Sounds like you need to pull the head and see whats going on though.

 

[nomuffler]

What is it about pouring oil in the bad cylinders and if the Compression goes up it means somthing? Anyone else ever heard of this? It's been a long time. You definitely got somthin wrong inside the engine. Sounds like a head gasket to me.

 

[bhuff30]

What is it about pouring oil in the bad cylinders and if the Compression goes up it means somthing? Anyone else ever heard of this? It's been a long time. You definitely got somthin wrong inside the engine. Sounds like a head gasket to me.

you only need a little bit (1 teaspoon). It drops to the rings and pistons, and makes a good seal around those. if your compression goes dramatically up, you have a ring/piston problem. if not, you either have a HUGE hole in the piston, or a valve/headgasket problem.