Loosing Power Again!!

[AlexDukes]

So after my last thread regarding loosing power, it is happening again! This time I know for certain it is not the fuel system!

The car is idling smoothly, but when I get to roughly 3k revs, the car starts to splutter and loose power. The car has also started to struggle getting uphill, no longer accelerating like it used to.

I have noticed a smell of burning oil, I think I have a leak around the rocker cover seal, which I have ordered a new part and awaiting its arrival!

I did put some more oil in the car and am now worried that I have put too much in which has caused the problem?

As usual, I look forward to your advice!

Thanks guys

 

[AlexDukes]

Any ideas

 

[Rodger]

Alex,
Did you run some injector cleaner through with a tank full of fuel? The spray pattern produced by the injectors is very important and as you are certain that everything up to and including the fuel filter is okay then you should start with the least expensive items to eliminate this problem.
The oil burning smell could just be the leaked oil hitting the exhaust or the turbo housing. That should be eliminated with the new gasket and a clean up.
As you have had to top up the oil that would imply that fuel is NOT passing down the bores but does the oil on the dip stick look consistent or is it thinner than one would expect?
When you drop back down from 3K revs do you get a cloud of smoke from the exhaust?
IMO it is unlikely to be the pump because it only happens over 3K so, to me, it points to the injectors but then again I know nothing about turbos...
Try a good dose of injector cleaner first...

Hope that helps

Regards,

Rodger

 

[AlexDukes]

I guess that the oil does look a little thinner than I would expect, what does that mean! ?

 

[nick_the_fish]

At a basic level engines need fuel, air and combustion.

Have you checked the air filter? The higher the revs the more air the engine needs, so it might be ok at low revs but getting starved of air at high revs???

Another thought, my ford focus was losing power at higher revs and it turned out the vacuum hose to the turbo was split. Not sure if you have a turbo but if you do it might be that the engine isn't losing power at high rev's per se, but maybe the turbo isn't kicking in making it feel like you have no power because your used to more power at high rev's - if you see what I mean.

Just a thought???

 

[Rodger]

Yes Nick Ales's engine is a 2.4 turbo, so it is worth doing the checks that Nick is suggesting.
Also have you checked your air filter is clean or just replace it if you haven't recently.

An increase in the oil level and a thinning of the oil can mean fuel is passing the rings into the sump or it could mean a warped head or a head gasket problem but you should explore and eliminate all the other possible causes first as firstly they will be cheaper to fix and also if undertake head or rings repairs and find the problem is still there... oh that is so frustrating.

With the engine warm, turn it off and take the dip stick a few yards away from the car /engine bay and smell the oil. No strong smell of diesel then no fuel passing he rings. On older engines there will always be a slight smell.

The spray pattern produced by the injectors is important to the engine's performance and the cleaner will certainly help tidy up the pattern.

Does it run hot? Are there bubbles in the coolant (rad cap off but not if it is anywhere near the red line on the gauge)?

As the problem only occurs at 3k and above IMO it is something small that breaks down under the pressures inflicted on the engine/turbo at the higher revs. So check the air flow via the filter, vacuum pipes as Nick says and look for signs of fuel spill/leaks and give it a dose of injector cleaner.

Regards,

Rodger

 

[outdoordan]

Try taking the air filter off and taking it for a blast with no air filter in.

 

[ManOfTheWest]

The car is idling smoothly, but when I get to roughly 3k revs, the car starts to splutter and loose power. The car has also started to struggle getting uphill, no longer accelerating like it used to.

When I had a similar problem it was the turbo, the vanes of which had seized up. Had to get it reconditioned by a specialist.

 

[Tractionman]

Re turbo, if you remove big hose from air box to turbo you can see the vanes on the turbo and examine for wear/seizure with fingers. Make sure the vehicle is turned off, in park if auto and keys in your pocket.
If turbo was seized would the green light NOT come on indicating boost.
Something else to consider, could the egr be blocked, throttle body gummed up etc.
I recently replaced head on my lj78 and the amount of grungy crap in there amazed me.

 

[Bazz1340]

So after my last thread regarding loosing power, it is happening again! This time I know for certain it is not the fuel system!

The car is idling smoothly, but when I get to roughly 3k revs, the car starts to splutter and loose power. The car has also started to struggle getting uphill, no longer accelerating like it used to.

I have noticed a smell of burning oil, I think I have a leak around the rocker cover seal, which I have ordered a new part and awaiting its arrival!

I did put some more oil in the car and am now worried that I have put too much in which has caused the problem?

As usual, I look forward to your advice!

Thanks guys

I had the exact same problem with a Mitsubishi Sport Diesel...Started and ticked over fine, lack of power at revs over 2k, and a strange smell...Mechanics told me unlikely to be the Pump as they are Bomb Proof... fitted new Turbo core,ECG Valve,Fuel filter housing,Fuel feed pipes from Tank Etc Etc...Turned out to be the Injector Pump..Had it refurbed and the increase in power throughout the Rev range was dramatic

 

[Beau]

Hook up a boost gauge and make sure the turbo's boosting as it should. If it is, check the line that runs to the MAP sensor to make sure the ECU is seeing the boost levels. You could also have a blockage in the line somewhere?