TypeR99

iTrader: (2)

My mate has an 03 blobeye thats completely standard.
While he was on holiday it overheated and was showing signs of headgasket gone (lots of white some from exhaust etc).

He didnt have the time/money to get the headgaskets done so we found an engine on ebay and fitted it at the weekend.

We transferred the up pipe, inlet and ancillaries over, all with new gaskets.

It compression tests at
1 - 160 psi
2 - 155
3 - 155
4 - 175

We've changed the plugs, and have 2 sets of coilpacks, all with the same symptoms. When the eml comes on it shows misfire cylinder 2 and 4, and sometimes 2, 3 and 4

Problem is, its very shakey on idle, throws up the engine light (constant steady flash) which then goes out again after a short period, and the exhaust fumes smell very strange. While driving it feels ok, makes power etc but pulling away from junctions theres a lot of smoke from the exhaust, whereas there seems to be less while driving (but still noticable in the mirror).

We ruled out the downpipe cat collapsing by fitting a temporary decat pipe, no difference so now we're a bit stumped

Would a blocked up pipe cat cause this or does it sound like we have another engine with headgaskets gone?

g.pain

Was the cambelt changed and have u checked the timing?

TypeR99

iTrader: (2)

thats the next thing on the list to check

It doesnt struggle to start, and if you're driving it and dont look in the rear view mirror you'd think it was all ok, but when you come to junctions the idle is low then when you pull away theres a puff of smoke/steam. It doesnt overheat and doesnt appear to have used water.

Inspected the old engine today and it has signs of ring/piston failure on cylinder 3/4 head as theres oil in the head and exhaust.

If it wasnt shaking on idle and being funny with codes i'd say it just needs clearing out as oil has obviously got into the exhaust etc but there seems more to it than that.

Tidgy

my dads car was shaking at idle when it had burnt out a couple of valves

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

Have you got the plugs to the coil packs the right way round, it sounds to me like its firing the wrong cylinders, or as said the timings out, i cant see it being a valve issue as the compressions pretty descent.

TypeR99

iTrader: (2)

yeah theyre all in the right way etc, otherwise it would struggle to start/run.

I'm starting to think this engine we got could be out of an accident damaged car and have jumped a few teeth?? seen that before.

Whats strange is how it drives ok once out of town, no eml, picks up ok etc. You can feel the shaking in the car etc so its only noticable in town.

Tidgy

have you done a leak down as well?

gazzawrx

iTrader: (11)

Maybe the car only likes the countryside, maybe its not a round the town kind of car

Try drop testing the injectors and see if that shows anything. Have you got access to another maf to try too?

TypeR99

iTrader: (2)

Leakdown was fine

we dont have another maf as that would be next on the list but i'll shout up if I need one.

Bob Rawle

If those compression figures are right its damaged

bob