Feedman
10-08-2004, 01:51 PM
Wednesday: I bought a catch can b/c oil was starting to drip out my valve cover breather filter. I had learned that on boosted cars when there is no vacuum it won't pull the vapors out from the pcv system. So I bought a catch can and hooked it up....(maybe my problem) - more later. Went for a lap, everything seemed peachy.
Thursday: I was on my way to get my license photo taken and have my care inspected. I had went down to the end of Rosemar and was sitting @ the last light waiting to turn left onto Emerson. The light turned green, I turned right and hit about 3k on the tach with only 30% throttle and it puked and stuttered. Then I noticed alot of smoke coming out the back...and underneath the hood, I smiled b/c I just had it tuned. Figures. So I pulled into the Hardess there on the left and parked it. Turned it off, popped the hood and there was alot of oil everywhere. Even out my bov. I honestly didn't care @ the time and dropped the hood. Called an officer from the station and got a ride. I went ahead and left it set until later that night when it was towed home. (omnipresent Dave). Parked it in front of my house where it is now.
Friday-Tuesday: I went to Detroit with Jordan and a mutual friend Jamie. Great time, I still need to share my stories about that trip. Got home, ran around that evening with Jordan. We stopped @ his house, b/c he is moving into a new house btw. I was talking to his Dad about what happened and he said he could help me out. He had a car he was willing to part with. So I took him up on his offer. Perfect timing(thanks Jordan).
Wednesday: I had the car towed to my house, b/c it wasn't in running condition. Its a 94 Hyundai Elantra. 1.6L Dohc 5spd. After a new altenator belt, serpentine belt, air filter, along with a new oil filter and all the fluids, it started right up. Smokes a little when its first started but clears up after a few minutes. It still needs front brakes and some winter tires, but it will be great for my beater.
Thursday: Cleaned the car up, inside and out, it was very dirty. Looks like a nice car actually. The front and rear bumpers are a little broken to say the least, so I think I might try my hand @ fiber glassing and grab a can of spray paint to touch it up. The rear quarter panel has a spot of rust, so there is a chance for me to try some body work. The engine seems solid except for a slight oil leak, and the tranny shifts like butter, actually better than my Si....lol.
Friday: @ work now writing this, making some extra cash to fix the Si, b/c I don't want to dip into savings. I am in no hurry to fix it. I think I might let it set for some time anyway. Finish the work on the house before it gets cold and then work on the car as a winter project. I am kicking around a few ideas. Depending on the shape of the block. I will keep it and rebuild it with new pistons and rods. Or drop a b18c under it with my head and build that. All depends what I can come across. I would like to do the latter honestly, so if someone can find me a good B18c shortblock for $200 or less consider it sold.
What caused it you may ask? Thats a good question. I have a few answers. Pick what you think fits.
1.) Most obvious - Lack of tuning for 7 months caused my rings/ringlands to fail prematurly.
2.) Again, lack of tuning. As you all know I was running waaay rich to prevent detonation. During this it may have "washed" the cylinder walls with gas and prevented the rings from seating properly. Thus allowing blowby.
3.) User error, my catch can setup. I hooked up the catch can setup closed loop. I didn't realize @ the time but under boost the pcv system doesn't work. So by having it all connected, when I hit boost the crankcase pressure had no where to go, finding a weakspot perhaps in my headgasket or pistons.
4.) Last but not least, tuning, its not what you may think. Didn't we already cover this? No. B/c of my exhaust leak, Steve @ Colletti Motorsports was unable to get me @ the standard 12.1 a/f. He stated b/c of my exhuast leak the wideband was unable to get an accurate reading so he was forced to do the best he could. He said it was sucking in extra air, casuing the wideband to show more lean than it actually was. He tuned it @ 14.1 across the board. What if it wasn't effecting the wideband as he thought and it really was tuned @ 14.1? This would explain the extra power I was getting and would also explain why my car is in the shape its in.
But only time will tell. It will be a few weeks until I have time to pull it in the garage and tear the head off to see what the problem is. I am confident I can tackle this myself. I am sure from time to time I will asking for help, all beit info or an extra hand. I have never rebuilt an engine, so first time for everything. I am hoping when its all down I will be putting 250-300whp down tuned of course. This time it will be down right. Right down to having my front bumper painted and the wheels aligned. No screw left unturned.... 8)
Thursday: I was on my way to get my license photo taken and have my care inspected. I had went down to the end of Rosemar and was sitting @ the last light waiting to turn left onto Emerson. The light turned green, I turned right and hit about 3k on the tach with only 30% throttle and it puked and stuttered. Then I noticed alot of smoke coming out the back...and underneath the hood, I smiled b/c I just had it tuned. Figures. So I pulled into the Hardess there on the left and parked it. Turned it off, popped the hood and there was alot of oil everywhere. Even out my bov. I honestly didn't care @ the time and dropped the hood. Called an officer from the station and got a ride. I went ahead and left it set until later that night when it was towed home. (omnipresent Dave). Parked it in front of my house where it is now.
Friday-Tuesday: I went to Detroit with Jordan and a mutual friend Jamie. Great time, I still need to share my stories about that trip. Got home, ran around that evening with Jordan. We stopped @ his house, b/c he is moving into a new house btw. I was talking to his Dad about what happened and he said he could help me out. He had a car he was willing to part with. So I took him up on his offer. Perfect timing(thanks Jordan).
Wednesday: I had the car towed to my house, b/c it wasn't in running condition. Its a 94 Hyundai Elantra. 1.6L Dohc 5spd. After a new altenator belt, serpentine belt, air filter, along with a new oil filter and all the fluids, it started right up. Smokes a little when its first started but clears up after a few minutes. It still needs front brakes and some winter tires, but it will be great for my beater.
Thursday: Cleaned the car up, inside and out, it was very dirty. Looks like a nice car actually. The front and rear bumpers are a little broken to say the least, so I think I might try my hand @ fiber glassing and grab a can of spray paint to touch it up. The rear quarter panel has a spot of rust, so there is a chance for me to try some body work. The engine seems solid except for a slight oil leak, and the tranny shifts like butter, actually better than my Si....lol.
Friday: @ work now writing this, making some extra cash to fix the Si, b/c I don't want to dip into savings. I am in no hurry to fix it. I think I might let it set for some time anyway. Finish the work on the house before it gets cold and then work on the car as a winter project. I am kicking around a few ideas. Depending on the shape of the block. I will keep it and rebuild it with new pistons and rods. Or drop a b18c under it with my head and build that. All depends what I can come across. I would like to do the latter honestly, so if someone can find me a good B18c shortblock for $200 or less consider it sold.
What caused it you may ask? Thats a good question. I have a few answers. Pick what you think fits.
1.) Most obvious - Lack of tuning for 7 months caused my rings/ringlands to fail prematurly.
2.) Again, lack of tuning. As you all know I was running waaay rich to prevent detonation. During this it may have "washed" the cylinder walls with gas and prevented the rings from seating properly. Thus allowing blowby.
3.) User error, my catch can setup. I hooked up the catch can setup closed loop. I didn't realize @ the time but under boost the pcv system doesn't work. So by having it all connected, when I hit boost the crankcase pressure had no where to go, finding a weakspot perhaps in my headgasket or pistons.
4.) Last but not least, tuning, its not what you may think. Didn't we already cover this? No. B/c of my exhaust leak, Steve @ Colletti Motorsports was unable to get me @ the standard 12.1 a/f. He stated b/c of my exhuast leak the wideband was unable to get an accurate reading so he was forced to do the best he could. He said it was sucking in extra air, casuing the wideband to show more lean than it actually was. He tuned it @ 14.1 across the board. What if it wasn't effecting the wideband as he thought and it really was tuned @ 14.1? This would explain the extra power I was getting and would also explain why my car is in the shape its in.
But only time will tell. It will be a few weeks until I have time to pull it in the garage and tear the head off to see what the problem is. I am confident I can tackle this myself. I am sure from time to time I will asking for help, all beit info or an extra hand. I have never rebuilt an engine, so first time for everything. I am hoping when its all down I will be putting 250-300whp down tuned of course. This time it will be down right. Right down to having my front bumper painted and the wheels aligned. No screw left unturned.... 8)