IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
10-21-2006, 07:03 PM
#1
6th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,172
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
Well, it happened, I finally hurt Stella!!!! Yes, it’s true, my heart is broken. But, this was an error on my part, so please read on and make sure you don’t make the same mistake I did.
The Problem
I have what appears to be is blown head gasket. My pistons and plugs seem to be ok, as the car is not throwing a cell, misfire or any other codes that indicate detonation. The car runs, but shakes during idle and acceleration with white smoke coming out the exhaust.
Background
So far, it appears this was caused by me approving maintenance that affected the gas in the car. I went to a local shop for an oil change, and they mentioned I needed the 30K service that included replacement of the fuel filter. They came back and said they could not get to the fuel filter, as it was under the tank but could clean it. I said fine.
Well, what happened after that was I went to the track, ran a 13.7@100MPH. The car bogged badly and I figured it was cold, and I had the car in over drive, checked my temps, etc. And figured my next run would be better. So I make my second pass of 13.4@100MPH, car bogs really bad…and I can’t get power on launch. On the way back to the pits, the car is shuddering and spewing white smoke. Anti-Freeze level is dropping quickly too. Called PH, they said it sounds like a problem with the head gasket…and a guy at the track, who saw me run, said it was definitely a blown head gasket.
Well, gave AAA a call and got the car home safe and sound. And special thanks to Nav for giving me a lift to my house!!!! I got some awesome news and pics about him and Ranebowcyxx that I will do in another thread.
So, after talking with PH, Fazm and several others. It appears one of the following happened last night:
1. The cleaning detergent used in my car actually freed up some debris and clogged one of my injectors (will be inspecting them in the week to come)
2. The cleaning detergent lowered my octane to unsafe levels for a FI car
What to Avoid
Any type of detergent chemical that is inserted into your fuel or oil systems if you are a FI 4.0L. CHECK WITH YOUR SHOP FIRST!!!! If its 30K time for your car, make sure they replace the fuel filter, and not try to "clean" it!
What’s Next
Well, I can tell you this, I am not going to take this lying down, and that is for sure. I’m going to file a claim with the shop that did the work, and get a gas analysis.
Second, I’m getting Stella to PH to get her back on her feet so I can get her back on the track at a drag strip down south (I hear some of them are open nearly all year round). What she will emerge as is something all together different!
So those of you with FI, do some homework before you let a shop perform maintenance on your car. Don’t make the same bonehead mistake I did!
Well, it happened, I finally hurt Stella!!!! Yes, it’s true, my heart is broken. But, this was an error on my part, so please read on and make sure you don’t make the same mistake I did.
The Problem
I have what appears to be is blown head gasket. My pistons and plugs seem to be ok, as the car is not throwing a cell, misfire or any other codes that indicate detonation. The car runs, but shakes during idle and acceleration with white smoke coming out the exhaust.
Background
So far, it appears this was caused by me approving maintenance that affected the gas in the car. I went to a local shop for an oil change, and they mentioned I needed the 30K service that included replacement of the fuel filter. They came back and said they could not get to the fuel filter, as it was under the tank but could clean it. I said fine.
Well, what happened after that was I went to the track, ran a 13.7@100MPH. The car bogged badly and I figured it was cold, and I had the car in over drive, checked my temps, etc. And figured my next run would be better. So I make my second pass of 13.4@100MPH, car bogs really bad…and I can’t get power on launch. On the way back to the pits, the car is shuddering and spewing white smoke. Anti-Freeze level is dropping quickly too. Called PH, they said it sounds like a problem with the head gasket…and a guy at the track, who saw me run, said it was definitely a blown head gasket.
Well, gave AAA a call and got the car home safe and sound. And special thanks to Nav for giving me a lift to my house!!!! I got some awesome news and pics about him and Ranebowcyxx that I will do in another thread.
So, after talking with PH, Fazm and several others. It appears one of the following happened last night:
1. The cleaning detergent used in my car actually freed up some debris and clogged one of my injectors (will be inspecting them in the week to come)
2. The cleaning detergent lowered my octane to unsafe levels for a FI car
What to Avoid
Any type of detergent chemical that is inserted into your fuel or oil systems if you are a FI 4.0L. CHECK WITH YOUR SHOP FIRST!!!! If its 30K time for your car, make sure they replace the fuel filter, and not try to "clean" it!
What’s Next
Well, I can tell you this, I am not going to take this lying down, and that is for sure. I’m going to file a claim with the shop that did the work, and get a gas analysis.
Second, I’m getting Stella to PH to get her back on her feet so I can get her back on the track at a drag strip down south (I hear some of them are open nearly all year round). What she will emerge as is something all together different!
So those of you with FI, do some homework before you let a shop perform maintenance on your car. Don’t make the same bonehead mistake I did!
10-21-2006, 08:01 PM
#4
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 634
RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
haha yes fi stands for fuel injected
but in this case FI stands for forced induction some kind of turbo or supercharger
the fuel additive that cleans your injectiors and filter drops your octane level
sorry about this one Rygen i know how much stella means to you and all of us
but in this case FI stands for forced induction some kind of turbo or supercharger
the fuel additive that cleans your injectiors and filter drops your octane level
sorry about this one Rygen i know how much stella means to you and all of us
10-21-2006, 08:13 PM
#6
6th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,172
RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
Thanks.
Though there is another element to this, I would think I would have poppped a pistion before the head gasket. Fazm, PH and Flapjack agree on that as well. Flap says he will post his thoughts once he gets back in front of a computer to throw some ideas around.
Though there is another element to this, I would think I would have poppped a pistion before the head gasket. Fazm, PH and Flapjack agree on that as well. Flap says he will post his thoughts once he gets back in front of a computer to throw some ideas around.
10-22-2006, 01:20 PM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 529
RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
@ Rupp. When I first saw FI I thought exactly the same thing 'cause back in the day, FI did mean fuel injection, but times have changed. 
@ Rygen. You don't think it could be caused by the inherent weakness of the head gasket do you? There was a report out from some outfit that did a technical analysis of the 4.0L V6 that stated the head gasket area could produce problems in a FI (forced induction) application because the water jacket and head bolts were so numerous that the head gasket's integrity was compromised to some extent.
@ Rygen. You don't think it could be caused by the inherent weakness of the head gasket do you? There was a report out from some outfit that did a technical analysis of the 4.0L V6 that stated the head gasket area could produce problems in a FI (forced induction) application because the water jacket and head bolts were so numerous that the head gasket's integrity was compromised to some extent.
10-22-2006, 02:08 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: CO
Posts: 3,095
RE: IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR FI OWNERS
ORIGINAL: Pyrat
@ Rupp. When I first saw FI I thought exactly the same thing 'cause back in the day, FI did mean fuel injection, but times have changed.
@ Rygen. You don't think it could be caused by the inherent weakness of the head gasket do you? There was a report out from some outfit that did a technical analysis of the 4.0L V6 that stated the head gasket area could produce problems in a FI (forced induction) application because the water jacket and head bolts were so numerous that the head gasket's integrity was compromised to some extent.
@ Rupp. When I first saw FI I thought exactly the same thing 'cause back in the day, FI did mean fuel injection, but times have changed.
@ Rygen. You don't think it could be caused by the inherent weakness of the head gasket do you? There was a report out from some outfit that did a technical analysis of the 4.0L V6 that stated the head gasket area could produce problems in a FI (forced induction) application because the water jacket and head bolts were so numerous that the head gasket's integrity was compromised to some extent.