Coolant & Misfire

Hi

The fact :
- 136400 miles on a '03 Venture.
- Run on 5 cylinder for 1 minute after crank. After run fine on 6 cylinders.
- Engine coolant is leaking but I dont know where : there's no smell like a defective IMG.

I get a noticable "P0304: Misfire cylinder #4" with CES blinking under accelerating.
The cylinder #4 is the front middle one : the easiest to check and access.
BTW i change plugs, wire and coil and still the same symptoms.

Any idea : fuel injector ?

Bst rgds

ps : All apologies for my poor "french touch" english :smooch:

Do a compression test on cylinder 4 1st.

You can roll a fuel injector just like a bad plug, plug wire, or COP.

How's the coolant level?

Cylinders #1 and #4, are "companion" cylinders.....sometimes what looks like a problem in one cylinder, is actually in another.....the fact you are losing coolant, sounds like you are burning it up intermally....especially on a cold start....when you shut the vehicle down, coolant pressure, could add coolant to a cylinder, if you have a bad head gasket....on initial startup, you will have a misfire condition until all the coolant is burned out of the cylinder...if the problem gets real bad, the engine could hydrolock...

I know the code is for #4, but these engines are famous for a head gasket leak at #1 cylinder.....in the back on the passenger side...

What I usually do to confirm this, is pressure test the vehicle overnight, with a coolant pressure tester....next day, I disable spark and fuel....in your case remove #1 and #4 plug....have someone crank over the vehicle, and watch to see if coolant comes out of a cylinder....have never seen #4 be the problem, always #1....

Cylinders #1 and #4, are "companion" cylinders.....sometimes what looks like a problem in one cylinder, is actually in another.....the fact you are losing coolant, sounds like you are burning it up intermally....especially on a cold start....when you shut the vehicle down, coolant pressure, could add coolant to a cylinder, if you have a bad head gasket....on initial startup, you will have a misfire condition until all the coolant is burned out of the cylinder...if the problem gets real bad, the engine could hydrolock...

I know the code is for #4, but these engines are famous for a head gasket leak at #1 cylinder.....in the back on the passenger side...

What I usually do to confirm this, is pressure test the vehicle overnight, with a coolant pressure tester....next day, I disable spark and fuel....in your case remove #1 and #4 plug....have someone crank over the vehicle, and watch to see if coolant comes out of a cylinder....have never seen #4 be the problem, always #1....

Hi.
Thank you for advices.
Bad news : yesterday the head gasket blew up !
I was waiting at the gas station when the coolant suddently overflowed from the coolant reservoir.

Allmost 137km miles ... I dont know if this old engine deserves a new life ...

Rgds

Well, if coolant didn't get into the oil and just blew out the reservoir, and if you haven't been driving the vehicle causing an overheating condition, may get away with a head gasket job.....

Vehicle is 9 years old....if in good condition, tranny is ok, would be worth a head gasket job......remove both heads, and have the heads checked out(machine shop) for cracks and flatness...

Gets you a few more years driving it, eliminates new car payments for awhile, and then trade it in or sell it....

Well, if coolant didn't get into the oil and just blew out the reservoir, and if you haven't been driving the vehicle causing an overheating condition, may get away with a head gasket job.....

Vehicle is 9 years old....if in good condition, tranny is ok, would be worth a head gasket job......remove both heads, and have the heads checked out(machine shop) for cracks and flatness...

Gets you a few more years driving it, eliminates new car payments for awhile, and then trade it in or sell it....

Mmmhhh I'll follow this way.
My 2003 is in very good condition, I think it worth it.

Thx

Mmmhhh I'll follow this way.
My 2003 is in very good condition, I think it worth it.

Thx

Hi

The engine is dead :-/
This minivan is in very good shape and condition.
I think it worth to replce the engine.
What do you think of that : http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1410523,parttype,5240
Or http://www.newgmengines.com/12491872.html

Does anybody have a feedback about both engines ?

Rgds.

Hi

The engine is dead :-/
This minivan is in very good shape and condition.
I think it worth to replce the engine.
What do you think of that : http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1410523,parttype,5240
Or http://www.newgmengines.com/12491872.html

Does anybody have a feedback about both engines ?

Rgds.

Hi again
Finaly my mechanic will change the head gasket.
Do you know the complete part list to achieve ?
- both bank#1 & bank#2 head gasket,
- water pump,
- what else ???

Thx

I would consider Blue Devil, or http://www.steelseal.com

Hi again
Finaly my mechanic will change the head gasket.
Do you know the complete part list to achieve ?
- both bank#1 & bank#2 head gasket,
- water pump,
- what else ???

Thx

you do have a leaking head gasket or crack head or both? only other thing i can thank of where you say what else would be valve cover gasket and i would use rubber gaskets.

I would consider Blue Devil, or http://www.steelseal.com

I tried Steelseal : it didnt work.

Duno if the head is cracked.

To be continued ...

Make sure you get your money back from steelseal!

Head gaskets, head bolts, intake gasket, exhaust main gaskets, thermostat, water pump, and coolant.

See http://www.partsgeek.com