replaced headgasket, wont stay running.

[S13Slide]

i just replaced both headgaskets on a 97 tarus 3.0 and it doesnt want to stay running and it bogs alot. to keep it running you have to keep the gas pedal down all the way. when you remove the rocker arms and push rods, does that mess with the timming? i tryed my best to put each cylinder tdc when i was re installing the push rods and rocker arms but i dont think i did it right. anyway to check the timming? thank you

[KimMG]

Check
for vacuum leaks
all electrical connections
fuel pressure

Do a compression test.

[brokenantimatter]

Yes it can mess with timing but from what your describing you most likely have an improperly sealed gasket or a vacuum leak.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by S13Slide

i just replaced both headgaskets on a 97 tarus 3.0 and it doesnt want to stay running and it bogs alot. to keep it running you have to keep the gas pedal down all the way. when you remove the rocker arms and push rods, does that mess with the timming? i tryed my best to put each cylinder tdc when i was re installing the push rods and rocker arms but i dont think i did it right. anyway to check the timming? thank you

Hello

What was the reason for replacing the gaskets? How was it running before the replacement? How many miles on your engine?

Removing the pushrods shouldn't change the timing. If you have the valves set too tight then the valves will leak and cause low compression. Too loose will cause late valve opening and a lot of noise. How did you set the valve adjustment?

Is the engine not running correctly because of lack of fuel, lack of air, compression, or lack of spark?

Did you double check to make sure you got all of the vacuum hoses connected?

Post back.

Regards

Dan

[S13Slide]

Originally Posted by LeSabre97mint

Hello

What was the reason for replacing the gaskets? How was it running before the replacement? How many miles on your engine?

Removing the pushrods shouldn't change the timing. If you have the valves set too tight then the valves will leak and cause low compression. Too loose will cause late valve opening and a lot of noise. How did you set the valve adjustment?

Is the engine not running correctly because of lack of fuel, lack of air, compression, or lack of spark?

Did you double check to make sure you got all of the vacuum hoses connected?

Post back.

Regards

Dan

here's why i did the headgasket change
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...59#post3853159

i tripple checked and checked again all the electrical connections/hoses and made sure theres no vacuum leaks by spraying carb cleaner all areas that would be affected but it didnt change the way the engine ran.

i made sure i have spark by pulling the spark plug wires, putting a spark plug on and putting it to the intae manifold to see if it sparks. all 6 do.

on a couple plugs when i pulled them out, they were wet with fuel.

did a compression test with the engine cold it came to

1. 45psi
2. 45psi
3. 150psi
4. 145psi
5. 40psi
6. 115psi

all is pritty much the same numbers except #6 which jumped from 50psi to 115psi.

when i removed the push rods and rocker arms i didnt have it properly set at tdc. when i put them back in im pritty sure the engine wasnt at tdc for each of the cylinders. i just spun the crank untill it looked like there was no tension on the push rods then i tightened the bolt down.

i apreciate any advice to help me out. thank you

[S13Slide]

i also took a straight edge and a .003 feeler gauge to the head and the block. only a couple spots where the feeler gauge would kinda slip under the strait edge and kinda snag but with a .004 it wasnt going through at all

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by S13Slide

here's why i did the headgasket change
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...59#post3853159

i tripple checked and checked again all the electrical connections/hoses and made sure theres no vacuum leaks by spraying carb cleaner all areas that would be affected but it didnt change the way the engine ran.

i made sure i have spark by pulling the spark plug wires, putting a spark plug on and putting it to the intae manifold to see if it sparks. all 6 do.

on a couple plugs when i pulled them out, they were wet with fuel.

did a compression test with the engine cold it came to

1. 45psi
2. 45psi
3. 150psi
4. 145psi
5. 40psi
6. 115psi

all is pritty much the same numbers except #6 which jumped from 50psi to 115psi.

when i removed the push rods and rocker arms i didnt have it properly set at tdc. when i put them back in im pritty sure the engine wasnt at tdc for each of the cylinders. i just spun the crank untill it looked like there was no tension on the push rods then i tightened the bolt down.

i apreciate any advice to help me out. thank you

Hello

Did you have the valves checked for sealing? I'm sorry to say that the headgaskets may not be your only problem with compression. Do another compression test on the low cylinders but add a couple squirts of motor oil through the spark plug hole. Give each cylinder 4 compression strokes. If the compression come up your piston rings are at fault. If the compression stays around the same your valves are leaking and a valve job is in order. Unforentually, either way, this requires pulling the heads...again...sorry. If it's the rings, the pan will have to be pulled and each piston will have to be pulled, cleaned and new rings fitted. This is a whole different process.

The compression of each cylinder should be within 10% of each other.

Do the "wet" compression test, post back with the results.

Regards

Dan

[S13Slide]

if the piston rings were that far gone, wouldnt it burn a bit of oil when it was running? i did the wet test and it came back with the low cylinders still low. i guess i need to get my hands on a leak down tester... thanks

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by S13Slide

if the piston rings were that far gone, wouldnt it burn a bit of oil when it was running? i did the wet test and it came back with the low cylinders still low. i guess i need to get my hands on a leak down tester... thanks

A leak down test would be a good next step! When you do the leak down test make sure both valves to that cylinder are closed.

On the leaky rings issue.....there are three rings on a piston. The top two are compression rings. The lower ring is the oil control ring. It allows the piston and cylinder wall to be lubed but not allow too much oil into the combustion chamber. Kind of a fine line....

Regards

Dan