Bogging Down

[JDank]

Sometimes in first and second, the car will sputter. I checked the spark plugs and they look pretty good. they are FAIRLY new NGK plugs and wires. if it's not the plugs, what else should I check??

[slideways...]

get a professional pressurized fuel injection service. dont add seafoam. see if that clears up the problem. check the plugs though after a bit of driving and if you can, take a pic of one and post it. reading plugs is an easy way to determine if the problem is too much fuel or too little fuel or too little spark/compression.

[JDank]

It also started to smoke a little. Could that be a result of whatever is going on, too?

[slideways...]

hmmm...just playing a hunch but you may be in for a bit of bad news. ask whatever mechanic you have that you trust to check for a blown head gasket.

[ProZach626]

What kind of car?

[slideways...]

91 sentra. probly a ga16.

[ProZach626]

I'd have to agree with the head gasket problem. Especially with the smoke. Is it white smoke? Does your exhaust smell sweet? Compression test. I have to disagree with the sea foam statement. I used seafoam on my spec v and it worked great. Many people swear by it. I would not go with the fuel injection "treatment".

[JDank]

Thanks for the haed gasket idea. I'll have that checked. And it's a 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R (SR20DE). I'm gonna change the spark plugs 1st. And clean the intake and throttle body. I'll look into this seafoam stuff.....

[JDank]

Replaced the spark plugs and wires with NGK products. Problem solved!! She still runs a little lean, though. Any Ideas??

[slideways...]

yeah once you said it had an SR, i stopped thinking headgasket. but what makes you think its running lean? i guess check for vacuum leaks, possibly clean the MAFS, and replace the fuel filter if it hasnt been changed recently.

[JDank]

The spark plug tips were white. I do have a vacuum leak. I have not located it yet, though. Good idea on how to find it easily?

[slideways...]

with the car idling spray carb cleaner/starting fluid/brakleen/whatever nasty chemical you have around intake manifold gasket, vacuum hoses, everywhere between the mass airflow meter and the cylinder head. depending on what chemical you use, the RPMs will either stumble or surge when the vacuum leak sucks in the spray. or you could use a smoke machine but i doubt you have one. they cost almost 1k new.

[nismo_pilot]

party city has them for like 200

[slideways...]

haha but not the right kind.

[JDank]

Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna get one of those. But thanks. The car is actually runnin good. I changed the oil and diff. fluid, cleaned the CAI and throttle body, took her down the 1320, and she ran great! 14.28 E.T. Thanks for the help guys.