Engine power dropping..

[poups22]

I have a chevrolet S-10 and i ahve lost power in the engine and there is a gunk on the side of the engine closest to the cab along side the spark plug. what problems could i be looking for?

[blazes9395]

What engine do you have? What type of gunk are you reffering to? Is it at the intake area, is it oily/antifreeze? Need a little more information to get a better idea.

[poups22]

2.2 on the other side.. not the intake side.. I amthink it it is the valve cover gasket.. it is like an oily gunk above and in the 4th spark area.

[Scrapper]

what kind of car and moter size again.but i'm going to take a shot eather antifrezze, if you have air maybe a line popped or leaking,power steering fluid.yah lol.....

[poups22]

i dont know. The ac was taken out. I am still thinking it is oil. It has lost power and I think that the spark plug isn't firing. and it is a 2.2 liter 4 cylinder.

[Scrapper]

sounds like you have serious problem if it's not running and knocking when you going to tell us what make of car?

[poups22]

I am sorry its a S10 2.2 1997. It will Run. It just has a loss of engine power. I unplugged the 4th spark plug wire and it sounds the same as when it is plugged in. So i am thinking that it is not firing. That is what is causing the power loss. But i am worried about the oily chemical above and around that fourth spark plug and where that is coming from.

[Scrapper]

may be bent push rod but that wouldn't blow oil or what ever all over. the moter sounds like to me moter shot or hopfuly one those hose or push rod but if you threw a rod well go looking for a moter. i shouldn't even be saying all this. you need to post from the very 1st post and start over.

[blazes9395]

Before jumping to conclusions that the engine is toast, make sure you check the basics first. The oily residue can be just the valve cover gasket leaking. Do you have a good spark at all the cylinders? How are the spark plugs? Are you loosing any coolant? It might be a good idea to get a compression test done on the engine and also a fuel pressure check would be a good idea too.

[duke350]

Is there any way you can get a picture of the gunk?
If it were me, the first thing I would do is test that wire for spark and that cylinder for compression. Also check the oil for any signs of coolant.