SR20 Blacktop overheated, barely starts, then dies - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jscherf92 · 04-15-2012, 05:51 PM

Alright guys, as the title says I have a serious issue with my motor. I was driving it fine for about two weeks, keeping an eye on fluid levels and everything else. One night after work I locked myself out of my car with the motor idling and the electric fans off. It was overheating for probably five minutes with smoke spilling out before I could break into the car and shut it off. That next day I did some work to align the alternator pulley to fix a very worn belt, refilled because it was low on oil, and it ran fine in the air, bled the brakes, still ran fine, drove about a mile lap around my neighborhood with no issues. Last night I was driving with a friend and we got on it a little in second, it couldn't have been higher than 6k rpms though I hadn't gone that high since the swap. We towed it home and so far ive done a compression test.

Here's what i've got currently:
-fuel pump primes, spark plugs smell like gas (getting fuel)
-spark plugs dirty but still arc to ground when tested (getting spark)
-motor barely turns over and you have to keep feeding it air to keep it alive
-very loud "knocking" likely coming from the block
-heavy engine shaking/vibration when barely running
-if left alone, will idle around 500 for about a minute before dying
-Compression Test:
Cylinder 1 ~ 106 psi
Cylinder 2 ~ 110 psi
Cylinder 3 ~ 94 psi
Cylinder 4 ~ 112 psi

Any ideas? What other tests or checks can I do to help isolate the problem? I dont have time to drain the oil and pull the pan right now, but I will after wednesday. I know something sounds seriously wrong but if I can learn from anyone else's past experience or expertise I would very much appreciate it.

pacotaco345 · 04-15-2012, 07:42 PM

Blown headgasket

jscherf92 · 04-22-2012, 07:28 PM

Thanks, I have a metal replacement now and when turning the harmonic balancer/crank pulley by hand there is a low soft knock when cylinder 1 and 4 are at the top of their stroke. I cant remember if this is normal or if i should be taking the bottom end apart to look for something broken. Any input on this? Id appreciate it.

napz510 · 04-22-2012, 09:55 PM

Do a pressure or leak down test..

essthirteeeen42 · 04-22-2012, 11:31 PM

Hope you find out what's wrong man.

04-15-2012, 05:51 PM	#1
jscherf92 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 29 Posts: 432 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	SR20 Blacktop overheated, barely starts, then dies Alright guys, as the title says I have a serious issue with my motor. I was driving it fine for about two weeks, keeping an eye on fluid levels and everything else. One night after work I locked myself out of my car with the motor idling and the electric fans off. It was overheating for probably five minutes with smoke spilling out before I could break into the car and shut it off. That next day I did some work to align the alternator pulley to fix a very worn belt, refilled because it was low on oil, and it ran fine in the air, bled the brakes, still ran fine, drove about a mile lap around my neighborhood with no issues. Last night I was driving with a friend and we got on it a little in second, it couldn't have been higher than 6k rpms though I hadn't gone that high since the swap. We towed it home and so far ive done a compression test. Here's what i've got currently: -fuel pump primes, spark plugs smell like gas (getting fuel) -spark plugs dirty but still arc to ground when tested (getting spark) -motor barely turns over and you have to keep feeding it air to keep it alive -very loud "knocking" likely coming from the block -heavy engine shaking/vibration when barely running -if left alone, will idle around 500 for about a minute before dying -Compression Test: Cylinder 1 ~ 106 psi Cylinder 2 ~ 110 psi Cylinder 3 ~ 94 psi Cylinder 4 ~ 112 psi Any ideas? What other tests or checks can I do to help isolate the problem? I dont have time to drain the oil and pull the pan right now, but I will after wednesday. I know something sounds seriously wrong but if I can learn from anyone else's past experience or expertise I would very much appreciate it.

04-15-2012, 07:42 PM	#2
pacotaco345 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SoCal/Ft Worth TX Age: 27 Posts: 1,549 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Blown headgasket __________________

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04-22-2012, 07:28 PM	#3
jscherf92 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 29 Posts: 432 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Thanks, I have a metal replacement now and when turning the harmonic balancer/crank pulley by hand there is a low soft knock when cylinder 1 and 4 are at the top of their stroke. I cant remember if this is normal or if i should be taking the bottom end apart to look for something broken. Any input on this? Id appreciate it.

04-22-2012, 09:55 PM	#4
napz510 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: FULLERTON Age: 36 Posts: 532 Trader Rating: (36) Feedback Score: 36 reviews	Do a pressure or leak down test..

04-22-2012, 11:31 PM	#5
essthirteeeen42 Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Downey, CA Posts: 108 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hope you find out what's wrong man.