Re: well.. sigh, one case of bad engine

[C2slayman@xxxxxxx]

Todd,
       I hate to burst your bubble, but I think your engine's OK.  But then 
again, half the fun of owning an Alfa is doing all the neat mechanical 
stuff.....  ;-)

> Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 19:52:01 -0400
> From: "Todd Schinell" <alfatodd@domain.elided>
> Subject: well.. sigh, one case of bad engine..
> 
> Well I wasn't able to get up to don erminas' place to have him drive my car
> and diagnose the engine due to a slave cyllinder failure. (that's another
> story)   I was, however, able to do a compression test on the car with the
> engine warmed up and throttle wide open, here's what I got:
> 
> CYL 1: try 1: 158  "ok.. a little low.."
>             try 2: 155
> CYL 2: try 1: 138  "whoa... alot low, damn"
>             try 2: 141
>             add oil: 231
> CYL 3 try 1: 140
>             try 2: 135  "DAMN!!"
>             add oil: 202
> CYL 4: try 1: 165  "actually approching normal, sigh.."
>             try 2: 168
> 

Let's see......... average is ~150.  All cylinders are within +/-10%.  Not 
too bad.....  Besides, absolute cylinder pressure measurements aren't exact 
science.  There are too many variables.  So relative pressure comparison is 
all you can really go by.  If it were 100 +/-10% you'd still be OK.

> So, yes, it appears it needs a rebuild, which I can't manage just yet :(
> 
I wouldn't worry about it.

 >I also noticed my plugs were black and sooty as well, must be running 
pretty
> rich because the plugs were new about a week ago.  I ALSO noticed some
> 
OK.  That I would worry about.  But it sounds more like a SPICA tune-up 
issue.

 >excessive steam coming from the tailpipe and black splatters during warm up 
on
> a pretty dry hot day so I'm suspecting the head gasket as well.  All this
> 
Hell!  My '89 Spider has been doing that for years and I plan to pass the 
200Kmi mark later this year.  Steam from the tailpipe is often the byproduct 
of combustion through a cold tailpipe.  If it goes away after running for a 
few minutes, fuggedaboutit!  The black splatters are probably from carbon 
desposits picked up by the steam and water particles.

  besides the fact that the engine both leaks and burns oil upon 
decelleration> 
> 
Burns oil?  It's an Alfa right?  So what?  My Spider burns ~1qt/1000mi since 
new.  Not much change over time either.  If it's smoking visibly, then in the 
interest of the environment, you should probably consider fixing it.  But my 
first guess would be valve guides and seals, not the pistons and rings.  

But leaks?  What kind of leaks and where?  I'd worry about water leaks more 
than oil leaks.  But anything from the head gasket area can be a cause for 
concern.

  >makes me say I've had enough with it until I have the time and space to 
tear
> it down.  So, I'll need an engine afterall, or I'll have to look for another
> car... :(
> 
I'd tune the SPICA and drive the car!  That's what Alfas were built for..... 
and rebuilt for!  ;-)  Get the slave cylinder fixed and drive it to Don's to 
see what he says.

  >/<>/>/>
> 
> 77 spider gone ill

Cheers,
Charlie
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