possible dying engine

[ccanuk]

I bought a 94 XLT from an aquaintance... it's been running great for the last few months, however

this morning it wouldn't idle the first couple times I started it, it stalled right away, then I heard a sound like air escaping from somewhere,

I managed to get it started by giving it a little gas while it was turning over and reving it up to 2000 rpm...

this time when it dropped to idle it sounded like I had a loping cam in it.

also usually it idled at about 900 rpm, it now averages 800 or so.

I shut it off and checked the fluids...

everything seemed to be ok, however the oil was a little dark for having just been changed last month and it looks like there is a little bit of metal grit on the dipstick

I still get Oil pressure... though I hear that gauge shows ok if there is above 5lbs of pressure in the system...

because I had to get to work I started it up again and drove 10 minutes to work... as long as I wasn't idling it purred like a kitten, but at stop lights the loping cam sound was back, and I had to shift to N as it was rocking the truck.


Any ideas whats wrong... could it be as simple as a vacuum hose somewhere and the new oil is cleaning pieces that haven't been cleaned in a long time (prev owner was a little slack in Preventative Maintanence)


thanks

 

[aldive]

Your idle can be related to the IAC. Try cleaning it.

Metal on the dipstick could be an indicator of serious problems. I would drain the oil and replace the filter asap. Look for the metal in the oil and maybe cut open the filter and look there also.

Good luck.....

 

[slag]

i imagine that hissing you hear is a vacuum hose or cap that has come loose from your vacuum tree.

That will cause the problems you are describing. As for the metal grit, i would tend to think that its just dirty oil or just normal particulate.

Check your vacuum hoses and see if you find one loose or one that has fallen off the tree.

 

[STSJayDub]

my 99 was doing the same exact thing, except when idling it died sometimes, unless it had been turned on for about 15-20 minutes. i had it checked, and they thaught it was the fuel pump. they cleaned it all out but still the saem problems. Turns out they had to fix the hose and fixed the problem.

 

[ccanuk]

I checked my Vacuum tree and followed the tubes and nothing seemed to be disconnected... then just as I was about to shut the hood I on impulse ran my hand up the back of it and found 2 disconnected hoses... reconnected it ran fine

there isn't any grit on the dipstick anymore... might have accidently rubbed it on a bit of the engine while pulling it out this morning in a panic to make sure it wasn't foamy, but the oil is still filthy so I'm gonna get the oil flushed as well as the tranny and cooling system next payday... I may even go with synthetic fluids too

I'm also gonna pick up a 93 sport with a trashed tranny thats down the road for $300 and rebuild the engine and have it in reserve... might even see it it's feasible to do the 700 gm tranny swap into it... though I think the body is pretty bad on it...

 

[Opera House]

If the hoses were oily on the inside, it is likely the vacuum modulator on the transmission is leaking. This softens the hoses and causes them to fall off. Another thing that is common, it causes the engine to backfire and that causes the hoses to blow off. So watch that tranny fluid level. It may drop and the oil level rise!

 

[ccanuk]

the fluid levels are correct, however there is a oily film inside the hoses and on the ports also the hoses are really soft... does this require a Tranny rebuild to fix?

How serious a problem is this?

I never heard the Engine backfire ever... so it must be the vacuum modulator leaking

 

[Opera House]

The vacuum modulator is an under $20 part that is held on the outside of the transmission by one nut. Unfortunantly, it is right next to the exhaust. Unless exhaust is removed you can't get to it from the underside. Most remove the passenger seat and go through the access cover. Still it is a little tight. There is a little steel pin that can easily fall out. Search posts for procecedure that detais it.

 

[ccanuk]

Update:

just had every fluid in the truck flushed except the rear diff that I had the oil changed in last month, the only fluid left to change is the front diff, which should be fine since it's not used much.

I took a hack saw to the oil filter, no metal shavings at all, so I think perhaps the dipstick tube is rusting a little inside... I'm going to get it replaced.

the tranny fluid looks a little brown even though it's just been changed... is that just cause it's ford spec? I'm used to the bright red stuff we use in the big deisels for the military.

is the ford tranny fluid browner?

but the coolant has been flushed and refilled, as well as the oil and tranny, and it's purring like a kitten now, and I don't notice the shifts as much now either...

I've just dumped in a bottle of concentrated injector cleaner.

before today I was averaging 13 MPG city... I'll post next week what I'm making now...

After that I plan to put on a free flowing exhaust, and if I can find one an intake kit...
anyone know of one for 1st gen X?

thanks