It's time....
 

I think it's time for a new engine guys, I didn't want to unless absolutly necassary, but I'm thinking the time is really here. I need some opinions, I'll express some of my recent experiences and frustrations, then you can help me out. Since about 3 months ago I've felt my max was beginning to lack power from what it used to be, Im not sure if its in my head or not but I have some supporting evidence. I race frequently, so that is probably most of the problem, yet last night I had problems beating a near stock Sunfire, 2.4 quad-4. I think it was b/over 35, but I only cleared the car by about a fine length, and was doing about 90mph from a deadstop. I have some fine ticking now, which I have had since I had my cylinder misfire which last about a week, and has never ceased. About a week ago I threw down 100$ on a race with some guy in a Cava. z24, the old one, 5 speed. He got me off the line, but I hit second and walked him, but when I hit 3rd the guy started gaining me, and would have started pulling from me easily...there is a problem here, and It's really getting old. The engine has 242k now, and I just feel that the last year has been horrible for it, so maybe a new engine finally needs to be accessed...please let me know your opinions, thx guys.

my opinion is...HOLY CRAP 242k miles!!!! I think you know what you have to do (hint: trouble beating a sunfire)

Try a compression test, that would tell you alot.

Don't ya just love the VQ? 242K while beating on it...wow.

Yeah try to do some general maintenance and see if the compression test it about the same for all 6 cylinders. It might be your knock sensor or something else for that matter. Are u throwing a CEL? But yeah dont you think 242K is a lot for a car u beat on freequently?

I hope my VQ makes it that far with all the beatings I give it.

u might need a new motor toms4n.com has them

yea, wow, get that thing a new heart!

lol i took down a 01-02 5 speed miata from stand still and i got 235K.. i dunno my engine makes good power i beat on it but not that mush sheesh lol...
u got to love that VQ TORQUE :bowdown:
i dont care about raceing im just saying my engine with high milege has some juice....

what are the PSI levels the cylinder should be for our engines?

I might get a compression check just to make sure all is well, feels like its struggling in the 5K range but with stock y-pipe thats probably why.

yeah first tests are compression testing or dynoing to see if you are off base for what mods you have...compare them roughly to what people have here with the same mods for an idea...you should be between 160-190 on all six cylinders with a variation of only 10 between each cylinder I believe....don't qoute me though....it's late and I can barely remember the FSM....the vq is a great engine....I wouldn't be suprised if your compression #'s are still great if you always do oil changes....if it's not the compression #'s, it's prolly something else like knock sensor which as we all know, doesn't pull the CEL...or spark plugs, PCV, exhaust leak, O2 sensors, coil packs, injectors....are you usin premium gas? air filter, fuel filter....etc. dirty TB...etc etc. if all of that checks out....then throw in a bottle of BG44K or seafoam if you can get your hands on it....and maybe clean your EGR while your at it....all of which you can do very cheap....and might be the problem.....

the point of the dyno is to see if there is an A/F related issue to you know whether to tackle the air part (air filter, pcv, TB, TPS) of the engine or a fuel part (injectors, fuel pump, fuel rail, lines)