Date: Sun, 02 Jul 2006 04:34:31 -0400 From: "hippo" <johnhnospamam.shoal.net.au> Subject: Re: [Saab_c900] 8V turbo engine problem - might be head gasket
Craig wrote: >Hi, > >two things are evident with the engine in the turbo car. it's really hard >to start and the first time it's cranked and fires it tends to die shortly >after letting the key go almost like it's fuel-starved but I know the fuel >pump is ok and I put a new fuel filter in some weeks back. A second crank >usually gets it going if I push the throttle a bit at the same time. >Second thing is when the engine is running. It sounds like it's running on >3 cylinders only, and blows white smoke for around 10 to 15 minutes after >starting. There isn't any evidence that I've seen so far of water in the >oil, but from my limited understanding it's pointing to the head gasket >being suspect. I know all the spark leads are good and the distributor cap >is ok. I changed the spark plugs for a new set of BP7ES's a few months >ago. >Another issue with the engine is that until it warms up and even sometimes >after it's warm, there is a metallic tapping sound in time with the engine >rotations that I haven't quite tracked down. First thought was something >wrong with the valves. I haven't work on 8V heads to that degree yet but >if I decide to take off the head to check out the gasket (I do have a set >of new head bolts), getting the head reconditioned might be worthwhile, or >just getting a new or recon'd one. >Can a new or recon'd head be put on the engine as a drop-in replacement >for the one on it now with just a head gasket and a timing check (and >maybe a new timing chain) installed as well? I guess the timing chain >would be a problem unless it's a version with master link. >Craig. All your points are probably worth pursuing, but have you tried the following stuff first? I'm sticking to my old principle of cheapest/easiest first often saves time, money and knuckles... When I bought the 81 turbo it was running on 2.5 - 3 cyls for about half an hour. Highway run sorted out a lot of that. Check the resistance on your plug leads. They can look fine but be rubbish anyway. The metallic thrashing in mine above 3600 - 4000 dpending on temp logically / finally seemed like it might be timing chain related. It's gone away since the injectors were changed. The fuel consumption has improved at least 30% too! Have you run a flow test lately? Mine was more like a drip test, poor old thing. Steve can still get the turbo injectors in, or he could 3 months ago anyway! Mine smokes (white) wonderfully if it's left idling for a while or started/stopped several times and not run - especially when the nose is pointing downhill. I suspect it's oil buildup either in the chambers or the turbo because it goes away pretty soon (less than 5 minutes). Mostly cheap and quick stuff to try anyway. See how you go and hopefully it'll save you a big bill. Cheers
