I just picked up a 240 for the low low price of 300 bucks. Surprisingly, everything on the car works fine except for the driver's side window, and the engine, sort of. First things first: It has oil, but needs a change badly. There is some coolant, but it's not full. I need to get the car home, so I started it and tried to get going. It idles fine, but once taken out of gear, it will stall if not revved. I stalled out about 300 yards down the road, and noticed slight wisps of smoke coming up both sides of the valve cover. I couldn't tell if this was just fluid burning off, but since the engine's 185,000 mi, I doubt it. There is quite a bit of rod knock, and the engine sounds much like a diesel.
I just need to get the car home, (20mi) should I attempt it? The engine's pretty screwed as it is, do I have a chance of making it? Also: what can I do to get it going ok?
Thanks for any help.
Problems with KA24E (smoke stalling arg)
put oil in it and start it up give it a little time to quiet down. if the knocking and pinging(dieseling) doesent quiet down and the smoke gets worse i would not attempt to drive it 5 miles much less 20. my guess would be the engine is saveable at this point but i wouldnt push it. a tow 20 miles is alot cheaper then a ka24de long block.
OK, update time. Also, thanks for your replies.
I went out to the car tonight, did a visual scan for unconnected lines or hoses. Nothing was amiss, but I didn't check under the car because it was raining. Made sure there was enough coolant, but I think the hose might be blocked, so I'll fill the radiator next time as well.
Here's the thing about the oil. Once I checked, I found there was actually too much of it, according to the dipstick, almost over the little hump on the end of the dipstick. This oil looks bad. I'm thinking of doing a quick oil change next time on the spot. Also, the oil light was on, but not consistently. Would it be activated if the oil was overfilled? This would explain the smoke, to some extent.
After driving around the parking lot for a minute or two, I didn't get the smoke to occur. However, I thought the engine and underhood area was quite hot, despite the temp gauge on the dash reading it as cool. This was on a cool night just after a rain, much unlike the late afternoon last time I tried driving it.
The mechanical rapping noise is still there. While I think it is knock, it almost sounds as though it could be an exhaust piece banging on something. The engine mounts appear to be almost gone too, the car shakes quite a bit when given throttle.
And finally, the engine only shows signs of stalling when given gas from idle. It's much like the stumbling delay you'd get in a car with dirty carbs.
I know this is a lot of stuff, I just thought I'd put it out there and see what you thought. Thanks for your help with it.
I went out to the car tonight, did a visual scan for unconnected lines or hoses. Nothing was amiss, but I didn't check under the car because it was raining. Made sure there was enough coolant, but I think the hose might be blocked, so I'll fill the radiator next time as well.
Here's the thing about the oil. Once I checked, I found there was actually too much of it, according to the dipstick, almost over the little hump on the end of the dipstick. This oil looks bad. I'm thinking of doing a quick oil change next time on the spot. Also, the oil light was on, but not consistently. Would it be activated if the oil was overfilled? This would explain the smoke, to some extent.
After driving around the parking lot for a minute or two, I didn't get the smoke to occur. However, I thought the engine and underhood area was quite hot, despite the temp gauge on the dash reading it as cool. This was on a cool night just after a rain, much unlike the late afternoon last time I tried driving it.
The mechanical rapping noise is still there. While I think it is knock, it almost sounds as though it could be an exhaust piece banging on something. The engine mounts appear to be almost gone too, the car shakes quite a bit when given throttle.
And finally, the engine only shows signs of stalling when given gas from idle. It's much like the stumbling delay you'd get in a car with dirty carbs.
I know this is a lot of stuff, I just thought I'd put it out there and see what you thought. Thanks for your help with it.
'Nother update. Man am I confused.
Today I went to change the oil. Prior to changing it, I made put coolant into the radiator itself, about 2 litres. This is in addition to the 1 or more litres I put in the reservoir yesterday. It may have been overfilled, I don't know what was in there before. This brings me to the next bit.
When I drained the old oil, there was coolant in along with it. Is this a normal thing to occur if there is too much coolant? I did not start the car after putting in coolant, so there wasn't any danger of the engine running on it.
After draining all the oil, but not changing the filter, (I was in a parking lot) I put roughly 3 quarts in, knowing that the proper amount was 3-3/8 qts. Yet after running the engine for a bit, the dipstick still shows it as overfilled, and the oil light still comes on.
Car runs about the same as it did before, btw. Slightly smoother. Any ideas?
Today I went to change the oil. Prior to changing it, I made put coolant into the radiator itself, about 2 litres. This is in addition to the 1 or more litres I put in the reservoir yesterday. It may have been overfilled, I don't know what was in there before. This brings me to the next bit.
When I drained the old oil, there was coolant in along with it. Is this a normal thing to occur if there is too much coolant? I did not start the car after putting in coolant, so there wasn't any danger of the engine running on it.
After draining all the oil, but not changing the filter, (I was in a parking lot) I put roughly 3 quarts in, knowing that the proper amount was 3-3/8 qts. Yet after running the engine for a bit, the dipstick still shows it as overfilled, and the oil light still comes on.
Car runs about the same as it did before, btw. Slightly smoother. Any ideas?
ahhh haaa!!!!! theres the missing link right there!
if there is coolant in your oil the headgasket is blown. this means water from your cooling system is getting into one or more of your cylinders and then running down into the oil pan. there should also be a moderate amount of white smoke coming from the enginebay and tailpipe.
so yea get it towed to prevent further damage to the engine. DONT drive it like i originally stated :oface. but at least you know what the problem is now! its a start :thinker
also FYI, when coolant is overfilled it should just go to the coolant reservoir, there is supposed to be no way for it to drain into the cylinders and oilpan.
good luck man, bring her back to life and let us know when shes runnin good (well help you get there of course ). your definately going to have to totally redo the engine, or drop in a working one.
if there is coolant in your oil the headgasket is blown. this means water from your cooling system is getting into one or more of your cylinders and then running down into the oil pan. there should also be a moderate amount of white smoke coming from the enginebay and tailpipe.
so yea get it towed to prevent further damage to the engine. DONT drive it like i originally stated :oface. but at least you know what the problem is now! its a start :thinker
also FYI, when coolant is overfilled it should just go to the coolant reservoir, there is supposed to be no way for it to drain into the cylinders and oilpan.
good luck man, bring her back to life and let us know when shes runnin good (well help you get there of course
). your definately going to have to totally redo the engine, or drop in a working one.