Fuel pressure regulator

[John Robinson]

Yesterday while driving the car it suddenly went to shaking and running like it was only on 4 cylinders then it stopped. Car flat bedded to my home. I noticed a heavy fuel smell but was more concerned that I could not turn the engine over. After charging the battery I tried to start and it turned 3 or 4 times and then acted like it was locked up. Again the heavy fuel smell so I pulled the vacuum off the fuel regulator and fuel ran out of it. Obviously I have a bad fuel regulator and I can not find any help with how to replace it in the FSM. Before I go to all the work to replace it I am wondering if the engine not turning over is because the fuel has the engine hydro locked. This may also explain my other thread about open and closed loop with poor gas mileage.

 

[John Robinson]

Removed the pressure regulator and it was full of gas. I am going to let the engine set a while in hopes that the fuel in the cylinders will evaporate enough to turn over the engine and clear out the cylinders.

 

[navy2kcoupe]

Pull out the plugs and spin it over.. If there's gas in the cylinders and it's preventing the motor from
turning over, it will eventually wind up in the oil. Don't forget to change that oil before you run it.
Andy

 

[Hib Halverson]

If the engine's hydrolocked, it won't evaporate. It will slowly, very slowly weep in to the oil.

Pull all eight plugs and spin the motor with the starter to blow the fuel out. Repair the FPR. Pill the dip stick and smell it. If you get a strong smell of gasoline, change the oil and filter. Reinstall the plugs and attempt to start the engine.


Sometimes, a hydrolocked engine will bend connecting rods. Hopefully that's not the case, here.

 

[John Robinson]

So far the oil looks good. There is no smell of fuel in it and when I used an open flame on the oil on the dipstick it did not flare up or even catch fire. The car may have to wait for awhile since I have to replace the roof on my house. I pulled one plug and it was dry. I am looking for another easy one to pull.

 

[John Robinson]

Pulled another plug and it was dry that's two dry plugs. By pulling the fuel rail and having the injectors pop out of the manifold that may have let the gas evaporate.

 

[roger longman]

Hi John, I think you would be well advised to pull all the plugs. Bent con rods are very nasty.......Roger.

 

[toptechx6]

If the engine's hydrolocked, it won't evaporate. It will slowly, very slowly weep in to the oil.

Pull all eight plugs and spin the motor with the starter to blow the fuel out. Repair the FPR. Pill the dip stick and smell it. If you get a strong smell of gasoline, change the oil and filter. Reinstall the plugs and attempt to start the engine.


Sometimes, a hydrolocked engine will bend connecting rods. Hopefully that's not the case, here.

I agree with Hib, but strongly suggest you disconnect the ignition coil before doing this, very easy to start a fire with fuel blowing out of the spark plug openings and the loose wires sparking. Ask me how I learned this.

 

[vigman]

2nd the disable the coil

Been there, done that...

 

[John Robinson]

Well I have the engine running again. The cylinders were clear but the crank was overfull with fuel and oil. Drained about 1 1/2 qts and then tried to turn over the engine with coil wire off. Cranked the engine a few times. Connected the coil wire and the engine started up. Next step I will drain and put in new fresh oil. Thanks for all the suggestions. As you can see I had to use most of them to get her back.

 

[vigman]

John

Gotta do a full oil change,the gas probably did a good job of cleaning the engine tops & rings... so there's a bunch of gunk... The fuel diluted the viscosity of the oil... so I wouldn't drive it with whats currently in the sump... that's just me

 

[John Robinson]

As for changing the oil I may have to drive it to a station to get it done. Just putting it on jack stands long enough to drain a little out was more than I should have done. I have spent over 15 days in the hospital this year so far for heart failure and kidney failure and a few other ailments. I am going to try to see if a neighbor will jack up the car and put it on jack stands. If I get it up in the air I can get under the car and pull the drain plug. The other choice is to drive it the mile to a service station.

 

[vigman]

Oh my.....

Well if you drive it like you have a raw egg between the shoe & the pedal you should be fine.......

 

[John Robinson]

Well if you drive it like you have a raw egg between the shoe & the pedal you should be fine.......

Lets see would that be a chicken egg,a robins egg. or an ostrich egg. And while I have the egg under foot one eye on the oil pressure and one on the road.

 

[vigman]

Robin's

It's not so much the pressure it's the viscosity ( or breakdown thereof ) I'll bet the oil comes out black....
but the engine will be cleaner inside! LOL