What a Difference a Day Makes with RedBird

[siteunseen]

Learned  something new, thanks C.Man! I watched a lot of cartoons in the 70s, and remember the shooting star "the more you know".

[Redwing]

Oh no, not again...

Tuesday filled up with 100% gas.  (This is the station in Dalton that only sells 100% gas, all 3 grades.  I bought the 89%.)  First tho, added some water remover.  Drove home, 15 or so miles.  All perfect.

Then last night was going to church, started RedBird to warm her.  She began the missing , chugging stuff.  Jumped back in and prevented her from dying by staying heavy on the gas.  Like someone here told me, I had to stay hard on the gas to keep her alive, whilst she once again made volumes of exhaust.  Staying there until the exhaust quit.  Shortly she returned to normal and I let her finish warming up.  The drive to church (about 2 miles) was uneventful.  Then starting up to come home, about 1 1/4 hours later, she started fine.  But she stalled out after driving about a mile, just like I'd turned the key off.  No warning.   Checked the gauge and it was normal.  She started right up, drove a couple hundred feet and died again.  She repeated that for 5 more times, to get home.  This is different than before, as she would not start again that quickly before.  And this was with no warning, dropping speed or chugging, just bam and she was off.

Called the gas station this morning and asked about possibility of water in the gas.  He was very nice, and was not upset with my questioning him.  And no, no water in his gas.

Checked her this morning, started her with no problems.  She turned over just fine, and warmed up for 20 min. with no hassle.  Drove up to my one horse berg they call a town to get my meds refilled, with no problems at all.

Now, when I filled up on Tuesday and drove home, then to church last night, total I only drove a total of about 25 miles.  This is before I drove to get my meds. The gas gauge shows only 3/4 full.  Isn't that a lot of gas used for so few miles?   Is there some way she could be losing gas as we travel?  I have been keeping a container under her, but no gas is dripping out.

Another outside thought.   When she arrived here from Fl.,  her oil was very black.  Greg was going to change it, but the drain plug would not come out.  Fearing it might break, he left it alone.  We decided to leave it until I got to Steve's, for when he will put her on his lift.   I have been watching the level, and have added a total of 3 qts. since March 2015.  Is there any way this putrid oil could be causing these incidents of volumes of exhaust?  Strange thought, I don't know if it is possible, so I'm asking you all.

I just don't understand why she is such a wonderful purring kitten, and change to a vixen overnight.  Ideas anyone?

Thanks bunches...

 

[Zed Head]

Can't remember, but has the ECU been replaced?  Pretty sure we've talked about it but don't know if it got swapped.  Your problem still sounds lot like a bad ECU that I had, and has symptoms like others have described.  Running rich, and dying suddenly.

The oil usage seems high also.  Oil fouled cylinders tend to stay fouled though, so if it was burning so much oil it caused the engine to die, doesn't seem like it would fix itself.

[Redwing]

No the ECU has not been replaced.  I had an offer from rcb280z, but it was missing from his parts collection.  He was going to send me an

ECU and an ICM.  I was thinking about it too again recently.   Wondering if that would fix some if not all of RedBird's problems.  

Also, Steve(? Forget his initial.) sent me an ignition switch for me to hold in case it was determined RB needs that too.  Still holding it.  Waiting to hear if it is needed.  

Ideas about these mentioned parts anyone???

Thanks...

[Zed Head]

The last thing on most of the troubleshooting guides is "replace control unit".  You're at that point, I think.  It's relatively easy to do, for a flexible person with a Phillips head screwdriver, and almost impossible to break something while trying it.  It's a no-brainer if you have one available.

[Redwing]

Thank you, I think you are wise.  Now to find one with my lean pocketbook.

You say "it's a no-brainer if you have one available"   ........   Whaaaa, a brain????   Snicker...

 

Edited February 4, 2016 by Redwing

[gundee]

2 hours ago, Redwing said:

 

Another outside thought.   When she arrived here from Fl.,  her oil was very black.  Greg was going to change it, but the drain plug would not come out.  Fearing it might break, he left it alone.  We decided to leave it until I got to Steve's, for when he will put her on his lift.   I have been watching the level, and have added a total of 3 qts. since March 2015.  Is there any way this putrid oil could be causing these incidents of volumes of exhaust?  Strange thought, I don't know if it is possible, so I'm asking you all.

 

 

You really need to get that old oil out. It may be full of raw gas. If it is too rich the cylinder walls are getting

washed down. Then the rings are next to go if that is happening.

[gundee]

I don't know why the reply function double spaces on my computer.

It did not use to as I recall.

[Zed Head]

Is "Steve" Steve from here?  Maybe we can get an ECU to him somehow for a test.

[Redwing]

Not Steve J.  Another Steve from here.

   Actually it is "Lumens"...

Edited February 5, 2016 by Redwing

[Zed Head]

1 minute ago, Lumens said:

I don't know why the reply function double spaces on my computer.

It did not use to as I recall.

Does for me also.  

[Redwing]

8 minutes ago, Lumens said:

You really need to get that old oil out. It may be full of raw gas. If it is too rich the cylinder walls are getting

washed down. Then the rings are next to go if that is happening.

Oh yes, I did not know that exact problem was possible, but I am not surprised.  I mean, there is a reason why everyone changes oil religiously.  

But the actual changing of it is beyond me, since the drain plug is stuck/refusing to come out.  

Thank you...