We are still in Panama. Trump is making life in Europe very expensive. Im pulling out the 6 plugs and revert shortly.

Plugs pulled and with the pcv valve shut there is a difference in plugs 4 and 3 no more. However the initial problem is still there. If i accelerate the car in neutral and idle when warm it only reaches 6000 rpm. It struggles to go over those rpms.

First picture top to bottom 6 5 4 3 2 1

Second picture plug 4

IMHO Pull the head.

This new mechanic says the pcv valve is shut. We are making a test drive on monday again and see what happens. The car is also now driven with no thermostat.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by 72 Datsun 240z

Bottom line that’s not the way the engine was designed unless he thinks you had a defective thermostat.

I vowed years ag that I would never again respond to JAlex's pleas for help. The commentary over the years has devolved into a back-and-forth recourse of the classic 'fuel vs ignition' debate. I will offer the following comments and withdraw forever from the discussion:

1. I suspect that JAlex's problems are the result of poor local fuel quality combined with local high-temp conditions. Most of us -- whether from the USA, Europe, or Canada -- are not qualified to provide proper guidance on this combination. Maybe not even Nissan.

2. JAlex is prey to local tech help whose credentials are highly (self) promoted but probably sub-standard... but more than willing to take his money.

3. It's too bad that we don't have some overarching expert who could just cut to the chase.

All that aside, CZCC members (including JAlex) are the greatest and I hope this will end with JAlex piloting the Panama's best Z on his local streets.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Namerow

We are testing the car again tomorrow morning. I do notice some backfire when releasing the gas pedal maybe its due to the closing of the damaged pcv valve which permitted the oil flood of plugs 3 and 4. Car is not even reaching over 6000 rpms. A lot of misfire after getting out of traffic.

I’m personally done. If his mechanic is that good there’s really no reason to post on a topic thats well over 6 years old and pretty much has not accepted any one persons advivce nor reported back on the findings from suggestions that were given.