suspect piston ring or valve clearance on my peugeot 106 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

modmonster · 05-24-2011, 07:20 AM

hi

I suspect piston ring or valve clearance on my peugeot 106 1.5L diesel. 140,000 miles, +one year of motoring on homemade biodiesel

symptoms are: power loss, fuel efficiency loss (down to 40mpg), rough start up, slight oil leak, slight rattle noise.

i will do a compression test soon to get more information.

if it is a piston ring what are my options? i can happily put up with the symptoms if it puts off having to buy the next car. if its just one cylinder, is it possible to deactivate it by removing the glow plug and injector to that cylinder? redirect the IP fuel back into the return line or something?

robchalmers · 05-24-2011, 08:40 AM

return lines aren't designed for that kind of pressure. if it is a piston ring, you'd probably start getting blue-er smoke out the back, check the coolant for mayo as you may have just popped the head gasket.

cleanspeed1 · 05-24-2011, 09:28 AM

You said that you have been running homemade biodiesel for the last year. I would also check the fuel injection system to see if something had gotten gummed up or carboned up. Pull all your injectors out and get them inspected and tested. Check everything from the tank to the pump.

Did you change out your fuel filter(s) and see if there was a performance change first?

Arragonis · 05-24-2011, 11:32 AM

+1 for fuel filters.

robchalmers · 05-24-2011, 11:43 AM

reminds me - need to do that on mine when I service it before le mans

modmonster · 05-24-2011, 03:00 PM

yes i am changing fuel filters VERY reguarly.

cleanspeed1 · 05-24-2011, 03:57 PM

Have you run some regular diesel through the system with a strong cleaner? I don't know what you have available that is reputable as far as cleaners are concerned, but give it a go before tearing into the motor to rule it out. I am hoping it's something simple.

Arragonis · 05-24-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

Have you run some regular diesel through the system with a strong cleaner? I don't know what you have available that is reputable as far as cleaners are concerned, but give it a go before tearing into the motor to rule it out. I am hoping it's something simple.

I'm probably wrong but I think I heard (on a youTube video) DrDave suggesting using Bio actually released crud from your system and so you shoudl change your filters more if you use it than regular fuel.

In this case though it sounds like a comp-test may be suitable. May also be worth running the engine with your hand over the open oil filler cap and checking if you get pressure there too. If you do then the crank case is pressurised which may mean a bore / ring issue.

(Disclaimer - this is from my old classic "is my Mini a-series engine knackered or not" days...)

cleanspeed1 · 05-24-2011, 06:53 PM

You're right AG, forgot all about that.

Haven't you guys been running ULSD for a lot of years now?

Arragonis · 05-25-2011, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

Haven't you guys been running ULSD for a lot of years now?

I think Euromodder posted about it in the Gas Prices thread, or some other thread about diesel fuel differences between the US the Europe. The answer I think was that EU fuel is more refined than the US variety.

Bio is available but in small quantities and not from petrol stations. I think there is/was to be a rule about a proportion of Bio being mandatory.

EDIT - Mandatory as a proportion of pump Diesel.