Need a car geek

[TheRealLobo]

Need a car geek to help me with a problem with my niece's car.

It's a 1988 Ford Escort.

I'm an old shadetree kind of guy, but not since the late 70's or so.

I'm not sure if it is a "fuel injector" issue or not, as it doesn't have anything blowing fuel directly into the cylinders, but has what looks like a carb with a single injector on top.

It's blowing fuel constantly. I expect THAT is not the way it's supposed to work, but I have no idea how to adjust it.

She also has a significant amount of oil in the air filter housing.

Any clues?

[TheRealLobo]

OK, more info.

It is called a "mini-injector".

[Christian_Dad]

I dunno, but I am amazed an 1988 escort is still around!

[DoctorDoom]

The oil suggests a small pressurized leak that's spraying into the air near the intake. Is it motor oil, brake fluid or ??

If the fuel system is controlled by the computer, I'd suggest having a dealer or service shop connect an analyzer and look over its codes. Possibly a defective sensor is giving false information and the puter is trying to compensate for it.

[Peachdiane]

Hey at least it's Ford! ;)

Oil in the air filter housing....I'm thinking it's the PCV so you might want to change it.

[TheRealLobo]

The oil suggests a small pressurized leak that's spraying into the air near the intake. Is it motor oil, brake fluid or ??

If the fuel system is controlled by the computer, I'd suggest having a dealer or service shop connect an analyzer and look over its codes. Possibly a defective sensor is giving false information and the puter is trying to compensate for it.
Motor oil.

It appears to be indicative of bad rings. We're gonna try some of that motor oil for older engines as soon as I remember the name of it.

I'm also going to try some injector cleaner before I go too crazy with it.

[Christian_Dad]

Hey at least it's Ford! ;)

I like Fords in general, especially trucks, i just think they did a bad job on the escorts is all, I seen people go nuts buying them and they had so many problems. I am glad that this person blessed enough that this escort is still around because I think that is really rare.

[The_Fireman]

Pennzoil makes an oil for high miage engines its the one in the copper colored bottle.

[The_Fireman]

also might substitute one quart of "Slick 50"for one quart of oil.Its also good stuff.

[Peachdiane]

Pennzoil makes an oil for high miage engines its the one in the copper colored bottle.

My Explorer is '94 so that's the one I use.

I like Fords in general, especially trucks, i just think they did a bad job on the escorts is all, I seen people go nuts buying them and they had so many problems.

I know, Ford trucks are the best. They did a bad job with the Tempos too, I think. I had a Tempo and it gave me nothing but problems. After that I said I'd never get another Ford car again.

But because I bought the Tempo, my great-grandpa was so pleased. I'll never forget him screeching at my grandpa, "You bought a Ty-ota?!!!! *&^%! it man! You're supposed to buy American! What did you go by a TY-OTA for????"

[DoctorDoom]

I'm thinking it's the PCV so you might want to change it.Quite possible if it's blowing by. That would show the greatest concentration of oil near the attachment point for the valve.

Oil "stabilizers" (http://www.midwayautosupply.com/manufacturerminorcategory.asp?Oil%20Additives) compensate for wear in older engines, as do high-mileage oils (http://www.pennzoil.com/products/motor_oil/hi_mileage.html), but when it gets to that point, consider a rebuild.

[Faithful_Servant]

Need a car geek to help me with a problem with my niece's car.

It's a 1988 Ford Escort.

I'm an old shadetree kind of guy, but not since the late 70's or so.

I'm not sure if it is a "fuel injector" issue or not, as it doesn't have anything blowing fuel directly into the cylinders, but has what looks like a carb with a single injector on top.

It's blowing fuel constantly. I expect THAT is not the way it's supposed to work, but I have no idea how to adjust it.

She also has a significant amount of oil in the air filter housing.

Any clues?
It's called "throttle-body fuel injection". Basically, instead of using vacuum to control how much fuel your car gets when you press the accelerator, it uses a computer controlled injection system to inject the fuel into the throttle body. It's pretty much standard on most non-fuel injected vehicles any more. Take the car to a good mechanic and have them put it on their analyzer. They should be able to tell you if it's working right or not.

Oil in the air filter housing??? Check for oil leaks near the filter intake. Blow by is usually recycled back into the engine in most later model cars, so I doubt that's the problem.

I had an '86 Escort that was one the worst vehicles I have ever owned. I actually gave it away to a recently released con. He hated it so much that he sold it for $150 to guy who abandonded it less than two weeks later.

[TheRealLobo]

OK, found the solution with the help of some of y'all and a shadetree mech.

It is in fact called a throttle-body fuel injector.

The catalytic convertor was absolutely GLOWING after a bit of a test drive.

Apparently, the convertor is clogged and starving the carb of oxygen. This tells the computer that there needs to be more gas, and it keeps pumping fuel in, causing it to run EXTREMELY rich.

This is turn contributes to more clogging of the cat.

The oil is being diluted by gasoline, and having less viscosity goes EVERYWHERE.

We're removing and cleaning the catalytic convertor, changing the oil and filter, and keeping our fingers crossed.

Net result, one very pleased niece, one well tipped shadetree mechanic, and one tired uncle.

[ronin9]

ford-found on road dead.and they give craploads of money to radical liberal causes.beware!(jeeps rule):patriot:

[TheRealLobo]

ford-found on road dead.and they give craploads of money to radical liberal causes.beware!(jeeps rule):patriot:Well, it's a 16 year old car, bought from a neighbor who had a Bush/Cheney sign in his front yard until November 2nd. I expect he didn't put much of the $850 given him for the car towards liberal causes, but you never can tell. Maybe I should go kill him?

Oh, btw, My Old Pig Ain't Running (MOPAR).