Help identifying damage to valves/cylinders
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Help identifying damage to valves/cylinders
Hey guys. Per my previous thread here where I mentioned my timing belt snapped, I started pulling my spark plugs and looked down the holes to see if there were any signs of damage inside.
Coincidentally, I realized that I'm not even sure what I'm exactly looking for. I was hoping someone could help explain what I'm looking at here, and help me figure out what to do next.
I pulled the first 3 plugs facing the front of the car, left to right. They will be labeled left, middle, and right. Right being closest bank to the battery.
Left (one pic)
Middle (2 pics). To my untrained eye, this looks damaged, but i truly don't know.
Right (1 pic)
Thank you for any help.
Coincidentally, I realized that I'm not even sure what I'm exactly looking for. I was hoping someone could help explain what I'm looking at here, and help me figure out what to do next.
I pulled the first 3 plugs facing the front of the car, left to right. They will be labeled left, middle, and right. Right being closest bank to the battery.
Left (one pic)
Middle (2 pics). To my untrained eye, this looks damaged, but i truly don't know.
Right (1 pic)
Thank you for any help.
#4
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
yours look like they are pitting. with some gouge in the middle one (metal shavings?)
mine had an impression where they kissed the valves in the head.
teh black gunk is carbon deposits from bad fuel, most likely. but circled in yellow is where the pistons hit the valve.
yours look like the coating on the top of the piston is coming off and pitting.
mine had an impression where they kissed the valves in the head.
teh black gunk is carbon deposits from bad fuel, most likely. but circled in yellow is where the pistons hit the valve.
yours look like the coating on the top of the piston is coming off and pitting.
Last edited by justnspace; 09-13-2020 at 11:28 AM.
#5
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Exactly what I was assuming. I was doing about 45mph at ~4k rpm when it snapped, so I figured the pistons had to have made contact with the valves. Gonna start looking at used motors on ebay....
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justnspace (09-13-2020)
The following users liked this post:
justnspace (09-13-2020)
#7
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
yeah, if you want to investigate further, I would pull the heads and look at both valves and the pistons!!
or since you kinda know what happened, you could just replace the whole engine.
I tried to replace just my heads...but ended up seizing the block because I forgot to install the keyway back into the crank pulley....and seized the engine.
bought a used engine for $650 and had a local mechanic install for $650 and I was on my merry way.
or since you kinda know what happened, you could just replace the whole engine.
I tried to replace just my heads...but ended up seizing the block because I forgot to install the keyway back into the crank pulley....and seized the engine.
bought a used engine for $650 and had a local mechanic install for $650 and I was on my merry way.
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#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I mean, I am already moving towards swapping the entire engine if I have piston and valve damage, just because I can get a running J32a3 for a steal. is there any further benefit of taking the heads off if the damage is going to be more trouble than what the engine itself is worth?
#9
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
yeah, if you want to investigate further, I would pull the heads and look at both valves and the pistons!!
or since you kinda know what happened, you could just replace the whole engine.
I tried to replace just my heads...but ended up seizing the block because I forgot to install the keyway back into the crank pulley....and seized the engine.
bought a used engine for $650 and had a local mechanic install for $650 and I was on my merry way.
or since you kinda know what happened, you could just replace the whole engine.
I tried to replace just my heads...but ended up seizing the block because I forgot to install the keyway back into the crank pulley....and seized the engine.
bought a used engine for $650 and had a local mechanic install for $650 and I was on my merry way.
#10
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
if one is curious, one could pull to see what kind of damage happened.
but since you know that the timing belt snapped and you know you're having all of these troubles because of the snapped belt, I wouldnt hesitate to install a used engine into the car.
Junk yards usually give a 30-90 day warranty....and they test the engine for compression before hand. so you know you're getting a good motor. hopefully you install the engine before the warranty ends, just in case.
Last edited by justnspace; 09-13-2020 at 11:48 AM.
#11
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
just for investigative purposes only.
if one is curious, one could pull to see what kind of damage happened.
but since you know that the timing belt snapped and you know you're having all of these troubles because of the snapped belt, I wouldnt hesitate to install a used engine into the car.
Junk yards usually give a 30-90 day warranty....and they test the engine for compression before hand. so you know you're getting a good motor. hopefully you install the engine before the warranty ends, just in case.
if one is curious, one could pull to see what kind of damage happened.
but since you know that the timing belt snapped and you know you're having all of these troubles because of the snapped belt, I wouldnt hesitate to install a used engine into the car.
Junk yards usually give a 30-90 day warranty....and they test the engine for compression before hand. so you know you're getting a good motor. hopefully you install the engine before the warranty ends, just in case.
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justnspace (09-13-2020)
#13
I don't see clear marks left by valves. That crap on the cylinders might by anything. Most likely just standard buildup, that looks weird because of strong light and crappy camera. There shouldn't be any shavings, unless valves dropped into the cylinder. But then we would see much more damage.
Any reason why you decided to not throw a belt at it? From my limited experience I've seen more engines that survived than ones that didn't. $170 is not much money compared to pulling the whole engine, and worst case you can use that kit for the used engine that you buy.
Any reason why you decided to not throw a belt at it? From my limited experience I've seen more engines that survived than ones that didn't. $170 is not much money compared to pulling the whole engine, and worst case you can use that kit for the used engine that you buy.
Last edited by peter6; 09-13-2020 at 03:01 PM.
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Slpr04UA6 (09-14-2020)
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