My friends 96' Cavalier has a fuel fouled #3 plug, low compression in cylinder 3, (30, 60, then 30 w/ oil compared to 150 for others, did not go up w/ a cap of oil in cylinder) and ticks when revved. Blows white smoke out of the exhaust pipe (smells like fuel, not antifreeze) - blows more the hotter the engine gets. Engine does not overheat. Problem is:
-Low compression caused by fuel washing = blown out injector???
-Stuck valve????
-Hole in piston??
Also no contamination of oil or antifreeze.....
Why do people just post what they are thinking? Without thinking.
2012 Ford Mustang
1995 BMW 540i/A
1990 Eagle Talon TSI AWD
hmm that weird. i'm thinking top end....if it was lower, i'd suspect contaminated oil or heavy oil usage. you said the exhaust smells like fuel and ticks when revved...could it be a bad injector in conjunction with something else? something makes me think injectors get real loud when they're on their way out
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
Burned exhaust valve?
Wait, I know! It's a cavalier.
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
I'm thinking its a rocker arm, keeper, spring, or lifter on the exhaust valve. A burned valve would not tick (at least I wouldn't think so) so that means something else topend. Pull the V/C and take a look! On old 3.3L Chryslers sometimes the head actually cracks and the rail the rockers are mounted on comes loose, this causes loud ticks/bangs and the car to run, but not worth a shit. Maybe something like that happened? Open her up and see doc, easy as pie.
Jeff Morrison - Used Car Manager
Woodstock Garage, Inc.
Chrysler -
Dodge -
Jeep - RAM
Current Stable of Mopar Junk
57 Chrysler Windsor 4drHT - 67 Dodge D100 Short Bed Step Side - 71 Dodge Challenger - 91 Chrysler Lebaron LX 33k mile Survivor - 91 Dodge Dakota V8 - 05 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster - 08 Ram 2500 Cummins
I agree with Jeff. Sounds like some sort of valvetrain problem. The only way to find out for sure, is to tear it down.
2014 Tacoma TRD Sport Double cab
2017 Toyota iA/Mazda 2
