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Driving with one dead cylinder 850

posted by  mblackwell on  Tue Oct 12 03:43 CST 2010
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last visit: Tue Nov 27 09:22 CST 2012
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I need some help. My daughter is in Akron Ohio, 500+ miles from home, and her 96 850 NA has lost compression in #3 cylinder. She took it to a garage and they did a compression leak down test. They think it's leaking through the exhaust and maybe intake valves on that cylinder. It started running rough on the way up there, but would smooth out once they got to speed. I think they drove it another 150-200 miles like that. It doesn't seem to be any worse since it started. I don't know what happened, could be carbon or it somehow sucked something in, or the lifter, cam or something else went bad.

I've done some looking around on this site and others and it seems it might be able to be driven back if the injector for that cylinder were disconnected. My options are to

1. Spend $2k (or more - the garage estimated at least 1000 and as much as 2000)on a car that's only worth 2k.
2. Tow it back and replace the engine (which I can do).
3. Have the injector disconnected and let her limp home. (she's a big girl of 29 and she can travel halfway in the company of her sister who has a newer car.
4. Junk it.
5. leave it at her sister's house and have her sell it as a "needs engine work" for like $3-400

My question is can it be gently driven 500 miles with the #3 cylinder dead as long as the injector is disabled? I figure that engine is already toast. Other than being stranded what have we got to lose? Which option do you (the informed Volvo public) think is best?








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    Driving with one dead cylinder 850

    posted by  tmannian on  Tue Oct 12 08:48 CST 2010
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    If they did a leak down test and don't know exactly whats leaking, go see another mechanic...

    Assuming you do the work yourself, have her get it home and replace the valve. Its a lot of time to do it, but not that expensive.

    Actually, I'd have her go see a different mechanic anyway. They forget to undo the fuel and it washes the cylinder, the readings could be crap. They don't have it TDC, the readings are crap. There's a bunch of reasons for no firing (or intermittent failing), not all of them are expensive fixes...

    --
    If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?








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    Driving with one dead cylinder 850

    posted by  KlausC on  Tue Oct 12 04:21 CST 2010
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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    If it "runs fine at speed", why bother to disable the #3 injector? The extra fuel will wash the cylinder wall, but if the valve is already toast, just drive it.

    Was the compression at zero? or just lower than 100psi? A washed cylinder will lower the compression to around 50psi. A broken valve will result in zero and make the car undrivable at any speed.

    A 96 mechanic's special is worth about $700-800 for parts in Ohio.

    Klaus
    --
    Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.








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      Driving with one dead cylinder 850

      posted by  mblackwell on  Tue Oct 12 04:33 CST 2010
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      last visit: Tue Nov 27 09:22 CST 2012
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      Klaus, The mechanics said no (0)compression but that's filtered info by the time I get it. The reason for disabling the injector is that the unburnt fuel could melt the Cat (that is if 200 miles hasn't done that already)and perhaps start a fire. I dnon't know if that's is based on fact or not. The car runs fine at highway speed just chuffs and vibrates at low speed, idle reverse etc.

      Thanks, Mike








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        Driving with one dead cylinder 850

        posted by  KlausC on  Tue Oct 12 04:57 CST 2010
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        last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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        It is easy to disable the FI by just unplugging it, and if it runs at interstate speeds (65-70), then give her your AAA number and let her drive home.

        CATs don't catch fire but can melt and clog up the exhaust.

        Have her unplug the injector and take a test run and see if it still behaves the same. Tell her to put the injector row shield in the trunk.

        Klaus
        --
        Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.








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          Driving with one dead cylinder-Report on the trip. 850

          posted by  mblackwell on  Mon Oct 18 06:43 CST 2010
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          last visit: Tue Nov 27 09:22 CST 2012
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          Progress report on the 850 4 cylinder:

          She left Akron this am, and she is in Kentucky and about 5 hours into the trip. ETA in Knoxville is about 3 hours. So far all is well. Keeping our fingers crossed.

          Mike







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