Running rough...

unityerased

unityerased

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Ok, so i had the plugs changed yesterday. Each front plug had oil in the plug holes, making the plugs gunked. I had 8 Bosch Platinum 2's (dual gapped) but didn't redo the plugs yet (they looked ok, but read on). So, started the car up, ran 100% smoother, and its power was BACK. Put some Gumout Complete Fuel System Cleaner in (the amber see-thru yellowish liquid container) and drove it a little to get the fluid in the system, then filled it up and added another container. Gave it a bit of a run, ran it hard at times, no emission smell any more, but as i drove it, it had rough moments again. Not nearly as bad as it was, but theres still a little roughness around 40mph and sitting at stop lights. I know the fuel system cleaner hasn't ran through alot yet so, that could be some of it. I am now looking at getting those plugs done as they could resolve it all. Today, I am going to get the tranny flush and refill with Mercon V and get a new filter. I also might get a new fuel filter installed. I have also heard Seafoam can do wonders, half in the PCV Valve, other half in the tank, and watch the smoke show. hah. She is a 93 with 157k on her. I don't think its time to dump her though really, she is a good car and in great condition. Any comments or suggestions?
 
only use motorcraft plugs and wires on these engines,they are very finicky and you will note a differance.and as far a ford engines go bosch plugs get the worst feedback of all.
 
so the new dual gapped plugs from bosch would cause the car to run rough? that just doesn't seem to fit correctly. I've seen alot of ppl NOT use Motorcraft and have better luck. I purchased some Seafoam this afternoon after getting the tranny flushed and a new fuel filter, still running the same. I didn't put the Seafoam in yet.
 
oil in plugs

your probably running rough because the grommets for the spark plugs have gone bad. Thats usually the problem when there is oil in the spark plug tunnel. I just replaced spark plug grommets or gasket whichever u want to call it on my 97 lsc. I replaced the valve cover gasket while i was at it. Also check the boots on eah coil because the leak may have caused the boots to get brittle. So after i changed the spark plug grommets or gaskets(8), replaced the boots(8), spark plugs(8) and fuel filter the rought ride went away. The grommets where $4.95 apiece, Boots where $7 apiece, spark plugs where $2 apiece. If your mechanically inclined then that job should be simple if not you might get charged between 500-800 depending where your at. I also changed one coil $69 plus tax i live in nyc. Thats just from my experience
 
yeah you might want to deal with the autolites they are real cheap and work real good
 
A rough idle could be from a dirty Idle Air Control valve. Gen Is have them at the back of the intake manifold. Around 40mph (37mph by the book) is when the torque converter locks. You will be changing the fluid soon right?
 
watch out for that seafoam. might blow the O2 sensors, but i've only hurd of a few of those happening
 
Sea foam is one of the best things that you can do. Give it at least 2 treatments a few days apart. My car ran much smoother after the treatments.
 
Ok, now I have the possibility of a few things, which sucks, haha. I am mechanically inclined unfortunately, but I live in the northern-most part of Indiana if someone is close, :) . I'm not going to sink another 500-800 into this car, bottom line. While in park, you can hear the mufflers PUTT PUTT'ing from the roughness, not much at all, but its PUTT'ing with the hesitation at its rough running. Any other final idea's or help?
 
torquemonkey said:
A rough idle could be from a dirty Idle Air Control valve. Gen Is have them at the back of the intake manifold. Around 40mph (37mph by the book) is when the torque converter locks. You will be changing the fluid soon right?
Click to expand...

which fluid are you referring to?
 
and what i mean by the PUTT'ing, is the stream of the exhaust is not smooth and straight streamed, its more buh buh buh buh buh.
 
Tranny fluid, Mercon V. What about that IAC? Oil around the plugs can be expected. Seals on the cam covers are drying out. Happens to the best of us.
 
So, since I am mechanically inclined and i can't sink alot of money into this car, what are my absolute safest options... I do know that the oil dousing those 2 plugs were not a good sign. Possibly bad gaskets? I dont know.
 
klutch said:
Actually the most popular plugs are the Autolite 764's
Click to expand...

I agree with the Autolites.. Also, check for a bad wire. You could have damaged one while changing the plugs. My 95 started to run real rough a few months ago. It was fine then all of a sudden it was real rough. Found out it was the plug wires.
 
aristo1963 said:
only use motorcraft plugs and wires on these engines,they are very finicky and you will note a differance.and as far a ford engines go bosch plugs get the worst feedback of all.
Click to expand...

Not true, the autolite 764's ARE the best. Also, consider getting hi-po wires. MSD is my wire of choice. for some reason these cars like to chew through cheep wires real quick (atleast in my experience) Iv been using my MSD's since the new tranny, and it smoothed out my idle right away, and hasent shown any problems since. Usuially by this point with cheepeys im starting to get a rough idle.

Depending on how bad the idle is, dont rule out busted motor mount.
 
I am gonna get new wires. But I am gonna have to check the new plugs to see if they're doused in oil, if they are, then obviously ive got an internal leak, which means money. I wish I had a trustworthy mechanic near-by to pay and assure coming from a lincoln owner. :) Thanks
 
This is exactly what I was gonna post about

When I got my Mark it came with everything for a tune up except for a set of wires. So the previous owner recomended I change them whil I was at it. I found a set on EBAY but I don't remember if they are Autocraft or what the brand is right now?

However did the tune up and found oil in two of the plug tubes but it didn't make it up the plug boot. Put in the new plug and wires but the IAC was bad. Had that replaced and it seemed to run good for a while...that is if I never let it idle. It will idle fine at a light or in a drivethru and all of a sudden it will start missing cylinders and sound like it has a radical cam or something. When you get on the gas driving it smooths right out though:confused:

Or if I let it warm up idling it will be loping like it is a 3/4 race cam or something. I am wondering if it is the oil somehow making a few cylinders drop off but why would they not still miss at higher RPM then??
 
2002WRXSTi said:
When I got my Mark it came with everything for a tune up except for a set of wires. So the previous owner recomended I change them whil I was at it. I found a set on EBAY but I don't remember if they are Autocraft or what the brand is right now?

However did the tune up and found oil in two of the plug tubes but it didn't make it up the plug boot. Put in the new plug and wires but the IAC was bad. Had that replaced and it seemed to run good for a while...that is if I never let it idle. It will idle fine at a light or in a drivethru and all of a sudden it will start missing cylinders and sound like it has a radical cam or something. When you get on the gas driving it smooths right out though:confused:

Or if I let it warm up idling it will be loping like it is a 3/4 race cam or something. I am wondering if it is the oil somehow making a few cylinders drop off but why would they not still miss at higher RPM then??
Click to expand...

What did the plugs look like? Can you get a color photo of them? Sounds like your IAC is still having issues. I'm guessing that you have done a couple of Seafoam treatments. When You did the IAC, did you shoot some Seafoam or my favorite,Berryman B12 into the air passages? Doing that may help clean out any small amount of crud. Or loosen alot of crud and gum up the works more.
A second method would be to shoot cleaner past the throttle body, avoiding the "special" coating on the T.B. and rev the engine.
I did the Seafoam method and no white smoke came out of the exhaust. I did a B12 treatment into the T.B., blew out much white smoke and haven't had any idle issues for over six months. Keep in mind that your EGR is blowing crap into your intake too.
 
torquemonkey said:
What did the plugs look like? Can you get a color photo of them? Sounds like your IAC is still having issues. I'm guessing that you have done a couple of Seafoam treatments. When You did the IAC, did you shoot some Seafoam or my favorite,Berryman B12 into the air passages? Doing that may help clean out any small amount of crud. Or loosen alot of crud and gum up the works more.
A second method would be to shoot cleaner past the throttle body, avoiding the "special" coating on the T.B. and rev the engine.
I did the Seafoam method and no white smoke came out of the exhaust. I did a B12 treatment into the T.B., blew out much white smoke and haven't had any idle issues for over six months. Keep in mind that your EGR is blowing crap into your intake too.
Click to expand...
The plugs are long since gone but when I did change them I was thinking why am I bothering cause they looked perfect. The wires seemed to be stock original so I replaced them at the time.

When I tried doing the IAC I took the TB off and there was no major gunk in any of the passages. There was the slightest amount of crap around the throttle blades but nothing that made me think it would need to be addressed? Unless that small amount would affect it that much?
 
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