|
|
1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
|
|
| |
|
|
captainmick
New User
May 5, 2015, 2:40 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1275 views)
|
|
1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
1994
Mitsubishi
Magna
3.0 V6
225,000km
Hello,
I was driving home from work today and while at the lights and maybe moving very slowly. Suddenly, but not with very much noise there was a lot of white smoke or steam, I am not sure which. The steam/smoke was kind of all at once, then no more. I was very close (about 1km) from home, so I (perhaps stupidly) thought I could make it home. I had very little acceleration, and it made the sort of pinging noise that happens when you are in a gear which is too high. When I came to a stop the engine stopped. I got it going after a few turns of the key, but it stopped and would not get going again shortly after when I came to rest again to turn into my street. I have since had a look, and there is a thin brown liquid spread around which I don't think is oil (oil level is fine also). I think it is dirty water, likely from the radiator?
I have spoken to a friend of a friend and and someone else, and both said the head gasket is likely stuffed. However one of them said to make sure I should take the cap off the radiator and turn on the engine. If it was a head gasket water should shoot out of the radiator as each piston turns over.
When I opened the cap, the radiator looked fairly empty. I put some water in, but it looked like it was leaking out of a few different places. Once I had put in about 1 litre, I turned the engine on. No water, and while in nuetral (didnt want to test the acceleration incase I was just doing more damage) it sounded fine. I revved the engine, and again, it sounded normal.
So I am not sure where to go from here, because on the one hand, the initial symptoms apparently scream head gasket, especially the loss in acceleration and suddenness of the steam. However the one test I was told about failed.
I will also mention that a couple of months ago, I had an appointment somewhere about 10km from where I live. On the way there I had a wierd shaking of the car as I accelerated. However on the way back, it was completely gone, and has not happened since. I am not sure if the two things are related, but just in case I should probably mention it.
So yeah, any advice I could get would be brilliant.
If there is any other information I can provide, please let me know.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 5, 2015, 4:08 AM
Post #2 of 6
(1263 views)
|
|
Re: 1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
Well, you really need to find the leak and fix it. Not keep driving it to it shuts off. I still don't understand why people do that sort of thing. You should of stopped after you saw steam pouring out of it. Who knows what kind of damage is done now.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
|
captainmick
New User
May 5, 2015, 4:15 AM
Post #3 of 6
(1258 views)
|
|
Re: 1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
Thank you for your reply. I realise it was an idiotic thing to try and get home now, I don't know much about cars, and something like this has never happened to me before. I've never been in a car which has had so much as a flat tire let alone steam coming out of the hood. I suppose I was a bit shocked and obviously not thinking clearly. Do you have any immediate thoughts on what the problem might be, and/or any techniques to diagnose it further?
I really appreciate your help.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 5, 2015, 4:26 AM
Post #4 of 6
(1255 views)
|
|
Re: 1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
It seems you have a coolant leak. You stated you saw brownish watery stuff leaking out in different places. The coolant is probably brownish because it hasn't been serviced and the system is full of rust. When enough coolant leaks out there isn't any coolant being circulated through the engine to control the temperature of the metal parts that get hot. These metal parts will expand when they overheat and cause seizing, cracking, and warping. The engine shut off either because the pistons expanded so much they started to lock up in the cylinders or the fuel being injected simply flashed off before it could even reach the combustion chambers.
Either way when you over heat any engine to that point there is probably going to be engine damage. The heads can warp so much causing the gaskets to blow out and possible cracking in the head material. Because the pistons expanded so much the rings crack and you'll notice the engine burns a lot more oil than usual. Just so many bad things happen when an engine is overheated like that.
The only thing you can do now is repair the leaks and flush out the coolant system. Change the oil and then see how it runs. In your case, the best thing for you to do is have it towed to your mechanic. Don't be surprised if they give you some really bad news though.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on May 5, 2015, 4:28 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
captainmick
New User
May 5, 2015, 4:31 AM
Post #5 of 6
(1250 views)
|
|
Re: 1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
Thank you again. I really appreciate the information you have given me. The immediate reaction by friends was it was not going to be worth fixing because of the damage. So yeah hopes aren't high. Thank you again for putting so much effort into your response. I seriously appreciate it.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 5, 2015, 5:28 AM
Post #6 of 6
(1246 views)
|
|
Re: 1994 Magna loss of power and engine shut off
|
Sign In
|
|
You need to at least fix the coolant leak so you can clearly see what you are dealing with as far as engine damage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
