CA18DET: Stalls, TONS of black smoke - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

nismobeyond · 10-19-2007, 10:12 AM

Whats up guys,

Car is an S13 powered by a CA18DET. I have had a fuel injector leaking a little drip of fuel onto the block because of a bad o-ring that I haven't had time to get replaced. I drive the car only once a week anyways so I was planning on getting the o-rings changed sometime soon, just not immediately.

Anyways, last night I am out for a drive and notice a little bit of smoke coming from under the hood, not a big deal, I know it's that little drip of fuel burning up. I drive around 10km more and trouble starts. I notice more smoke coming from under the hood. I check my rear view mirror and the car is literally blowing CLOUDS of black smoke out even at idle. It is just puffing and puffing it out.

I stop the car. I pop the hood and there is tons of smoke coming from the injector that was leaking fuel out of the o-ring. The car starts but does NOT have any power at low RPM. I can barely move it. I had to give it a fair bit of gas just to be able to park it in a proper spot. It stalls SUPER easy if I don't give it tons of gas and even then it moves slowly.

I can understand the smoke under the hood as a result of the o-ring possibly giving up at this point. But why is there TONS of black smoke coming out the rear? Also, why no power at low RPM? It stalls out if I don't give it TONS of gas.

Whats the best thing to do here? I am worried about doing any serious damage to the engine. I know I need to change the rings to fix the leak but now I am curious as to why the car barely wants to move. Does the no power at low rpm give any hint of serious problems?

Any advice/info would be appreciated.

MegasquirtCA · 10-19-2007, 10:22 AM

I'm sorry as i'm a CA owner myself but I seriously think YOU NEED TO BE SHOT.

NEVER EVER EVER drive a car that has a fuel leak ESPECIALLY when its leaking around the motor.

Heres a pic to show you what a tiny very tiny fuel leak can cause. This was caused because a compression fitting failed on the fuel return line, and the previous owner of my car butchered the lower wiring harness and because of built up grime and dirt I couldn't see the stripped ends. So the fuel shorted the wires causing a fire. Thankfully I wasnt driving as I was running diagnostics with my megasquirt.

rim_bender · 10-19-2007, 10:25 AM

you have answered your own question

replace all the injector 0-rings

leaky injectors will also leak INTO the motor, just dumping fuel

and knowingly driving a car around that leaks fuel is stupid

nismobeyond · 10-19-2007, 10:49 AM

I know the risk I am taking is stupid and unnecessary but yesterday an emergency required me to take the car. I know exactly what can happen w/a fuel leak but yesterday I had no other options available. I'm actually living on a remote island right now, if I was at home I would have done the o-rings myself but there are neither good mechanics/parts available where I am. I don't have time to fully explain the situation but basically yesterday I NEEDED to be somewhere important and had to take the car. I'm not an idiot that would drive this car around if I didn't have to.

The black smoke out the exhaust was what was confusing the hell out of me so thanks for answering that, I didn't know fuel would leak into the engine as well.

10-19-2007, 10:12 AM	#1
nismobeyond Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	CA18DET: Stalls, TONS of black smoke Whats up guys, Car is an S13 powered by a CA18DET. I have had a fuel injector leaking a little drip of fuel onto the block because of a bad o-ring that I haven't had time to get replaced. I drive the car only once a week anyways so I was planning on getting the o-rings changed sometime soon, just not immediately. Anyways, last night I am out for a drive and notice a little bit of smoke coming from under the hood, not a big deal, I know it's that little drip of fuel burning up. I drive around 10km more and trouble starts. I notice more smoke coming from under the hood. I check my rear view mirror and the car is literally blowing CLOUDS of black smoke out even at idle. It is just puffing and puffing it out. I stop the car. I pop the hood and there is tons of smoke coming from the injector that was leaking fuel out of the o-ring. The car starts but does NOT have any power at low RPM. I can barely move it. I had to give it a fair bit of gas just to be able to park it in a proper spot. It stalls SUPER easy if I don't give it tons of gas and even then it moves slowly. I can understand the smoke under the hood as a result of the o-ring possibly giving up at this point. But why is there TONS of black smoke coming out the rear? Also, why no power at low RPM? It stalls out if I don't give it TONS of gas. Whats the best thing to do here? I am worried about doing any serious damage to the engine. I know I need to change the rings to fix the leak but now I am curious as to why the car barely wants to move. Does the no power at low rpm give any hint of serious problems? Any advice/info would be appreciated.

10-19-2007, 10:22 AM	#2
MegasquirtCA Zilvia Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 610 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I'm sorry as i'm a CA owner myself but I seriously think YOU NEED TO BE SHOT. NEVER EVER EVER drive a car that has a fuel leak ESPECIALLY when its leaking around the motor. Heres a pic to show you what a tiny very tiny fuel leak can cause. This was caused because a compression fitting failed on the fuel return line, and the previous owner of my car butchered the lower wiring harness and because of built up grime and dirt I couldn't see the stripped ends. So the fuel shorted the wires causing a fire. Thankfully I wasnt driving as I was running diagnostics with my megasquirt.

10-19-2007, 10:25 AM	#3
rim_bender Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ga Posts: 441 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you have answered your own question replace all the injector 0-rings leaky injectors will also leak INTO the motor, just dumping fuel and knowingly driving a car around that leaks fuel is stupid

10-19-2007, 10:49 AM	#4
nismobeyond Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know the risk I am taking is stupid and unnecessary but yesterday an emergency required me to take the car. I know exactly what can happen w/a fuel leak but yesterday I had no other options available. I'm actually living on a remote island right now, if I was at home I would have done the o-rings myself but there are neither good mechanics/parts available where I am. I don't have time to fully explain the situation but basically yesterday I NEEDED to be somewhere important and had to take the car. I'm not an idiot that would drive this car around if I didn't have to. The black smoke out the exhaust was what was confusing the hell out of me so thanks for answering that, I didn't know fuel would leak into the engine as well.