Power - going, going, gone

I am not a happy bunny!!

Happily pottering along this morning, 5K rpm, then "Why does the engine sound like it's dying, why am I slowing down, why is the FI warning light on, why have I stopped".

After 2 hours standing in the cold and a ride home on the back of a pickup truck I am still none the wiser?

Still got plenty of oil in, just up to the full line, kind of starts then dies. Doesn't really look like the oil is being flung around the inside like it should be.

So the questions, is the oil pump blocked, buggered. Is it a head gasket - the oil isn't milky so don't think there is any water in it.

Still going to have to go in (picked up) and find out, will follow this up later.

Mousetrapper

[rictus01]

Interesting diagnostic chain of thought, what makes you think it has anything to do with the oil level? Generally a lack of oil wouldn't be a gradual loss of power, but more a case of mechanical noise first then failure.

Although oil is required to lubricate it has very little to do with combustion, mechanical compression, fuel, air, spark & timing however are I'd look at those first.

Cheers Mark.

Thanks Mark,

Not being the mechanical type I was just thinking the light meant it was the oil pressure. When it ticks over there isn't the normal splatting of oil on the window. There wasn't any big bang or anything, the power just went down over 2 or 3 secs then it cut out. Does the engine management system do this is if there is a sudden drop in oil pressure (or will it just let the engine thrash itself to death).

[rictus01]

it highly unlikely the oil pressure caused the power loss, electrical failure could well cause the light to come on, electrical or fuel is a far more likely cause.

a systematic check of both systems is the way forwards, starting with electrical.

You say it starts and ticks over, is this at normal revs ? are both cylinders firing, does it break down underload or when rev'd ?

these are the things that need answering.

Cheers Mark.

Well it cuts out right after catching now, time to get some professional verdicts otherwise I'll just do more damage to it. I shall post the answer later...

reserve?! sorry to be patronising

Could be reg/rec and dying battery - mine behaved in a similar way (although not at 5k revs)?

[dizzyblonde]

this happened to me,exact same description. Chris stripped it down then proclaimed' what do you need in it to run it???' the fuel light had failed as the sensor had got stuck or something and it had run out of petrol....I seriously thought there was something more wrong with it.

[yorkie_chris]

Lol

Dizzy ran out of fuel

Tee hee

[dizzyblonde]

bugger orf. Not my fault the light broke.