Technical Is my engine done for?

[paul914car]

My '92 uno 1.0L ie started to run on 3 cylinders, so I parked it up and used my other car for a week because I didn't have the time to investigate. At the weekend I checked the oil before I tried to start it and there was NO OIL!!! whatsoever. I filled it up with oil and tried to start it. It was turning over fine but not starting. I checked the usual suspects like plugs, air, fuel and everything is working fine. One of the plugs had an oily deposit (#2) and one was caked in sludgy oil (#3).

The funny thing is there are no oil leaks and it was not blowing blue smoke through the exhaust before it packed in. I checked the oil about 3 weeks before this happened and it was at three quarters full.

I think it may be the head gasket(?) but I have a feeling that it may be a bit more serious (if not terminal!) as there was no oil at all left in the engine.

Any suggestions would be appreciated as I don't want to scrap the poor little thing. It was running perfectly before this happened too!!!!

 

[alexGS]

Well first off I'm sure that a replacement engine would be reasonable, considering the number of these cars that die due to rust! There must be a number of spare engines around, particularly basic 999cc FIREs.

That doesn't sound like a 'common' failure! First thing to do is a compression test. Pressure gauge fits in each spark plug hole in turn, hold throttle open and crank engine with other spark plugs removed.

I have a feeling you'll have zero compression on one cylinder due to a broken piston ring. You might be right about the head gasket though - check the cooling system to see if all the oil's gone in there.

In the event that compression is OK, you should be able to get the engine running again (clean the plugs) and check for smoke. It could be something minor like valve stem oil seals, but unlikely.

If you don't seem to be getting anywhere, why not pull the head off... I think the problem will be self-evident! Either you'll see the leak from the head gasket, or the severely-oiled piston slopping around. Then you can decide whether to strip/fix the engine (I might) or just drop in a second-hand replacement (I would!)

-Alex

 

[Morty Mort]

Read this one:

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=13508&highlight=COMPRESSION+FAILURE

It may be of relevance.


Morten.

 

[alexGS]

Morten, great story. I think you do extremely well with your English at times of technical trauma, even inserting "bloody hell" in just the right place.

Head gasket problems can be hard to spot. I replaced the head gasket on my Uno 60 and cured the coolant-going-nowhere problem. I have also had a head gasket blow out between two cylinders in my 128. That made a fantastic clattering noise (one cylinder firing the other, like 'pinking'/detonation but worse). When it happened I really thought that something had broken inside the engine (I mean, broken cam or something) because the noise was very 'metallic' - yet it was just the head gasket.

I later decided that the gasket failed due to re-use of the cylinder head bolts. The angle tightening had been very difficult so I had just said 'sod it'. When I replaced the gasket I used new bolts - the angle tightening was really easy.

Of course, Paul has a different problem: an 'oil going nowhere' problem... Hopefully again the head gasket may still be at fault, since it seals off a pressurised oilway.

By the way, did you ever figure out how to do the timing? I guess it won't need doing now... but it's always good to be able to check it once a year.
-Alex

 

[Morty Mort]

Ah, the timing. I bought this strobe-gun, but never figured which HT lead to be used. So I returned it, drove to the local Fiat garage, and they tweeked me into their tight timeline the same day. Fiat guy worked 4 minutes, and it was done. Paid a symbolic fee. The guys at Fiat are very helpful here.

Morten.

 

[Luke]

Ah, the timing. I bought this strobe-gun, but never figured which HT lead to be used. So I returned it, drove to the local Fiat garage, and they tweeked me into their tight timeline the same day. Fiat guy worked 4 minutes, and it was done. Paid a symbolic fee. The guys at Fiat are very helpful here.

Morten.

For future reference, use the 1st lead
I assume you know how to adjust and what to look for? If not lemme know and i can explain, not long been taught how to do it on mine