Re: 4kcsq lifter probs and timing

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@NWOhio.com>]

>To: dannoelle@earthlink.net
>From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@NWOhio.com>
>Subject: Re: 4kcsq lifter probs and timing
>In-Reply-To: <4045786@nwohio.nwonline.net>
>
>At 05:14 PM 9/11/98 EDT, you wrote:
>>Hello fellow Audi fanatics,
>>    I'm currently having some problems that I hope
>>(and would definately appreciate) some of you
>>could shed some light on.  ....snip....
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
>I recently had another engine put into my 86 4kq, and it ran badly when I
got it back. Spent WEEKS going back and forth with the mechanic. Finally
got it running good, almost by accident.
>
>First, I followed these suggestions of another lister:
>1)  Try unplugging the idle stabilizer (it's the thing that's buzzing at the
>back of the cylinder head, when the key is on but the engine is not).  If it
>runs better, you may have a fault in it.  It may need a good cleaning with
>carb cleaner, but don't touch the insides -very delicate vanes.  I've heard
>reports that the motor sometimes builds up carbon internally as well; have to
>separate the halves to clean if that's it.
>
>2)  Check the rubber hose at the back of the cam cover for splits, or to see
>if it's collapsing.  It may be split underneath, and hard to see.
>
>3)  Check the ECU ground on the rear of the intake manifold; clean and repair
>as needed.  Also check the ground strap from the cam cover to the mount for
>the coil.
>
>I cleaned the ISV as suggested, and replaced the molded rubber vacuum hose
mentioned in item 2.
>
>Finally, I regapped the plugs at maximum gap..40 thousandths. This last
step helped greatly, and gave me a hint that the solution was somewhere in
the ignition system.
>
>Then, I retarded the spark about 3 degrees, just as an experiment. All the
problems disappeared as if by magic, and the car has run great ever since.
It had been timed exactly to company specifications, and those specs didn't
work for my car.
>
>I should mention that I ran several cans of Techron through the fuel
injectors, over a period of two weeks prior to doing the above changes.
Several injectors were not entirely clean, and the Techron helped.
>
>My  lifters were quieted by running an oil change of Castrol Syntec for a
month, along with an OE oil filter that had an anti-drainback valve built
into it. This keeps the oil pressure from dropping between pulses of the
oil pump.
>
>My problems seemed impossible to correct during the weeks that they were
happening. Have faith and keep trying things.  At some point, you will have
success. I don't think that rotating the tires requires a re-alignment or
re-balance, but you may be shifting an out-of-round wheel into a more
sensitive position in front, and then you will notice it more frequently.
>
>Keep the wobbly ones in back.
>
>Doyt Echelberger
>86 4kq
>87 5kcstq