sputtering loss of power when dropped into low gear... M20

Weird issue, although barely noticeable at the moment, being a sputtering loss of power when I hit the gas. Most noticeable when the revs get up past 3k.

Head gasket?

I do have a very, very minor front end leak, so I assumed the gasket may finally be giving up the ghost.

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Originally Posted by CharlesAFerg

Weird issue, although barely noticeable at the moment, being a sputtering loss of power when I hit the gas. Most noticeable when the revs get up past 3k.

Head gasket?

I do have a very, very minor front end leak, so I assumed the gasket may finally be giving up the ghost.

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Maybe pull your plugs and have a look at them?

As a (very) general rule of thumb,
misfire when pulling away = air mixture problem
misfire in high rpm band = ignition/fuel pressure problem.

I'd fuel pressure test it, make sure the regulators not shot - and have a look at the condition of your leads/dizzy cap/rotor arm. The little carbon brush in the dizzy cap may be totally shot at?

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Originally Posted by ferret

maybe Pull Your Plugs And Have A Look At Them?

As A (very) General Rule Of Thumb,
Misfire When Pulling Away = Air Mixture Problem
Misfire In High Rpm Band = Ignition/fuel Pressure Problem.

I'd Fuel Pressure Test It, Make Sure The Regulators Not Shot - And Have A Look At The Condition Of Your Leads/dizzy Cap/rotor Arm. The Little Carbon Brush In The Dizzy Cap May Be Totally Shot At?

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+1

funny because I have another sputter when pulling away, lol...

So I'll check what you recommended for the higher RPM power loss, and speaking of that...
Good god, I'm gonna have to check o2 sensors for the "pulling away" issue, and what else should I look at do you think...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CharlesAFerg

funny because I have another sputter when pulling away, lol...

So I'll check what you recommended for the higher RPM power loss, and speaking of that...
Good god, I'm gonna have to check o2 sensors for the "pulling away" issue, and what else should I look at do you think...?

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Hmm, is it losing any coolant/oil at all, smoking out of the exhaust?

If you've got a sputter pulling away I'd be having a look for tiny fractures in air hoses and the like.

Ignition faults are also well known for causing issues at tickover as well - does it idle smoothly?

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Originally Posted by Ferret

Hmm, is it losing any coolant/oil at all, smoking out of the exhaust?

If you've got a sputter pulling away I'd be having a look for tiny fractures in air hoses and the like.

Ignition faults are also well known for causing issues at tickover as well - does it idle smoothly?

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Well, it loses coolant, but doesn't seem to drop anywhere. I'm fairly sure it's my heater core that does that, in the carpet by my feet.

It does go through oil, right up front is where it leaks. Real slow though, maybe 1qt every 1-2k miles. No smoke, actually quite clean.

Idles great, so I'll have to check for fractures in the hoses, as I think I just noticed a bit of a whistle today. Hmm...

My vote is on the coil personally. High load low rpm miss = coil

First perform a tune up. Replace those plugs and remove the cap and rotor and inspect to see if they need to be replaced. Verify condition of wires. When I first bought my e34, same misfiring used to occur. I guess the original owners did want to deal with trying to find the problem.

I just replaced the plugs and all was good. I purchased new cap and rotor anyways.