I'm still having lack of pick up on bottom end pick up.

The engine runs great at idle and while running, but I'm having a serious loss of pick up from 1st through 4th.

I'm not throwing any cel codes, and I've checked the iacv, egrv, tps, O2s, compression, vacuum, voltage on the dizzy, ignition coil, map, idle, and vcv, etc, ect.

My timing is set to 15' btdc and the ecu seems to be functioning fine, like I said....Not throwing any codes, and I only use 93 oct fuel, with a complete tune up.

I decided to clean the injectors the easy way.......

I purchased a can of "Sea foam".

I poured approx. a half a pint into the throttle body while revving the engine, I expected the smoke from the muffler, but (I noticed a few clouds of smoke coming from around the exhaust manifold) when I bumped the throttle a little hard.

I'm thinking that I may have a very small exhaust leak in the manifold, possibly losing compression.

Do you guys think that this could possibly be one of the factors of why I may be losing bottom end pick up, because of lack compression, somewhat confusing of a timing issue, loss of power?

I did a compression test about a month ago, and found that each cyl. was only producing around 145 to 160 peak at wot, bumping the key. I've heard that for the H23A 2.3 dohc, I should be hitting around 180 on each cyl.

I took a friend of mines lude for a ride, same year, make, model the other day, and it felt like she had 15 to 20 more hp, than I had. WTF.....I'm stumped.

I need a few opinions.....

Thanks,
-Shadow-

 

What makes you think that you're losing low-end power? How have you quantitatively determined that there's a problem? Have you dynoed? Have you done some runs with a stopwatch? Have you changed tires to a different size? Has your car significantly increased in weight recently? Does your city/state dose your gasoline with a bunch of ethanol at some time in the year? Have you filled up at a different gas station and tested the results? Have you checked your cat to see if it's in good condition and not restricting gasses?

Also you will not "lose" compresson due to a manifold leak.

If you can not define losing "pick up" then how can you be sure you have fixed, or even had an issue? Butt-dynoes need not apply.

Pirate

Edited for the sake of incompetent people


Modified by PirateMcFred at 8:24 PM 1/11/2008

 

What makes you think that you're losing low-end power? How have you quantitatively determined that there's a problem? Have you dynoed? Have you done some runs with a stopwatch? Have you changed tires to a different size? Has your car significantly increased in weight recently? Does your city/state dose your gasoline with a bunch of ethanol at some time in the year? Have you filled up at a different gas station and tested the results? Have you checked your cat to see if it's in good condition and not restricting gasses?
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Well lets see.....I use a little gift that is given to all of us, free from GOD. It's called common sense.


If I can get out of my own vehicle and get into someone else's vehicle that is the same year, make, model, with almost the same millage, with exactly the same bolt ons, and notice a significant difference in over all performance, it's pretty much obvious that there is a problem.

I'm not trying to get under your, or anyones skin, I simply would like a little guidance on where, or how, to look for a problem that I may be having about this issue.

By the way when you use the term "Quantitatively", make sure you really know what it means before trying to sound more educated than you really are.

Defined. Quantitative, kwon 'ti-ta-tiv, a. Relating to, or having regard to quantity.

How does this hold any relevance on my subject?

Are you asking the quantity of fuel that I may be using on a daily basis? idk...

 

jeez dude. if you're gonna pull out definitions of words maybe you should look past the first one.

Quantitative can also mean 'of or pertaining to the describing or measuring of quantity'.

Meaning, did you put the car on a dyno and MEASURE and lack in performance. Did you get out a stop watch and MEASURE and lack in performance.

I see what you're saying by comparing to a nearly identicle car. But Pirate is also right in saying that the butt dyno doesn't mean ****. All the numbers are checking out, and short of getting some quantitative (i.e. MEASURED) numbers, you don't even know for sure that you have a problem. Hell, for all you know, your buddy's car is a freak and is just more powerful than yours. That happens sometimes.

 

Like I've said before in your other threads, I'd look at the catalytic, it may be clogged up.

The smoke coming from around the exhaust manifold indicates a leaking gasket there, replace that gasket, you might pick up some.

 

The choice in fuel where I live is 89 or 93 octane. Recommended octane rating is 91 for the engine. I don't feel like mixing gas at the pump so I fuel with 93 octane.

I also experienced what I felt was a loss of low-mid range power. I gained a noticeable improvement by advancing my ignition timing a bit.

My rationale for advancing ignition timing was based on a lot of searching on this forum and what I found as a possible issue was that I was not burning all of the fuel reaching the cylinders. By advancing the ignition timing I believe that I've allowed significant time for proper combustion at a more optimal time in the cylinder's stroke.

I have not yet experienced any detonation so I'm happy with the results.

 

Very good insight Bob, thanks for the clarification.

I apologize if I've offended anyone.
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Matt,

I took the cat off a while back and put a resonator in it's place. The cat looked very clean, by the way.

At wot it sounds like it's struggling for air really bad. Should I think about open up the exhaust? I've read that it really don't do any good unless you spend 800 to a grand on getting a whole completely exhaust system. What about a performance muffler?

 

Ok then.

I'll think about it some more....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shadow29485 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> By the way when you use the term "Quantitatively", make sure you really know what it means before trying to sound more educated than you really are.

Defined. Quantitative, kwon 'ti-ta-tiv, a. Relating to, or having regard to quantity.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I try to help, you insult me, criticise my education and my grasp of the english language. You sure react funny to being helped.

I'm sorry I tried to help you. I'll be sure to avoid any subsequent threads of yours.

Pirate

 

an exhaust leak prior to the o2 sensor will introduce oxygen into the exhaust cycle and throw off the o2 sensor readings telling the ecu to add more fuel, possibly effecting engine output in closed loop

 

"I apologize if I've offended anyone".

^^^^That's what I said "Pirate", and that pertains to you.

Come on, were talking about a sport, a hobby, it's suppose to be a fun inviting, loving interest that we all seem to be on the same side about.

Believe me, I have more things to worry about than trying to have a based competition on your/my grammar, or a computer war about education and knowledge.

Who gives a ****! I simply want to figure out what's going on with my car.

Thanks for making me wanting to acquire the knowledge elsewhere.

Like I said, "I apologize if I've offended anyone".

Thanks Matt....Thanks Blake.

Sincerely,

-Shadow-

 

you stated that the engine "struggles for air" have you tried taking the intake piping off where it connects to the throttle body and see if the performance comes back. i found a HUGE squirrels nest with acorns, sticks and all sorts of **** inside my brothers intake (it was in front of the filter causing a back up), we cleaned it out and problem solved! give it a try, just my 2 cents

 

No offense "h23prelude", But I'm not talking about a nest of any type, or any animals nest restricting my intake, or anything that's blocking the passage of/or restricting the air, that has not been, or will not, have been over seen visually, or internally.

I'm talking combustion, pressure, timing, and possibly a ecu (computer) problem.

Although, thanks for the obvious, some tend to over look that.
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To make this less complicated how about this.......

And I'll provide a exampled scenario, without wasting any ones time.

In a 1993 honda prelude SI, 2.3 DOHC, NO vtec h23A.

COMPLETELY STOCK with the exception of.......New plugs, wires, cleaned t.b., only 95,000 mi., c.a.i, NO cel codes, iacv cleaned, idle at 750 or 15 btdc, ecu reset (again, with no codes), O2 working properly, knock sensor (Working properly), premium fuel, no leakage on anti freeze, cleaned egrv, oil 10/30w castrol (climate 55-95f), high flow cat.....

 

where is the loss of power? to and from what rpm?

 

Change that exh. mani gasket already.

 

Your right Matt, I'll change the gasket, than I'll know exactly where I stand.

Hell for all I know, that could be the fix.

I'll let you guys know....

Thanks,

-Shadow-