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'92, 1.8 clipper stuttering, missing oil cap

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Hi, My normally reliable 1.8 '92 clipper cabbie is having some issues.

This weekend has been the first 'significant' drive in over a year (not even that far, 100 odd miles). When I set off Thursday night everything was running smoothly. By the time I arrived at my destination I was suspicious that there was a slight issue with not getting power as I expected.

I parked for the night then in the morning drove for 30 min and there was a mild but noticible stutter as I pressed the accelerator, it would clear after a couple of coughs as I accelerated but after I maintained engine speed for a minute or so the next time I accelerated I would get hte same thing. No noticible issue through the rev range when out of gear.

Today I drove the same 30 min with the same issue, then on my way back in the evening it was much much worse. Acceleration whilst in gear would kill the engine, not 100% nor all of the time but more often than not. I found that pulling open the choke would keep things running but it was back to the milder version from the previous day, not fixed.

I've just been under the bonnet, not that I know what I'm doing, to check the air filter when I notice that the oil cap is missing.

The air filter itself appeared clean but the bottom of hte air box is covered in oil.
Oil levels show about half full on the dip stick.

Two other things were in the back of my mind before I saw the oil cap missing, so I'm wondering if it's any of the following.

1. I filled it up with 99 octane on Thursday evening, I read some where that it was better but realie now that it's been running fine on 95 for the time I've had it so probably shouldn't have changed and surely that wouldn't have that affect?
2. I haven't driven it more than 2 miles a time for the last 18 months, and it'd been basically stationary over winter (although I did run the engine for 15 minutes every couple of weeks). I wonder if some stuff has dislodged from the fuel lines and is causing a blockage in the carb or similar?
3. Oil Cap missing. Obviously this isn't great at all anyway but would missing hte cap be responsible for a stutter like this? I feel like that would cause  problems with oil pressure but a bit of searching on the internet hasn't confirmed that.

I recognise 'get an oil cap you idiot and see if it improves' is probably the first answer but any advice is appreciated.

And when I say I don't know what I'm doing I mean it, normally it'd go to the garage but I'm a bit stuck and need to get home tomorrow.

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I could be wrong but i would say your fuels gone off.
Due to not using and modern fuel not lasting as long.
Also oil cap been off may have let extra (unmeterd) air in the system altering your fuel delivery.
Recon theres lots of people in that position with this wierd year.
Ive had same problem before.
I would drain or brim fuel tank and try to run new fuel threw by getting out and using it.
It sometimes soots up the sparkplugs so they may want a clean (wirebrush) up.
Cheers
Jonny.

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The fact that things improved a little with some choke, I would suspect a fuelling issue, like the carb jets a little blocked. I would try some carb cleaner as a first stop.
Remove the air filter and with the engine running, Rev it up while spraying cleaner into the carb.

I don't think the change in fuel or missing oil cap have anything to do with it.

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The crankcase breather is plumped into the induction system (carb/inlet fanimold) to burn off the fumes/polutants. The missing oil filler cap will have totally altered that system and casued unexpected results. Replace the missing cap before you start tinkering with anything else.

1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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Hi.
Sorry thought it was injection so flap wouldnt lift as much.
Leading to lean mixture.
But think its having same effect letting extra air in.
Or effecting advence on timing due to vacume.
Cleaners and filter wont harm but as others have said the cap missing is effecting it.
Ive allways found lean cars run till there right up to temperature then stumble.
Eg on tickover in a traffic jam.
Cheers
Jonny.

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Thanks all.

Dirty fuel had been my first thought but that was before I saw the oil cap missing.

I've got one arriving tomorrow, we'll see how it goes aftter that.
 
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