Looking for some advice on Intake overhaul…
I am cleaning and replacing gaskets for the upper and lower intake on my 95 Camaro, 3.4L/V6, as well as valve covers and others.
I am doing this as I had an ex-girlfriend putting sugar (or some other substance) in my fuel tank. As I drained the tank and lines, fuel and tank appear visually normal. Also replacing fuel pump and filter of course.
The Car had ran great prior to this, with the exception of very low oil pressure reading on oil pressure gauge, and also had occasionally noticed sweet smell from exhaust.
So as I am already removing upper and lower intake from engine, I am looking for any advice from others that I could do, change, replace, while I’m at it. I am on a limited budget, just doing what I can as I can afford.
I am thinking of pulling the heads to replace valves and piston rings. But not sure if I can without pulling engine out.
I am no expert mechanic, but a do it yourself kind of guy, and not afraid to pull something apart and fix it, after researching it. I know the overhaul will be worth it in the long run, but my budget is the only limitation.
So I would value anyone’s advice/experience on the matter, any helpful hints, tricks, precautions, things to watch out for, as well as recommendations on what else I should do, or recommended parts.
Thank you

 

Ummmm.....NONE of these things would have been affected from having sugar in the tank. It would have clogged up your fuel system, primarily the ultra small ports in the fuel injectors and the filter. The result would have been an awfully bad running engine, but yours ran fine. Having checked the gas tank as ok, and changing the fuel filter, you should have just put some fuel treatment in the gas tank and called it a day. If you're rebuilding the engine based on "something" being put in the tank, you're wasting your time and money. If you're doing it because of the low oil pressure, then your efforts are a little more warranted.
By the way, how do you know the ex was spiking your gas? If she was, she didn't do a very good job. Did it ever occur to you that you might be getting fed a line of crap, and the joke is on you?

 

Thanks for the input Camaro 69,
I cannot prove what she did, I only speculate that she used the sugar. As one week the car ran great, and about a week later when I tried to start, it would only turn over, but wouldn't start. Put in about 1 gal. of fuel and checking all possibilities, battery, fuel to the injectors, intake, plugs. nothing would get it started. Also caught her attempting to do something to another of my cars.
Also had neighbor tell me that she had asked him about what she could do to damage a car engine, and talked about sugar in the tank.
Anyway, I decided to drain tank, replace fuel pump, filter, and the intakes just because. And wanting to replace any gaskets that I can as well.
And figure while i'm at it, any other improvements that I can do.
Thanks again for your opinion.

 

Oh nice, she asks a neighbor of yours how to do it? I spose (hope) he didn't know it was for your car? Might want to look into getting a locking gas cap.

 

Usually, when sugar is added to fuel, like Senior Mod suggests, it plugs holes.
Turns fuel into a gum, or onitment, and crystalizes elsewhere. Injectors would be the final culprit.
Changing fuel filter, as you have done, was excellent because EFI filters are finer grained than a carbureted fuel filter.

I too, suggest a fuel cleaner, can't hurt. Run tank to just below 1/4, add the can, then fill the tank. Wouldn't hurt to do it twice.

Your science project on the backyard table, ceral bowl of fuel and two teaspoons of sugar, and let set. return and fine gummy gooey sludge.

Eggs can really screw up a paint coating.

 

sweet smell in exhaust sounds like antifreeze getting burnt. how does the oil look, any sign of coolant in oil? oil in coolant?

 

Sugar in the tank is Myth. The sugar is does not melt it stays the same grain structure. The sugar itself is way too large to get through the filter. We are talking pushing a Rottweiler though a chain a link fence to big. In fact the large grains will most like not even pass the strainer in your fuel tank to make it to the pump. Sure if you put ten pounds in it would choke the fuel pump and cause it to fail but it still would not hurt the motor.

Someone posted a link on this sight a few years ago about a lab that did a study; they measure the mass of the sugar, left in the gas to 30 days and recheck the mass with no change. Even Myth busters did a show on it.

You may have issues but they did not come from sugar. Just putting E85 or bleach would do a whole lot more damage but that would be limited to the fuel system not the engine itself. Low oil pressure and the sweet smelling exhaust are signs of serious issues.

 

Maybe she used powdered sugar!
And here's the story on sugar in the tank: http://www.snopes.com/autos/grace/sugar.asp
These myths grow the more they get told. Must be the "Domino" effect.

 

Ghostman, can't help you with the possible girlfriend attack, but I can tell you the oil pressure gauge sending units are very inaccurate. They leak easily as well. You'll notice just about all the posts for the oil pressure gauge/reading are all the same, and usually mention a low pressure reading when the motor warms. Like almost to 0. They just get worse with age and will eventually leak. The sending unit is only $25, and for a Borg Warner I think if you decide to change it. It's located above the oil filter, and has a long cylindrical insulator. Easy change out as well. I'd say with confidence you can focus on other issues.