By randall on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 01:16 pm: Edit

I just bought a 97 Disco with the check engine light one, turns out the comp says that a misfire on cyl 6... Rover wanted to do a full blown valve job. i took it to a local mechanic who pulled the valve cover, put a "machine" on it that held the exhaust valves open and ran some chemicals through it overnight. they also put some serious strength stuff in both the oil pan and the fuel tank to clean the carbon build up out. after 100 miles, the vehicle quit misfiring (stuttering) and we turned the light off. its done great for about 900 miles, then the light came on again yesterday, and it stuttered (misfired) once again. the shop says sometimes these things take two "treatments" to get rid of everything in the system. should i spring for this (only 60 bucks) again and see if it permanently fixes it, or should i take the dive and go for the valve job (rover wants 1500 bucks!)? finally, if this DOES fix the problem, how can i keep it from recurring? i run 92 octane gas at all times...

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:33 pm: Edit

If its just 60 bucks I say go for it. After it gets going give it small drinks of trans fluis through an intake port. You cant give it much or it will screw up your converters...


Kyle

By randall on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 04:47 pm: Edit

transmission fluid? via the air intake? what is the purpose of this? does the fluid help to clean the carbon deposits? has anyone else heard of this procedure? is this really safe man?

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 05:16 pm: Edit

No, you suck in a few drops through a vacuum tube. When it hits the valves, it breaks up the carbon deposits. It's mentioned in motor magazines from time to time. I have never done it, but have heard of it. Proceed at your own risk.

By garrett on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 04:13 am: Edit

i keep getting a misfire code on my '96 as well from time to time. engine seems to run smooth and well all the time. i just end up running some 93 octane for a few tanks and the light goes out. guess i should just use it all the time, but it seems to make little difference in my performance. would not think just because you are having a misfire in one cylinder that this qualifies the need for an entire valve job. my truck has 55k on it and most often the valve problems occur earlier in the life of the truck. anyhow.......good luck.

By Ron on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 04:43 am: Edit

ATF in theory works, but the top engine cleaner should be as good or better. It hits the carbon and breaks it up. If you are worried disconnect the exhaust when you do it. When he takes off the valve cover have him check to see if it is bent valve or not. Bent you are SOL. LR sells fuel injector cleaner that supposedly helps prevents the carbon issue. 7 bucks at each oil change

Ron

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 05:30 am: Edit

Yeah Ron , the top end cleaner works , actually , water works as well. It works very well. I wouldnt advise anyone to do it but I will give mine a little drink in a heart beat. The problem with all the other cleaners is what gets out and heads for the cats. As you mention , if a serious cleaning is what you are going to do with a whole can of top end cleaner , you should unhook the exhaust at the manifolds. It will be noisey but it will save your cats..

Kyle

By T Carr on Friday, June 29, 2001 - 06:14 am: Edit

Water works v. well - never heard of trans fluid.

I use a can of BG 44K on the last tank of gas before an oil change. Never had a problem w/ carbon. Also, alway use highest octane.

By Nathan Crabtree (Nathan) on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 02:16 am: Edit

Here is what you do for a random misfire and sticking valves. There is a product called Resilone(yellow container). This is an engine cleaner and is to be added to the oil. Use this to replace one quart of oil, each time you change the oil and filter. This product will desolve any carbon build up on your valves and stop the misfire. My 96 started doing this when it had 50,000 on it. I have been adding this to my oil at every oil change and the problem has gone away. This should correct your problem and it is cheaper than a valve job. If you have any other questions contact me.

Nathan

By randall on Wednesday, July 04, 2001 - 02:50 pm: Edit

Thanks for your input guys.... I have run Resilone before actually (twice so far) in this Disco. just got it back from the shop after getting the "three point system cleaner" performed... damn light came right back on again..misfire cyl 6. it only happens in 4th gear at exactly 2250 rpms. very mild shake. i really dont wanna go in for the valve job, but i am concerned about running it this way. could the misfire damage my cat? here's my other question: if the condition does dissappear, do i have to have the shop clear the code out of the computer? i have heard several folks on this board talk about the "3 temp cycle" solution (supposedly, if the condition causing a code dissappears, the light should turn off after three full temperature cycles)...is this true? how can i clear the code myself?
\
BTW, its great that so many disco owners gather here to help each other out...

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Wednesday, July 04, 2001 - 03:46 pm: Edit

Hmmm , you can get a missfire for many reasons. You have already checked all the regular bases?


Kyle

By Ron on Thursday, July 05, 2001 - 03:57 am: Edit

Code goes away after 3 temp cycles if it comes on again it is a recurring fault. Sound like it might be too late the the valve is bent. But like kyle said check wires, plugs etc as a last ditch check.

Good luck

Ron