What to look for when a truck is on its side performance related

[Romer]

A few weeks ago Sarah was driving her 80 in Colorado Springs. Highway is 75 and the off ramp is a sharp turn at 30mph. Being lifted didnt help.

In any case the cylynders where full of oil, but after replacing the door, cleaning out the cylinders and putting in new sprak plugs it runs fine.

Sarah says it doesnt have the power it use to, but she could live with it. Hard for me to tell since my truck has a SC.

I pulled the PCV valve and it was clogged so I replaced it. She says no difference.

Anyone know of any simple and cheap things to look at or try? It runs fine with no idle or operational issues so I will leave it if it gets to complicated.

It seemed to me to drive just fine, just her perception that it has less power then it did. She is a pretty observant kid, so I am sure she is correct.

 

[BoondockSaint03]

I may be way off base here but did you check the MAF and the air filter to make sure they werent saturated with oil?

 

[BrotherRob]

Her foot may have gotten lighter after the rollover.:whoops:

 

[Romer]

I did not check those, didn't see a path but will check when she is back next week

 

[skintunes]

don't understand the post. rolled? soft sided? body, brake, axle,hub damage???? nei

 

[rove_mcanus]

A simple start would be a compression check since oil got in. Possibly a bent rod or other damage.

 

[NKP Garage]

A simple start would be a compression check since oil got in. Possibly a bent rod or other damage.

Agreed. Start with a compression check.

 

[Romer]

Umm,
so she put it on its side as the title states. Took a turn too fast.

The engine is running fine, why would it be a bent rod or something serious?

On the compression check, curious if it was low, what to do? This truck had a headgasket and valve jopb done a couple of years ago. if it required teardown, I would leave it as I think its running fine.

Runs nice and smooth, no idle issues. No issues driving other thatn her perception there isnt as much power

I would have felt brake or hub damage in the way it handled. Once I got the tires balanced, it runs straight and fine at highway speeds. (Knocked some of the weights off when it went on its side)

 

[NKP Garage]

The engine is running fine, why would it be a bent rod or something serious?
On the compression check, curious if it was low, what to do? This truck had a headgasket and valve jopb done a couple of years ago. if it required teardown, I would leave it as I think its running fine.

Hydrolock will cause bent rods fairly easy. If its bent really bad you'll notice it in the way the engine runs. But many times it will be just barely bent and will be difficult to judge by the way the engine sounds.

Do a compression check, if any cylinders come up low the next thing I'd do is a leakdown check to make sure the problem is not piston rings or valve seats or the headgasket. If the leakdown check comes back okay but compression is off on any of the cylinders then it may be a bent rod.

 

[Romer]

Hydrolock will cause bent rods fairly easy. If its bent really bad you'll notice it in the way the engine runs. But many times it will be just barely bent and will be difficult to judge by the way the engine sounds.

Do a compression check, if any cylinders come up low the next thing I'd do is a leakdown check to make sure the problem is not piston rings or valve seats or the headgasket. If the leakdown check comes back okay but compression is off on any of the cylinders then it may be a bent rod.

Thanks for the input. If the test shows an issue, I would let it go based on how well I THINK its performing. Plus doing these tests are a pain as I don't have the equipment.

Again, looking for simple things, like the PCV valve I replaced or the MAF suggestion.

 

[js93cruiser]

Did you try to start it with the oil in the cylinders?

 

[Romer]

Did you try to start it with the oil in the cylinders?

I did, but only two quick turns of the key and stopped.

 

[js93cruiser]

Thats all it takes to bend one, i bent one in my 90 pick up with the 3.0, it turned over 1/2 revolution and stopped and that was it, the rod bent like 1/8th of an inch...4k later i had a new motor

 

[Romer]

Thats all it takes to bend one, i bent one in my 90 pick up with the 3.0, it turned over 1/2 revolution and stopped and that was it, the rod bent like 1/8th of an inch...4k later i had a new motor

Good info. If the engine dies I will have a decision to make on fixing or replacing and will have a good idewa of the cause. Don't think I'll tell Sarah that though as it may make her worry for nothing.

I got her a AAA card just for emergencies like that

 

[Jacket]

Good info. If the engine dies I will have a decision to make on fixing or replacing and will have a good idewa of the cause. Don't think I'll tell Sarah that though as it may make her worry for nothing.

I got her a AAA card just for emergencies like that

A new Vortec will solve any performance issues...

 

[Romer]

A new Vortec will solve any performance issues...

Matt,
You know there is a difference between what we put on our trucks for performance vs what we put on our kids trucks

Thats why mine has a SC, Snorkel, aux fuel tank and a few other toys that hers does not have.

 

[BrotherRob]

I did, but only two quick turns of the key and stopped.

I've hydrolocked a few vehicles, including an 80 that was on it's roof. I've never bent a rod or felt any need to test for it. I agree with you Ken, If it's running smoothly, check the simple stuff and drive it.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to get Sarah's input on what, specifically, she thinks is not right.

If you don't find anything, I would bet on a combination of two issues. a) her truck's been damaged, this will give her a heightened perception that something may be wrong. b) rollovers are scary, she's probably a bit more tentative behind the wheel. (for a father, this is prolly good news)

 

[Romer]

I've hydrolocked a few vehicles, including an 80 that was on it's roof. I've never bent a rod or felt any need to test for it. I agree with you Ken, If it's running smoothly, check the simple stuff and drive it.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to get Sarah's input on what, specifically, she thinks is not right.

If you don't find anything, I would bet on a combination of two issues. a) her truck's been damaged, this will give her a heightened perception that something may be wrong. b) rollovers are scary, she's probably a bit more tentative behind the wheel. (for a father, this is prolly good news)

Thanks Rob

Good advice

She did say curvy off ramps scare her now. And I told her fear is a good thing

 

[BrotherRob]

............. I told her fear is a good thing

I agree 100%, a little fear is healthy, especially with off road vehicles.

 

[Tacoma4life]

The 1fz is stout and I sincerely doubt you have a bent rod. Perhaps clogged up cats due to a large amount of oil being burned??? Regardless, if it's running smoothly, just drive it...