My engine is cutting-out again.

[John F. Russo]

Facts
1. At about 40,000 miles ago, almost exactly one year ago for more than a week, my engine was cutting-out multiple times at highway speeds. Some times it happened momentarily and at other times for a few seconds over a few week time period. (I have run out of gas in cars in the past. And it acted exactly the same.). I have always used 93 octane from Sunoco. No codes showed up on the computer at my competent dealer that I have used since I have owned the car for more than three years. The check engine light never went on.
2. Just a few days ago at 54,000 miles the same condition happened again. This time it happened only once for about a second. Within about 10 minutes the check engine light went on. I went to the dealer a few days later and the computer failure code indicated "lean".

In all of the above cases I was cruising at a steady speed of 60 to 80 mph. I have never observed the condition during any form of acceleration.

I decided to change the fuel filter since it was inexpensive.

So what is causing the problem?



______________________________ _____________________
2003 Dark Blue Pearl 300B (Canadian) w/Light Flint (reversed traction control, mini spare, trunked 6 disc CD changer, clock-in-the-radio, heated front seats/mirrors, hood light), Born 12/10/02; converted new then used 2/28/03
ENGINE: Kenny Brown: 6th “Signature Series” conversion (450 hp), Vortech supercharger (5 to 7 psig boost; 3.48 pulley), 377 RWTQ, Dennis Reinhart Cobra engine cooling kit TRANSMISSION: Stock transmission upgraded with Performance Automatic "Super Streeter" transmission version, stub shaft (defective metal) failed at 30k miles; upgraded internals (except for torque converter) to Dennis Reinhart's design; Precision, triple disc, P/N469018-3, later upgraded to 3500 rpm stall speed); Ford Racing transmission aluminum pan SUSPENSION: Metco control arms (black powdered coated), coil from each front stock spring removed to produce the “same” effect as an Eibach spring DRIVETRAIN 4.10 gears, MMX Driveshaft, Ford Racing Stud and Girdle BRAKES:14 in. BaerClaw front, (two piston, slotted rotors), TIRES: Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico (front 255/45ZR18 99Y, rear (widened rims)285/45ZR18 102Y), ACCESSORIES: Wheel locks (Ford), godshead valve stem caps, Dead pedal, Badgeless front grille by “Zack”; Zaino waxing; RainX; Autobhanded, FordChip, Ground clearance: 5 in.; 54,000 miles MISCELLANEOUS 18.5 mpg at a steady speed of 80 mph, one tank of gas
______________________________ ___________________________
1961 Ford Galaxie, 2 dr. Club Victoria, 390CID, 375hp, 4 barrel (gone)

[Smokie]

Just lean ??? No particular cylinder or injector??? If the fuel filter does not help maybe a fuel injector cleaner would be worth trying.

[John F. Russo]

Just lean ??? No particular cylinder or injector??? If the fuel filter does not help maybe a fuel injector cleaner would be worth trying.


According to my dealer, "lean" cannot be attributable to any specific cylinder.

I was noticing your timeslip and I can't help think that they were so close that you must have been racing your shadow!

I've never been below 2.0 sec at the 60 foot mark. Considering that you have stock tires that are narrower than mine (Correct?), how do you do it?

[SergntMac]

You have a Walbro 255 pump in the tank, John. May be giving you a hint it wants to retire.

[Haggis]

John, do you have a fuel pressure gauge? If your car is running lean you need to check the fuel pressure. Do you still have the Walbro fuel pump that Kenny Brown put in your car? I had to change to a Focus SVT fuel pump and a Kenny Bell boost-a-pump, due to low fuel pressure from the Walbro pump.

[Zack]

55,000 miles and supercharged the whole time?
Sounds like an 02 sensor is getting lazy on you.

[Mike M]

I do not think the O2 being lazy would make it stall, and iit is a lazy O2 the code would be something more along the lines of "bank 1-Sensoe 2 lean" or whatever sensor it is. My guess is fuel pump but you would need a gauge to be sure. After its fixed new O2 sensors can't hurt for best around town performance.

[petesmarauder]

You may want to look at your Mode 6 Data and see if you have a cylinder missfiring. Coil on plug units are notorious for this. Or a missfire on a high load accell (35mph 1/2 throttle torque converter locked) Also PCM relay overheating.

[John F. Russo]

You have a Walbro 255 pump in the tank, John. May be giving you a hint it wants to retire.


It can't retire because I haven't yet!

But isn't it strange that I had no occurrence of this problem for one entire year. (I 'm the only one that drives the car.)

If it was the pump, and I work with many water pumps, it is very unlikely that it would happen in my field.

My dealer has suggested the oxygen sensor and it will be checked tomorrow.

[John F. Russo]

John, due you have a fuel pressure gauge? If your car is running lean you need to check the fuel pressure. Do you still have the Walbro fuel pump that Kenny Brown put in your car? I had to change to a Focus SVT fuel pump and a Kenny Bell boost-a-pump, due to low fuel pressure from the Walbro pump.


Good to talk to you again.

Did you have the same cutting-out condition that I have described here when you had the fuel pump problem?

[Smokie]

...I was noticing your timeslip and I can't help think that they were so close that you must have been racing your shadow!

I've never been below 2.0 sec at the 60 foot mark. Considering that you have stock tires that are narrower than mine (Correct?), how do you do it?

I have the KDW2's all the way around, the rears are 255 mm. wide. After getting the T-Kit I had to relearn launching my car all over again. The track in my opinion is not the best place to practice.

I started practicing my launch at red lights, I would try to launch the car as hard as possible without allowing the rear tires to break loose or make any sounds, I fully atribute my 60' times to practicing at stoplights.

I feel it is a respectable 60' without widened rims/drag radials.

[Haggis]

Good to talk to you again.

Did you have the same cutting-out condition that I have described here when you had the fuel pump problem?
No John I did not. When I had my car dynoed before MVII I was told I had a lean condition at WOT and not to go into high boost. I then added a fuel pressure gauge and found out that the Walbro pump was not giving enough pressure at WOT. I then went to a Focus SVT fuel pump and a boost-a-pump, problem solved. As far as I can remember I was the only one of the Kenny Brown cars that had a pressure issue with the Walbro pump.

BTW John what number KB do you have?

[SergntMac]

As far as I can remember I was the only one of the Kenny Brown cars that had a pressure issue with the Walbro pump. You're not alone, Gordon. The Walbro was fine on the 1x car for a while, but limited in it's ability to keep up with new tuning ground. I too went over to twin Focus pumps and a BAP, problem solved.

[John F. Russo]

You're not alone, Gordon. The Walbro was fine on the 1x car for a while, but limited in it's ability to keep up with new tuning ground. I too went over to twin Focus pumps and a BAP, problem solved.

Thank you for the corroborating Haggis' experience.

Will this give me the capability to handle the fuel rate needed to feed an engine that has up to 600 RWHP. This is a realistic goal considering that Martyo has attained it in his car. Of course at my rate of new mods I may be in heaven instead!

P.S. I need your address to send you that emblem.

[John F. Russo]

No John I did not. When I had my car dynoed before MVII I was told I had a lean condition at WOT and not to go into high boost. I then added a fuel pressure gauge and found out that the Walbro pump was not giving enough pressure at WOT. I then went to a Focus SVT fuel pump and a boost-a-pump, problem solved. As far as I can remember I was the only one of the Kenny Brown cars that had a pressure issue with the Walbro pump.

BTW John what number KB do you have?


#6 unit

I'm going from a 3.48 pulley to a 3.33 pulley eventually.
What pulley size do you have?

Mac told me recently that Kenny Brown is out of business. I called to speak to my old contact David Frey and the message said that the phone was out of service.

[Haggis]

#6 unit

I'm going from a 3.48 pulley to a 3.33 pulley eventually.
What pulley size do you have?

Mac told me recently that Kenny Brown is out of business. I called to speak to my old contact David Frey and the message said that the phone was out of service.
I replaced the 3.48 with a 3.12 and have 450rwhp and 400rwtq the last time dynoed and the fuel pressure is in the high 30s at WOT.

[SergntMac]

I replaced the 3.48 with a 3.12 and have 450rwhp and 400rwtq the last time dynoed and the fuel pressure is in the high 30s at WOT.Yes. A smaller pulley will build more power, and at this point, a rebuild of the fuel system is in order, the Walbro isn't going to keep up. Twin Focus (or, a single GT 40 supercar pump), and a BAP should be on you list. Once the fuel system is upgraded, you'll have some headroom for a few more ponies, I'm at 538 RWHP/465 RWTQ now, on the same one-time fuel system upgrade, and still using Kenny's 42 Lb. injectors.

Good luck John.

[magindat]

Try the Ford GT pump. Juno and I installed his.

Write up here:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27632&highlight=GT-40

It's supposed to do like 400+ lph which should be way more than the Wal with a boost a pump.

Install is simple and clean.

FWIW
Rich

[John F. Russo]

Cancelled.

[John F. Russo]

I replaced the 3.48 with a 3.12 and have 450rwhp and 400rwtq the last time dynoed and the fuel pressure is in the high 30s at WOT.

What boost are you running?

I was told that my margin of safety for engine failure was getting smaller at 3.33 never mind going to a 3.12 size.

Have you done any work on the internals of your engine?

Or are you just running with a razor thin margin?

[John F. Russo]

Try the Ford GT pump. Juno and I installed his.

Write up here:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27632&highlight=GT-40

It's supposed to do like 400+ lph which should be way more than the Wal with a boost a pump.

Install is simple and clean.

FWIW
Rich

I just down loaded the thread. Thank you very much.

[John F. Russo]

Try the Ford GT pump. Juno and I installed his.

Write up here:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27632&highlight=GT-40

It's supposed to do like 400+ lph which should be way more than the Wal with a boost a pump.

Install is simple and clean.

FWIW
Rich

I've looked at other wheels but yours are the closest to being as good as the Marauder's stock wheels. It's a slight edge for the stock wheels. I really bought my car for the wheels!

Great unique paint job too.

[Haggis]

What boost are you running?

I was told that my margin of safety for engine failure was getting smaller at 3.33 never mind going to a 3.12 size.

Have you done any work on the internals of your engine?

Or are you just running with a razor thin margin?
The engine is stock and I am running between 10 - 12 psi. As I have always been told; 'It's in the tune.'

We even detuned it from 475rwhp down to 450rwhp.

[John F. Russo]

Try the Ford GT pump. Juno and I installed his.

Write up here:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=27632&highlight=GT-40

It's supposed to do like 400+ lph which should be way more than the Wal with a boost a pump.

Install is simple and clean.


FWIW
Rich

I was just reviewing your photo gallery. One picture has a photo of a spectacular sunset that should be printed and hung on a wall.

What is that 3 dial device you have over the radio on your dash?

[Haggis]

Any more news John?

[Smokie]

I was noticing your timeslip and I can't help think that they were so close that you must have been racing your shadow!

I was re reading this whole thread today and realized that maybe when you looked at my timeslips you thought that I have a single timeslip of me racing against another car.

I have 2 timeslips of my car next to each other, I don't like to post a single timeslip of my best effort without a point of comparison the same day...to eliminate the one time fluke effect....if I misunderstood your above quote please disregard my babbling and carry on.:D

[John F. Russo]

Any more news John?

No explanation for the problem.

I'm not getting stuck and it happened only once recently. The previous incident occurred one year ago. It was a series of about seven episodes over a period of a few weeks. Then it stopped completely until recently.

I don't think it is doing any harm.

I'll think about it and probably wait for the next incident before I start taking the serious step of replacing parts.

These intermittent problems are the worst to solve.

[John F. Russo]

[QUOTE=Smokie]

Thank you for the explanation.