Post by: Nightfall on October 16, 2007, 09:16:00 PM
Car two, an early 90's Toyota Corolla, has purpleish oil now, accompanied by an oil light that flickers on and off irregularly. Oil was recently changed, oil levels fine.
Both cars are going to go to the mechanic obviously, but I wanted to see if the APS knowledge base knew anything in the meantime. Naturally both cars went on the fritz on the same day.
Thanks all you amateur (or professional) car mechanics out there. 
Post by: Sylvilagus Aquaticus on October 16, 2007, 09:45:40 PM
Run the codes on the Toyota's OBDII and see if it turns up anything. Could be a bad sending unit, but I'd see if there's a way to pressure test the oil system before doing a flashcard-thinking fix.
Regards,
Rabbit.
Post by: Boomhauer on October 17, 2007, 03:19:20 AM
Quote
Toyota's OBDII
Does a car that old have ODBII? I don't know about Toyotas, but I thought cars standardized with OBDII in '96.
Post by: Leatherneck on October 17, 2007, 03:26:38 AM
The Toyota may have a plugged oil pickup, or a worn oil pump. Don't run it with anything but solid in-the-green oil pressure. Don't know about the "purple" color. Could somebody have put in some hydraulic fluid vice motor oil?
TC
Post by: Ex-MA Hole on October 17, 2007, 04:05:17 AM
You may also want to look at your plugs and wires.
The Toyota issue is above my level.
Post by: jefnvk on October 17, 2007, 04:44:12 AM
Post by: Manedwolf on October 17, 2007, 04:51:14 AM
I'd agree with others, check fuel filter and fuel lines. Also run some injector cleaner through the system, RedLine is good. Remove the air intake at the throttle body and clean that with throttle body cleaner, that can get gummed up. Also check the grounding wire on the side of the engine block, I had that come lose one time, it's a bolt that can vibrate loose.
Other than that, plugs is a good thing to check, and the only other serious issue that generation had was that the vacuum system is hellishly complex, there's a map on the underside of the hood.
If there's a vacuum leak, that can cause problems. They vastly simplified it on later versions.
Post by: charby on October 17, 2007, 05:06:18 AM
I have no clue about purple oil
Post by: K Frame on October 17, 2007, 06:19:25 AM
worn rotor on the honda possibly
I have no clue about purple oil
I have no clue about purple oil
I'm assuming you mean the distributor ignition rotor, and not a brake rotor?
As for the purple oil, it could be caused by by any number of things, but my guess is combustion products blowing past the rings.
Post by: Manedwolf on October 17, 2007, 06:50:21 AM
Post by: mtnbkr on October 17, 2007, 06:56:57 AM
I'd do the fuel filter, gasdry, plugs, vacuum leak check, wires in that order.
After all that, then I'd tackle the distributor. If it has a computer, pull the battery cable for 15-30minutes to let it reset and see if it helps. Especially do that after the work listed above.
As for the Toyota, I have no clue. I've worked on cars with low compression, including a VW engine with a burned through piston and never saw purple oil.
Chris
Post by: Manedwolf on October 17, 2007, 07:01:56 AM
Just get some from the dealer or online from a Honda OEM parts supplier, it's cheaper.
Post by: charby on October 17, 2007, 07:26:00 AM
worn rotor on the honda possibly
I have no clue about purple oil
I have no clue about purple oil
I'm assuming you mean the distributor ignition rotor, and not a brake rotor?
As for the purple oil, it could be caused by by any number of things, but my guess is combustion products blowing past the rings.
Yes ignition rotor, could be a dirty pickup coil also.
Post by: K Frame on October 17, 2007, 07:34:52 AM
To me that indicates the possibility of combustion byproduct or even water causing refraction in the oil, depending on the light conditions.
I've seen oil with a decided bluish cast that was caused by bad rings.
Post by: mfree on October 17, 2007, 07:37:03 AM
Post by: charby on October 17, 2007, 07:44:11 AM
I'm guessing that by "purple" he means a purplish cast, NOT bright purple oil that looks like someone mixed with it grape jelly.
To me that indicates the possibility of combustion byproduct or even water causing refraction in the oil, depending on the light conditions.
I've seen oil with a decided bluish cast that was caused by bad rings.
To me that indicates the possibility of combustion byproduct or even water causing refraction in the oil, depending on the light conditions.
I've seen oil with a decided bluish cast that was caused by bad rings.
I was thinking bad head gasket or worn valve guides also after reading your post.
Post by: Tallpine on October 17, 2007, 07:44:31 AM
Quote
purple oil
Where did you have it changed last ...?
I would change the oil right now, making sure you have the right lubricant, then re-check the oil-pressure. Might take a couple changes to clean it out.
Post by: Nightfall on October 17, 2007, 12:45:16 PM
Post by: Brad Johnson on October 17, 2007, 12:55:45 PM
Quote
Bad head gasket, but also several other serious issues.
What else is wrong?
Brad
Post by: Tallpine on October 17, 2007, 01:12:13 PM
Quote
I just got back from Meineke (where we last had the oil changed) and the diagnosis on the Toyota was pretty much DOA.
I guess I'm still wondering if they put the wrong oil in it ...?
Post by: Brad Johnson on October 17, 2007, 01:43:13 PM
Quote
I just got back from Meineke (where we last had the oil changed) and the diagnosis on the Toyota was pretty much DOA.
I guess I'm still wondering if they put the wrong oil in it ...?
Doubtful. Even if it was the crappiest of crappy oil, it's still motor oil. You would have to run it for an extended period without any service to see an appreciable difference. Besides, a blown head gasket isn't normally an oil-related issue. Simple age-related fatigue, or internal corrosion beginning in the coolant passages, would be a more likely culprit.
Brad
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on October 17, 2007, 01:54:16 PM
Quote
Thanks for all the responses, lots of car knowledge here it seems. I just got back from Meineke (where we last had the oil changed) and the diagnosis on the Toyota was pretty much DOA. Bad head gasket, but also several other serious issues. Cost to repair is about $2,700, with the consensus being that it's just not worth the work it needs now. As for my Honda, it'll get some attention tomorrow. I'm significantly more optimistic about that.
Chances are, the head gasket is probably $1000+ of that bill.
You can fix it yourself for less than $200 and a saturday afternoon in the garage. I am not a gearhead by any stretch, but I did my own head gasket job on an old '86 Pontiac 6000 with good results. That was well outside my usual comfort zone of batteries, fuses, plugs, wires and fluids. That $200 includes the cost of taking the cylinder head to a machine shop for inspection and remachining for flatness. Might even cover valve replacement too... maybe an extra $50 or so for that. Depends on machine shop rates in your neck o' the woods.
$30 at Autozone gets you valve cover and cylinder head gaskets and new head bolts to stick the head back on, and you're back on the road.
Post by: Strings on October 17, 2007, 02:11:32 PM
Sorry... couldn't resist...
Post by: Paddy on October 17, 2007, 02:14:49 PM
Quote
Bad head gasket, but also several other serious issues. Cost to repair is about $2,700,
And once they open it up, you can bet there will be more stuff.
Post by: Paddy on October 17, 2007, 02:36:49 PM
The engine we got was actually pristine and works great. If you want me to dig up the info, I will
Post by: mtnbkr on October 17, 2007, 03:03:29 PM
Chris
Post by: Manedwolf on October 17, 2007, 03:06:03 PM
An Accord can generally have a swap done in a couple hours with a hoist. It's all modular, just amphenol wiring harness connectors and the transmission, no cutting, welding or any of that, just unbolting and bolting. In fact, it's so easy that engine swaps are one of the easiest performance things done to Hondas...even other engines from other Hondas, with mounting adapter kits.
In fact, if you want to, you can even swap in the hotter engine from the Accord LXi of the era (I had one, same as the Prelude engine), the B16 A1 Long Block, and the thing will become a rocket!
Google for "87 Accord engine swap" or "third generation" plus Accord and engine swap to get started.
There's even a forum for that entire generation of the vehicle. http://www.3geez.com/forum/
Post by: mtnbkr on October 18, 2007, 06:10:16 AM
Chris
Post by: Manedwolf on October 18, 2007, 06:15:21 AM
Maned, I was very close to purchasing an 87 Accord LXi the other day. It had 202k miles, but was extremely clean (looked better than many cars a quarter it's age), well maintained, etc. It had a recent inspection and nearly new tires too. Guy only wanted $1k for it. Unfortunately, someone beat me to it.
Chris
Chris
Wow, that was a good deal. Those WILL run forever. The only thing to do is have a mechanic run a check on the vacuum system and look at the lines, and also check the A/C compressor. Those were the only issues with that generation.
There's lots and lots of aftermarket parts for them, too, including a new EL backlit instrument cluster. Lots of fans. People seem to like the quintessential 80's angular nose and popup headlights, one of the last cars to have those.
(incidentially, the headlight popup is servo-driven, not vacuum-driven, so they don't suffer from the early failures a lot of American cars did)
Post by: Tallpine on October 18, 2007, 06:25:47 AM
Quote
Even if it was the crappiest of crappy oil, it's still motor oil.
What if it was transmission fluid ?
Post by: mtnbkr on October 18, 2007, 06:58:25 AM
Chris
Post by: Thor on October 18, 2007, 07:25:32 AM
Post by: Brad Johnson on October 18, 2007, 07:36:23 AM
Quote
Even if it was the crappiest of crappy oil, it's still motor oil.
What if it was transmission fluid ?
Then it wouldn't be motor oil. I highly doubt that they used tranny fluid. I know that some of the grease monkeys at these places can be a bit unattentive, but it would take a lot more to make a complete futz like that.
Brad
Post by: Tallpine on October 18, 2007, 09:03:42 AM
A friend of ours recently bought a slightly used car from a major rental agency. The first time she used the windshield washers, the most horrible odor occurred. Somebody (either at the shop or a recent rental customer) put something (don't want to know what
) in the washer fluid tank.
Post by: Manedwolf on October 18, 2007, 09:09:59 AM
Quote
Even if it was the crappiest of crappy oil, it's still motor oil.
What if it was transmission fluid ?
Then it wouldn't be motor oil. I highly doubt that they used tranny fluid. I know that some of the grease monkeys at these places can be a bit unattentive, but it would take a lot more to make a complete futz like that.
Brad
You never know. What if they thought the oil dipstick was the tranny fluid dipstick, put a funnel in that and dumped a bottle in?
Post by: Paddy on October 18, 2007, 09:22:59 AM
Post by: jeepmor on October 18, 2007, 09:27:57 AM
Quote
It's the only company our mechanic will use.
Keep that mechanic, they do stuff like that for a reason.
Post by: Nightfall on October 18, 2007, 09:45:04 AM
Quote
What else is wrong?
Honestly, all I remember now of the laundry list I got is that the problems weren't limited to the engine, and the amount to fix it. A new engine was our original plan, but with the rest of the car not in great shape, we've just bumped up our timetable on getting a new one. Especially since the car would have been going to her brother soon anyway. So thanks for the engine ideas and offers guys, but getting (and keeping) the Toyota running looks like a time and money sink not worth it long term. Better spent on something new that will last, we're thinking.Now the more annoying news for me is that they just looked at my Honda, and were unable to get it to do its jerky stop 'n' go, 80 down to 40 MPH episode on the interstate, or anywhere else at any speed. Naturally it was doing it a day ago. They checked it out and said that everything looked great, but to bring it in as soon as it did it again. Of course, like the previous trips to the mechanic, no doubt it won't replicate for them, no matter how quickly I bring it in. I've already done stuff like fuel filter, etc. Times like these I wish I was a car guy, not a gun guy!
Quote
There's even a forum for that entire generation of the vehicle. http://www.3geez.com/forum/
I'm gonna start pouring over this place, maybe somebody else has run into the same problem.
Post by: Nightfall on October 18, 2007, 09:58:48 AM
Fuel pump perhaps?
Post by: K Frame on October 20, 2007, 08:29:36 PM
Actually, given that it's a boxer engine, I blew BOTH head gaskets.
No fault of my own, its generally conceded that most Subarus of that vintage will need new head gaskets right around 120 to 140k.
Cost to do both heads and some other stuff was about $1,100, IIRC.
Given that I intend to drive this car until it turns into a smoking crater in the ground, I'm not worried.
Post by: Parker Dean on October 21, 2007, 07:56:10 AM
Fuel pump perhaps?
That was my first thought, back when you first posted this up. I've have more than a couple of in-tank pumps do this but I wasn't sure if the car was fuel injected or not. I was going to check into it but got distracted and forgot about it. Then by the time I remembered, the thread had moved on and I figured you had a line on the problem.
Post by: Manedwolf on October 21, 2007, 08:02:16 AM
Fuel pump perhaps?
That was my first thought, back when you first posted this up. I've have more than a couple of in-tank pumps do this but I wasn't sure if the car was fuel injected or not. I was going to check into it but got distracted and forgot about it. Then by the time I remembered, the thread had moved on and I figured you had a line on the problem.
Depends on the model. Some third-gens were carbureted, some were PGM-FI fuel injection. That was the transition time. There were also several models of fuel-injected engine dependent on trim level, from the standard one to the Long Block shared with the Prelude.
I believe the trim levels were:
DX: carbureted, manual shift, no A/C
LX: fuel-injected, manual or automatic
LXi: fuel injected Prelude engine, manual or automatic, power everything, cruise control, power sunroof, etc
Post by: RocketMan on October 21, 2007, 08:21:54 AM
Riley, not a law, just how they are there. Environmental regulations coupled with Japanese consumerism has them replacing cars very often.
Chris
Chris
Not to mention that most cannot afford to buy homes at the high prices in Japan, so they often spend that income on their vehicles.
At least that was how it was explained to me by my Japanese friends.
Post by: Manedwolf on October 21, 2007, 08:31:32 AM
Downhill drifters, though, like some older cars, especialy rear-wheel-drive ones that are easily affordable by young people (and won't kill them financially if they wreck, which they will). The popular manga series "Initial D" hilighted that, since the protagonist's drifting car is an old Toyota AE 86, a white wedge-nose popup-headlights car with RWD made in 1986.
And, just like here, some of the street showoff kids can't afford a new high-end car, so they take the older Civic hatchbacks, kit them out with high-performance parts as they can afford them, give them a shiny new paintjob, and there you go.