Power is not the same anymore

[ponchiz318]

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have been reading threads. I prefer to linger in the dark until I have a question which I can't answer. Hence, this thread.
When I first got my e 36 318, you can feel more torque kick in after 4000 RPM. This was back in March and it lasted like that until the end of May. That's when my Alternator died. I replaced it and it runs fine now.
In August, I took it to get my emissions sticker and my car failed misserably. I took it to my good friend Jordan (Stuck) whom I havent seen on this forum anymore, and he did a carbon cleanout. I bought 2 cans of Seafoam. One went in the tank, the other through a vacumm hose. The throttle was more responsive afterwards and the torque pull after 4000 RPM still remained.
Hurricane Ike then decided to go through Houston, which is where I live, and there was a huge shortage of gas. I had to get 87 octane to make it to work.
I could notice a power loss with that gas. I figured burn it up, and then fill with 93. I have 2 times already and the engine does not seem to come back to life like it used to. My car is due for an oil change and I will do that within the next 2 weeks. Would this resolve my problem? Can anyone make a suggestion as to what caused this? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[kowalski]

sounds like an interesting problem. doubt its related to the gas though, as long as its good gas. maybe its just in your head??

[hoevesruperd]

check your fuel pressure and spark plugs for a start. any other symptoms? noises or fumes or anything weird?

[AcSchnitzer318is]

You changed the oil within 50 miles of doing the Seafoam?  That stuff thins your oil crazy style.  I run 0w40 (since switched to 5w30 FS) full synth and after seafoam that stuff came out like water.  If you didn't change the oil... that might have something to do with it.  

Also the seafoam may have cleaned your tank/lines and now all that gook is in your filter... thus clogging it.  Worth a check, cheap and easy.

[ponchiz318]

Well actuall, my car has always had an exhaust leak. When doing 80 on the freeway, you can start to smell it in the cabin. Now, you can't smell it at all anymore. Even at 4000 RPM or above, you can not smell exhaust fumes inside the car, with the top up of course. I also know that I need to put in new motor mounts. Which I have already purchased. The engine is no longer bolted down...... It just sits there. Literally.
A couple of weeks ago, the engine sounded like a diesel early one morning when I cranked it to go to work. It was very low oil. I put some more in and it stopped making that noise. I guess the seafoam did eat it up, as AcSchnitzer stated. Thanks for your help guys, I'll look into the filter and hopefully get something done to restore the power. I'll keep you guys updated.

[ponchiz318]

.......... I didn't want to start a new thread so I decided to post my noob question on a thread I have already started.
On the throttle body, there are 2 cables that control the umm throttle. One goes to the pedal........ what about the second one? It goes over by the intake and into some device of which I have no idea what it is. Any help please?

[JP 91iS]

.......... I didn't want to start a new thread so I decided to post my noob question on a thread I have already started.
On the throttle body, there are 2 cables that control the umm throttle. One goes to the pedal........ what about the second one? It goes over by the intake and into some device of which I have no idea what it is. Any help please?

 probably the cruise control:
last post (#19)
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5675

[ponchiz318]

Ohhhhh, ok. I like the custome made intake on the other thread that is linked to the thread that you posted. Thanks.

[ponchiz318]

An update:

I just did a complete tune up on my car last weekend. My friend at a Autoparts store hooked me up with everything except oil
Anyway, power has been restored. I changed the Oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, O2 sensor, and oil. The car is not running rich anymore. The old O2 sensor was insanely brown. I do have to ask though:
The last time I changed the spark plugs was in March. The PO installed 3 Autolites and 1 Motorcraft Platinum plug. I changed them and put in 4 bosch platinum +4. When I changed the plugs again this past weekend, they were all black. Burnt, if you will. With a hint of oil. 6k miles should not cause this at all. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

[EN318isPDX]

An update:

I just did a complete tune up on my car last weekend. My friend at a Autoparts store hooked me up with everything except oil
Anyway, power has been restored. I changed the Oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, O2 sensor, and oil. The car is not running rich anymore. The old O2 sensor was insanely brown. I do have to ask though:
The last time I changed the spark plugs was in March. The PO installed 3 Autolites and 1 Motorcraft Platinum plug. I changed them and put in 4 bosch platinum +4. When I changed the plugs again this past weekend, they were all black. Burnt, if you will. With a hint of oil. 6k miles should not cause this at all. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

Shits blowing up... they are gonna turn black, never run different brand spark plugs with another, Bosch X4's might have been a lil over kill

[kenika65]

Let us know how your plugs look in 300 miles.

If you can take a picture.

They would be black from running rich.

[ponchiz318]

Will do.

[kenika65]

how is it running?