PULLING MY HAIR OVER A P0301 code!!

[swathdiver]

Took her to a mechanic and he just called. Cylinder #1 is dead.

Now what?!?

Man, you had an ingrown toenail and kept shooting holes into your foot to fix it.

We've seen on these forums mechanic shops lie all the time to get customers to replace their entire engine when the problem was an easy or relatively easy fix.

We knew cylinder one was dead since your first post. The question that still has not been answered is, why?

A cylinder will misfire because it is lacking at least one of these three ingredients, air, spark and fuel. None of the three have been ruled out yet.

If you get the car home and are serious about solving this correctly, let me know.

 

[Fless]

I agree that you deserve a more detailed explanation from your mechanic. For example, if there's no compression there could be a valve train issue.

Did the work order detail what tests were performed?

 

[PBandJs_PPV]

I will be picking the truck up tonight and will clarify with the mechanic.

If it's a collapsed AFM/DOD lifter I might try a 'hail Mary' I saw in a YouTube video.

The mechanic mentioned #1 spark plug came out bathed in fuel. And "ridiculous" amounts of carbon buildup at #1 and that carbon is VERY hard. That perhaps a piece broke away, went through the valve, and damaged the piston and/or rings.

Edit:
@swathdiver I just saw your response. I appreciate it.

 

[PBandJs_PPV]

Post Mechanic Update:

The #1 cylinder is dead because from what he saw through a scope is a massive saturation of oil. In his opinion, a piece of carbon broke away and damaged the piston rings for that cylinder, and when it’s in its upstroke, the vacuum caused by the piston moving up the cylinder, is pulling oil into the cylinder. The engine is basically trying to burn oil. (There is NOT a saturation of fuel). He said when he first removed the plug, it was dripping oil and oil was running down the cylinder wall.
Carbon deposits on the valves is significant. (Photo)

In his opinion, the engine is toast and nothing short of replacing will improve it.

 

[dkad260]

Post Mechanic Update:

The #1 cylinder is dead because from what he saw through a scope is a massive saturation oil. In his opinion, a piece of carbon broke away and damaged the piston rings for that cylinder, and when it’s in its upstroke, the vacuum caused by the piston moving up the cylinder, is pulling oil into the cylinder. The engine is basically trying to burn oil. (There is NOT a saturation of fuel). He said when he first removed the plug, it was dripping oil and oil was running down the cylinder wall.

Another option is a piece of carbon is caught in a valve seat.

Take a piece of thick paper like an envelope and hold it against the tailpipe when running, let the exhaust flow push it away from the tip. If it gets sucked back to the tip in a very rapid fashion, then an exhaust valve is hanging open. If it was an intake it would pop back through the intake.

If the cylinder runs cold, you can get buildup. If it was a collapsed AFM lifter it would make a very pronounced tick.

Do the envelope test and let us know. I'm a little skeptical of the damaged ring by a piece of carbon....that's an extremely tight fit to get past the piston crown. Not saying it's not an option though.

You could have a faulty injector that's dribbling fuel instead of a fine mist...causing alot of carbon.

If I had to place a bet on a whim it would be a bad injector.