1- Car/Engine/Transmission type: 98 Lanos 1.6 DOHC Manual
2- kms/miles on the car: ~179000 km
3- Ignition system serviced kms (spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil pack): No idea, i haven't been the main driver for AGES, and can't find the service history/sticker on the windshield has fallen off.
4- Fuel system serviced kms (injectors, filter, pump): As above.
5- Air filter serviced kms: As above.
6- Engine mods list if available: None
Alright, here's as best i can describe the issue.
I lent the lanos to my brother for quite a while, and unfortunately, not only did he neglect to service it, but when this problem presented itself, he did/said nothing.
When i borrowed it one day, i left my parent's house and began driving up the hill about 200m from their house (ie. engine is still cool). About 1/2 up the hill (it is long and quite steep). Although i was in 2nd gear, i noticed the engine just loose rev's and basically die. I figured that he left me with no fuel. However, it happened again with full fuel. So i asked him, and he said if you warm the car up it tends not to happen. So, i experimented. I found that even with a cold engine, the car would make it up the hill... just... if you stay ~1500-2000 rpm. And even then you need to ride the throttle to keep the engine alive at the top of the hill. However, should you have been driving for a while, the car seemed to make it up the hill just fine-ish, ie. not stalling.
The other major symptom is that the fuel consumption is excessive. Waaaaaaaaay, over what you would expect and what i remember.
I had my parents take it to a trusted-mechanic to be serviced/inspected to get an indication of what needs to be done. However, my parents said his response was: "you need to replace the engine." Which was annoying, since i just wanted a diagnosis, not a hand-wavey solution.
So, after the car laying dormant for ages at my parents place, i've tried to get it back on track for my sister. It started after some coaxing and jumping. Then had tapping under the hood. I turned it off and filled up the oil... which was low and BLACK!!!
The valve cover gasket looks like it's leaking BAD and i've attached a pic.
I had a problem similar to this on my silvia which was a water temp sensor. i.e., the engine was being flooded/starved because the ECU had the wrong temp.
Does anyone have a suggestion of further tinkering etc. I'm getting another battery, so i can post a video if needed.
timefortea.
