started my car leaving a mates house today, it was idling rough and shaking a bit, blowing some blue smoke and the exhaust was shakin heaps, took it for a spin and it was fine after 10 minutes. Get down to the supermarket, go in, when i come back out the car and it wouldnt start, wouldnt even turn over, it was like the engine was siezed, the RACV guy thought it was seized, anyway waited for a while for a tow truck then turned the key and held it for a minute and it started, again blowing a bit of blue smoke but after 10 minutes was fine. The shake still remains but now whenever i let the car sit for a while it will not start, then after maybe 3 -4 turns of the key with alot of difficulty it fires into action with some smoke. Ive checked my oil level and its fine, right color and all

EF 4 litre if anyones wondering. Can anyone tell me what this may be? f*****g thing.

if you can, run a code cather through it and see what comes up, that will narrow it down somewhat. Have u checked plugs, leads, etc?

sounds as though 1 or more cylinders is filling up with either oil or water.

I had a similar problem a few years back, and when I pulled out the plugs coolant came out of #4. Problem was porosity holes in #4 cumbustion chamber.

id suss it out if i were you,

dont go turning it over if theres s**t in the cylinders (obvios from blue smoke)

youll get hydraulic lock and bend f**k everything.

bingo boys and girls, cylinder number 4 was full of coolant. didnt damage anything as far as i know, and the head gasket was fookt.

Pardon my ignorance but what do you mean by 'porosity holes'? What's causing them?




And why #4 again? Is this just coincidence or is there a logical explanation behind it?

Porosity holes? because the head is made of ally, and because ally corodes differant to steel, when it does it developes small pin holes i.e it becomes porous. Usually they can only be found by pressure testing the head. Sometimes the head can be repaired by grinding out the section and welding, other times the head will need replacing.

Why always #4? Don't know, may be coinicidence, may be to do with the design of the heads waterjacket.