C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

engine flutters on full throttle not partial throttle

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:49 PM
  #1  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default engine flutters on full throttle not partial throttle

the car moves but does not pull, like it's bogging

just started recently, I thought it was a vacuum leak, and it was part to blame, the charcoal canister tube was dislodged by the transmission fellas.

it ran better, but didn't fix the problem, it will rev to redline in part throttle, and pull like crazy,in part throttle and run well with part throttle

the wideband readings are spot on with no lean spots, I even changed the air filter thinking I was air starved, it ran better but didn't fix the problem.

it problem starts at around 3500 rpm and when I rev past 4200 or so (I think it clears up), I don't think it's a valve float thing cause it happening at such a low rpm.

any ideas? otherwise the engine idles and run smoothly and beautifully, punch it part throttle in second and the tires spin. gas mileage went up with the lower stall and the governor reprogramming.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:16 PM
  #2  
mtnmanut's Avatar
mtnmanut
Racer
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: state of insanity
Default

i'd check the exhaust , plugged cat? i've seen exhaust pipes rust and fall apart inside, can't see it from the outside. just my 2 cents
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:37 PM
  #3  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by mtnmanut
i'd check the exhaust , plugged cat? i've seen exhaust pipes rust and fall apart inside, can't see it from the outside. just my 2 cents
thanks for the idea, the front cats are new 3" inchers, to replace the burned out damaged ones a few months ago, and new stock for the center. all new... under a few thousand miles.

they rattled when they were going out, and eventually hissed they were so clogged and the car would not move, maybe I am moving alot more air with the new tune and the exhaust is holding things up...

I did alter the timing table a bit to accommodate the differing torque and load characteristics of the off idle with the lower stall and shift points, actually the problem existed prior to my tweaking the tune.

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 25, 2012 at 05:59 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:10 PM
  #4  
John A. Marker's Avatar
John A. Marker
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Default

Hook up a fuel pressure gauge and check your pressure reading at WOT. You can tape the gauge to the windshield.....
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:29 PM
  #5  
383vett's Avatar
383vett
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Default

Sounds like time for a leakdown test to rule out a few mechanical problems.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:39 PM
  #6  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by John A. Marker
Hook up a fuel pressure gauge and check your pressure reading at WOT. You can tape the gauge to the windshield.....
i considered that, if it losses fuel pressure, would it be the pump?
would a lost of pressure lean out the wideband, or would the wideband miss the lost in pressure?

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 25, 2012 at 05:42 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:40 PM
  #7  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 383vett
Sounds like time for a leakdown test to rule out a few mechanical problems.
which mechanical problems could be detected by a leak-down otherwise not detectable thru other means?

it does not use a drop of oil, nor are the plugs greasy and the engine never smokes, not on cold start etc...
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:51 PM
  #8  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
which mechanical problems could be detected by a leak-down otherwise not detectable thru other means?

it does not use a drop of oil, nor are the plugs greasy and the engine never smokes, not on cold start etc...
Burnt valves...


What is recently, have you checked the plugs since this started?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:08 PM
  #9  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 93Rubie
Burnt valves...


What is recently, have you checked the plugs since this started?
no time yet, will pull them, when i can what to look for? grease?
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:16 PM
  #10  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
no time yet, will pull them, when i can what to look for? grease?
Plug contamination from coolant, oil, fuel, etc..

Note the color of them, should be tan-ish and fairly clean. I've taken plugs out of newer stuff like V6 4.0 VQ's at 100K+, they looked I put them in yesterday except for the out of spec. plug gap.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:19 PM
  #11  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
which mechanical problems could be detected by a leak-down otherwise not detectable thru other means?

it does not use a drop of oil, nor are the plugs greasy and the engine never smokes, not on cold start etc...
Just out of curiosity, how can you make this claim, if you (admittedly) have not pulled the plugs since this problem started?

I think 383Vett's idea is a good one. Just because something was ok, at some time in the past, does not mean it is ok now.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:25 PM
  #12  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 93Rubie
Just out of curiosity, how can you make this claim, if you (admittedly) have not pulled the plugs since this problem started?

I think 383Vett's idea is a good one. Just because something was ok, at some time in the past, does not mean it is ok now.
you are right, it may not be okay now, how about a vacum test, would that reveal something?

how about codes, I have no codes?

i have no smoke pouring out of the tail pipes.

the car is in the shop getting a new water pump now. just doing some research for this bottomless money pit

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 25, 2012 at 06:29 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:27 PM
  #13  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
you are right, it may not be okay now, how about a vacum test, would that reveal something?

how about codes, I have no codes?
Vacuum test (idle and driving) is a good one. As long as you know what your looking for. Not just what it is, but how the needle (on gauge) acts can tell you a LOT about an engine.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:43 PM
  #14  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 93Rubie
Vacuum test (idle and driving) is a good one. As long as you know what your looking for. Not just what it is, but how the needle (on gauge) acts can tell you a LOT about an engine.
since i don't have a compression guage, I do but I bought it in the 1975 and it is a push in and ask your buddy to crank the engine one, so in order of what I can to

1) vacuum check, I'll check online to compare what it is doing to what it should be doing... I engine has a cam etc... would that change what it should be doing?


2) pull the plugs...

then report those findings here

3) then if i need to rent a fuel pressure gauge from auto zone and tape it to the windshield and watch it behave on full throttle.

and then report the findings here

4)and lastly if I can't figure it out with the above then have a shop or maybe i can rent a compression tester from autozone, but wouldn't it be redundant to the vacuum test?
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 07:04 PM
  #15  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
since i don't have a compression guage, I do but I bought it in the 1975 and it is a push in and ask your buddy to crank the engine one, so in order of what I can to

1) vacuum check, I'll check online to compare what it is doing to what it should be doing... I engine has a cam etc... would that change what it should be doing?


2) pull the plugs...

then report those findings here

3) then if i need to rent a fuel pressure gauge from auto zone and tape it to the windshield and watch it behave on full throttle.

and then report the findings here

4)and lastly if I can't figure it out with the above then have a shop or maybe i can rent a compression tester from autozone, but wouldn't it be redundant to the vacuum test?
Cam can and will change vacuum readings.

This might be of use to you:
http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

http://www.centuryperformance.com/tu...e-spg-148.html

Man vacuum tests, still work on new school stuff, because an engine is still an air pump, but man we are getting old school with this stuff. Next thing ya know, I'll be breaking out my grandfathers old timing light and dwell meter. I'm 24 and know what a dwell meter is and how it works....there is something wrong with that.

Compression tests are somewhat worthless. They only tell you if you have compression in a cylinder and how much. A leak down test is better and for diagnostics far more accurate. I do what you are going to do first and worry about leak down/compression last.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2012 | 09:20 PM
  #16  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 93Rubie
Cam can and will change vacuum readings.

This might be of use to you:
http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

http://www.centuryperformance.com/tu...e-spg-148.html

Man vacuum tests, still work on new school stuff, because an engine is still an air pump, but man we are getting old school with this stuff. Next thing ya know, I'll be breaking out my grandfathers old timing light and dwell meter. I'm 24 and know what a dwell meter is and how it works....there is something wrong with that.

Compression tests are somewhat worthless. They only tell you if you have compression in a cylinder and how much. A leak down test is better and for diagnostics far more accurate. I do what you are going to do first and worry about leak down/compression last.
thanks, i may have the car back by wed, then I break out the 'ol gauge...

so looking at all the "scenarios" what I should check is

1)idle, look for steady needle

2) slow acceleration, if a symptom is discovered

3) rapid acceleration

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 25, 2012 at 09:39 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 04:39 PM
  #17  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

shop adjusted the fuel pressure from 27 ( huh? i thought it was 32 psi last time I checked with autozone gauge) to 45 psi... did not help...

the vacuum gauge is at 15 psi steady and does not flicker, i drove it for 5 miles and based on the links you sent me, there is no indications of mechanical issues...

wide band still read good... i may enrichen it a little

will pull plugs in the next few days

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 26, 2012 at 04:50 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To engine flutters on full throttle not partial throttle

Old Mar 26, 2012 | 07:00 PM
  #18  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

So your reading ok at WOT on the wideband?

Don't discount a possible ignition issue.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 07:02 PM
  #19  
93Rubie's Avatar
93Rubie
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Default

Originally Posted by slickfx3
shop adjusted the fuel pressure from 27 ( huh? i thought it was 32 psi last time I checked with autozone gauge) to 45 psi... did not help...

the vacuum gauge is at 15 in/Hg steady and does not flicker, i drove it for 5 miles and based on the links you sent me, there is no indications of mechanical issues...

wide band still read good... i may enrichen it a little

will pull plugs in the next few days
Fixed, unless you got boost or a really bad gauge no way you got 15 psi.

Do you have a adjustable fuel pressure regulator?
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2012 | 07:34 PM
  #20  
slickfx3's Avatar
slickfx3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
Default

Originally Posted by 93Rubie
Fixed, unless you got boost or a really bad gauge no way you got 15 psi.

Do you have a adjustable fuel pressure regulator?
well the gauge is just as old 1973, but it is consistant

that's what it reads steady at 15 psi, i have a cam in there, albeit and small one 220/229 114 lsa, 5.3 lift with the 1.6 crane golds.

yes adjustable fpr

Last edited by slickfx3; Mar 26, 2012 at 07:47 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:06 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE