I was driving today and after about 30 minutes or so, my engine light began to flash and then it stood lit steady. I noticed some power loss as well. So I drove it to my buddy's shop and hooked the mt2500 snap on scanner and came up with a PO654 and while live monitoring, it showed big time misfire on cylinder #7.

I changed the wires and nothing. I then moved on to spark plugs. When I got to #7 it was full of oil and looked like tar build up on it. We finished all plugs and reconnected the scanner but same outcome. The misifire was still there and it began small backfire out the exhaust on idle.

We then decided to do a compression test on all cylinders I was getting an average of 135 per cylinder, when I got to #7, I got nada, zip zero.. WTF. So, I put it all back together and get ready to drive it home, but it just keeps stalling on me. It will idle, but the minute I release the cluth, it stalls... and on top of that to make matters worse, it keeps flashing the Service Column Lock.

I was not beating on the car or anything like that. This just happened while driving at normal highway limit speeds and out of no where. It's a 2003 z06 with 37k miles.

What could it be? How does something like this just happens out of nowhere? I have taken my car to the track on several occasions, but not recently and have never noticed anything out of the ordinary til today.

I also checked my oil and was 1qt low, that has never happened before either. What do I look for now? BTW, it's not under warranty.

 

MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DROVE IT WITH A DEAD CYLINDER!

DID YOU PULL THE VALVE COVERS? YOU MIGHT HAVE BROKE A SPRING AND STUFF COULD BE STUCK IN THE VALVE SEAT!

 

Have to pull the head.
Broken valve spring?
Stuck valve ?
Hope the piston isn't damaged.

 

With that much oil in the cylinder, the rings should have been well sealed during a compression check. I would suspect an issue with the head first. Check the rockers first, they can spit bearings although you would hear it ticking. Hopefully its just an issue with the head and you can get her back with minor outlay.

 

That sucks bro. Hopefully its nothing too bad.

 

It sounds like the reason the engine is stalling is the "service column lock" message.

 

Yes, I did drive it, I had no clue it was that. I have not pulled anything out yet. I just got it towed to my house.

I haven't touched anything yet, but I sure hope your right.

There is no ticking or smoking either.

so that would cause it to stall? How do I get rid of the light verify?

 

I found the culprit, Bad rings on #7... SHIEEETTT...

 

sheeiit , good luck with the fix

 

Never used nitrous ?!?
If not.... you have a rare problem

 

Yes I have used nitrous in the past with it. 100 dry nozzle in front of the maf. I've gone thru one full bottle since I've owned the car.

 

and maybe the owner before you did some nitro too ? because these rings are tuff dude!

 

Ouch.... and 130s isn't exactly strong compression for 37k miles. It should be like 160 or 170 I would think.

 

yeah 137,000 mile engine is around 130 psi

 

I am really surprised. With your description of the oil in the cylinder I would have though the rings would seal pretty well during a compression check. How did you determine its the rings?

 

I've been in your same position after spraying. I laugh every time I see a post with someone asking if it is ok to spray a stock motor and 20 people write in with "go ahead you won't have any problems at all".

 

pour water in the cylinder, it swallowed it as fast as I poured it in. I checked all on drivers side the same way and that was the only one thirsty.

 

Your right about that. When I first inquired, people were talking like these cars will swallow 100 shot like nothing. I may just replace all the rings.. I also think 135 psi in the piston is weak for a low mile motor.

 

Theres no may to it; you need to replace all the rings on all the pistons, not just that one thats not good practice.

 

You're right, Now I'm debating weather to pull the engine out or change them from the bottom. It just seems like it's easier to pull the engine out period.