Multiple cylinder misfire loss of fuel pressure

[josephmast94]

05 expedition 5.4 Triton ~ 160,000

So I was pulling my 10' utility trailer home on Saturday and noticed the car was starting to shake a little bit and losing some power. Then the check engine light started flashing. Tried to limp home but kept losing more and more power then I noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust. So I pulled off at a gas station and it was idling VERY rough so I cut it off. It would not start back after that. When I tried it locked up for a second (hydrolock?) then started turning over again but still wouldn't catch so I just gave up and called AAA. Got it back to the house and ran the codes. Showing p0300, p0301, p0302, p0303. Then I checked the live data fuel pressure and noticed it was 1psi KOEO. It goes up when I first turn the key on but drops very quickly. Like back to less than 1psi within 15 seconds.

I am thinking it could be one or more leaky fuel injectors but wanted some other input. To the best of my knowledge these are factory fuel injectors. Also, what are the chances I did serious damage to the engine when it locked up?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[son-of-a-door-mat]

Looks like a fuel line problem. I had about same symptoms when my pump was clogged. I'd check fuel pump and filter first.

 

[josephmast94]

Looks like a fuel line problem. I had about same symptoms when my pump was clogged. I'd check fuel pump and filter first.

10-4, just picked up a filter from advance. Will swap it out today. I don't know that it has ever been changed

 

[Hamfisted]

Front three cylinders on the passenger side all start misfiring at about the same time? Did you just fill up with gas before this happened? Water in the fuel system or a clogged fuel filter would be my guess. If it's water in the system try a bottle (2) of that yellow HEET fuel tank additive ( 100% Methanol .... ) to absorb the moisture and burn it through. Unless you find that water got down in the sparkplug wells on that side and shorted out the 3 coils of those front cylinders. For fuel pressure tests, check it with a pressure gauge (kind of involved, have to T-off of the fuel filter line...), don't rely on what the PCM is reporting back through the OBDII port. I'm assuming you don't have any cam phaser noise on that side right?

 

[josephmast94]

Front three cylinders on the passenger side all start misfiring at about the same time? Did you just fill up with gas before this happened? Water in the fuel system or a clogged fuel filter would be my guess. If it's water in the system try a bottle (2) of that yellow HEET fuel tank additive ( 100% Methanol .... ) to absorb the moisture and burn it through. Unless you find that water got down in the sparkplug wells on that side and shorted out the 3 coils of those front cylinders. For fuel pressure tests, check it with a pressure gauge (kind of involved, have to T-off of the fuel filter line...), don't rely on what the PCM is reporting back through the OBDII port. I'm assuming you don't have any cam phaser noise on that side right?

Last time I filled up was about 2 weeks ago and have had no issues until Saturday. Have around a half tank right now. I will take a look down in the wells and change the fuel filter this afternoon and report back. I have not noticed any kind of cam phaser noise.

 

[josephmast94]

Last time I filled up was about 2 weeks ago and have had no issues until Saturday. Have around a half tank right now. I will take a look down in the wells and change the fuel filter this afternoon and report back. I have not noticed any kind of cam phaser noise.

Just replaced the fuel filter and it didn't seem to do anything. Caught the fuel that drained out in a clean container and don't see any water separating. Spark plug wells are dry.

However, after priming (turning the key on and off a few times and pressure still dropping I went under the hood and I can definitely hear something releasing the pressure. And it seems to be coming from cylinder 1 injector. Would that mean it is stuck open?

 

[Hamfisted]

Only one way to find out ! Pull the rail and injectors on that side and turn the key on and look for a leaking injector(s)... you can try pulling that cylinder's sparkplug and see if it's wet, but that may not give you an honest answer.

 

[josephmast94]

Only one way to find out ! Pull the rail and injectors on that side and turn the key on and look for a leaking injector(s)... you can try pulling that cylinder's sparkplug and see if it's wet, but that may not give you an honest answer.

I would say it is leaking a little

 

[Hamfisted]

Yeah, I think you found at least one of your problems. How do the rest of them look on that side ? Or you may just want to replace all of them and be done with it. You can get Motorcraft CM-5138 injectors from Rock Auto for about $30 apiece.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...5.4l+v8,1433355,fuel+&+air,fuel+injector,6224

 

[josephmast94]

Yeah, I think you found at least one of your problems. How do the rest of them look on that side ? Or you may just want to replace all of them and be done with it. You can get Motorcraft CM-5138 injectors from Rock Auto for about $30 apiece.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...5.4l+v8,1433355,fuel+&+air,fuel+injector,6224

The other 7 are holding fine. But I decided to bite the bullet and replace all injectors, plugs and coils packs since it has not been done in the time in have owned the car (6 years) and possibly not at all. Everything should be here this weekend. I have all 8 plugs soaking in pb blaster and will try to pull them tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Hamfisted]

Sounds Good ! Good luck with those plugs. Hopefully they've been replaced before. But it'll be running like new again when you're done ! But do use a 10w-30 or 10w-40 synthetic oil in the motor. That 5w-20 oil from the factory is just for gas mileage numbers, but it will lead to pre-mature wear and damage later for the owner to deal with.

 

[josephmast94]

So I got the plugs, coils, and injectors all replaced. Plugs came right out, no problem. Now It starts right up but I instantly got 2 new codes p2195 and p2198.
02 bank 1 sensor 1 stuck on rich
02 bank 2 sensor 1 stuck on lean

Anyone have any ideas what to do next? Could this be my catalytic converters? I read that they might have been ruined with all the raw gas out of the cylinder with the stuck injector.

 

[Hamfisted]

Look for any vacuum tubes and hoses left disconnected. Especially in the areas above the valve covers. The PCV hose(s) are typical culprits.

 

[josephmast94]

Look for any vacuum tubes and hoses left disconnected. Especially in the areas above the valve covers. The PCV hose(s) are typical culprits.

I have triple checked the vacuum hoses and everything is hooked up.

 

[03Red_EddieBauer]

Any abnormal running condition or just the codes set? If no running issue clear codes and drive see if reset. Possibly could’ve set from all the excess fuel from before you repaired.

Also use some carb cleaner with engine running and check for vacuum leak.

 

[josephmast94]

Any abnormal running condition or just the codes set? If no running issue clear codes and drive see if reset. Possibly could’ve set from all the excess fuel from before you repaired.

Also use some carb cleaner with engine running and check for vacuum leak.

It was running a little rough at first. I just change the oil (it smelled like straight gas). And now it seems to run a little better. Cleared the codes and drove around about 10 miles. Don't have any codes showing now. But my scanner is saying the following system monitors are abnormal. Cat. Eva. O2. Htr.

 

[josephmast94]

Any abnormal running condition or just the codes set? If no running issue clear codes and drive see if reset. Possibly could’ve set from all the excess fuel from before you repaired.

Also use some carb cleaner with engine running and check for vacuum leak.

I can look at the live data but really don't know how to interpret it.

 

[03Red_EddieBauer]

It was running a little rough at first. I just change the oil (it smelled like straight gas). And now it seems to run a little better. Cleared the codes and drove around about 10 miles. Don't have any codes showing now. But my scanner is saying the following system monitors are abnormal. Cat. Eva. O2. Htr.

You’ll have to keep driving for it to complete all drive cycles. If is running ok and no engine light on I’d say you good

 

[MasterX]

Fuel in the oil kinda worries me if it was enough to whiff it.

 

[Old Guy]

It takes 40 drive cycles to clear a code. What I have done in the past is to disconnect the vehicle's battery for an hour or so, then start it again. When you start it,the tach, speedometer and gauges will go all the way over and pin, then go to nothing then they will all read normal, This says the codes are cleared.

Another issue which can occur. The in-tank fuel pump has a screen in the intake port. If it gets crap on it, the fuel flow goes bananas. If it runs rough or refuses to start, smack the fuel tank bottom a few times. If it starts, take the fuel pump out and clean the screen. Happened to me on another car I had.