Had to leave it parked for a bit until we finally got it into a shop in Grants pass. A lot of you had some great suggestions as to what it could be but here's what they said was the issue..
First off, two of our spark plugs were dead, all the sp wires were burned up. Apparently they were the original plugs and wires from when it was manufactured (1992) Put a new set on, still had the noise, they did a compression test on all four cylinders, no reading, indicates internal engine damage. Sooo, they said we should replace the entire engine ($9,000+) or they can just replace all four cylinders ($5,000+) And of course once they get into taking the engine apart with it being so old, things will break or come apart and jack up the price more, they said the ac system will probably be damaged during this and need replacement.
It will drive until it just finally dies. Obviously, it isn't going anywhere anymore. I'm a bit skeptical as to this being the issue, there are only 30,000 miles on it. It was fully inspected before we bought it from a dealership last year. And they didnt test for anything else. Is a second opinion the right way to go?? I'm scared to drive it anywhere else now though...
not sure how they would "replace" the cylinders, you should be able to find a used 454 motor that's been tested/certified and have it replaced...labor would still run quite a chunk though...couple of grand at least..
They can't just replace 4 cyl. It just doesn't work that way. If there's a problem with the head then they could do something like that but most of this just doesn't make sense.
Didn't you say previously that this was a 454? I don't believe for a second that there was "no reading" from 4 cyl's. Even if the head gasket or other important part is gone it will have some compression and I don't believe it would climb Grants pass on only the remaining 4 cyl.
I would go to someone else.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
ScottG wrote: They can't just replace 4 cyl. It just doesn't work that way. If there's a problem with the head then they could do something like that but most of this just doesn't make sense.
Didn't you say previously that this was a 454? I don't believe for a second that there was "no reading" from 4 cyl's. Even if the head gasket or other important part is gone it will have some compression and I don't believe it would climb Grants pass on only the remaining 4 cyl.
I would go to someone else.
SCOTT is Correct.This whole story stinks the high heaven.If U had no compression on 4 of 8 cylinders the thing would hardly move on flat ground.Even the story of 2 dead spark plugs leaving six cylinders this rig would be suspect to climb a hill.Go get a second opinion.
NOTE:
I just read your old original post and its possible that the camshaft is wiped out.That will make the low compression problem,engine noises and not able to go over 20MPH up a hill.
If its a camshaft thats a far cry from a engine replacement
I still would get another opinion if thats possible
* This post was
edited 07/10/11 07:08pm by ticat900 *
Bummer. We had to replace our engine last year. You will have to decide how much money you want to put in that MH. If the engine has to be replaced, there is no way you can get that much money back out of the Motor Home. Our 95 had 62,000 on it but the mileage really doesn't matter that much. A second opinion would not hurt but if there is no compression.........
Probably replace 4 pistons, out of the 8, but I am only guessing. There are some possible remedies. Have read many reports that "Ristone Engine Restorer" will do wonders with some old tired out engines. For the price, it is worth a try. But I do wonder about the "replacing 4 cylinders" deal. Is that what they really told you, or is it possible that you misunderstood them?
Please give us an update, a 454 has 8 cylindars, not four. If four cylindars have no compression, what do the other 4 cylindars have? They did check them didn't they? or did they just quit after finding no compression in four? As a second thought, there would be no reason to check any furthur if half of your cylindars have no compression. The engine will never run with only 4 out of 8 working cylindars and you are still not sure if the other 4 have any compression. Could it be a bad timing chain that maybe jumped a cog or two? Tough decision to pour money into something that is almost 20 years old when who knows what else will go wrong, tranny, differential, cooling system, AC System, roof problems and leaks, dry rot, you name it. Good luck.
Theres no such thing as replacing 4 cylinders on a 454. Either you misunderstood them or they are trying to take advantage of you. If there was no compression at all in 4 cylinders you would know something major was wrong and your complaint wouldnt be "it makes a funny noise going uphill" Get a 2nd opinion and maybe a 3rd, and dont let them know you have no knowledge of engines. Its better to be silent and be thought to be ignorant than to speak and prove it.
Put a new set on, still had the noise, they did a compression test on all four cylinders, no reading, indicates internal engine damage. Sooo, they said we should replace the entire engine ($9,000+) or they can just replace all four cylinders ($5,000+) And of course once they get into taking the engine apart with it being so old, things will break or come apart and jack up the price more, they said the ac system will probably be damaged during this and need replacement. 
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