Have I damaged my engine?

To cut a not so long story a bit shorter. All was running fine but then got the occasional misfire, I discovered my air filter wasn't fitted properly so presumably the misfire was caused by bits of dirt/dead flies etc getting into the engine?? After discovering the air filter not fitted correctly I re-fitted it, basically it needed a big jubilee clip to hold it in place and form a tight seal. This stopped the mis-firing. Problem is, ever since, it's lumpy during starting, and doesn't sound to well when cruising along say at 15 - 30 mph (sounds like it's air cooled!?! or flipping through a pack of cards), it's not that loud and most people probably wouldn't notice it, when I boot it it seems better. So question is have I caused any permanent damage by not having the air filter connected properly? I ran it for about 1500 miles like this. How can I get it running smooth again? I've a feeling I could have damaged the injectors, is this possible?

Cheers all.

Hopo

disconect the air flow meter and see iff it runs better failing that take it for proper diagostics

Diesel or petrol ?

englishbullterrier said:

Diesel or petrol ?

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From the first post, in his sig...

2003 Freelander TD4 Auto Kalahari - EGR Bypass - K&N air filter - BMW separator - Cruise Control

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Sounds like an injector playing up

Oops.....

Check and clean contacts on the fuel rail pressure sensor........try some injector cleaner as it sounds like a faulty injector.

If it's an injector it's just coïncidence as the injectors are not in contact with the intake air. As the airfilter was not properly fitted it might be the dust and who knows sand which was sucked up and has attacked the valves, pistons, the entire inside of the combustionchambers ?? Hope not, but ....

The noise you describe could be leaking turbo charger hose

Thanks for the replies so far. It sounds like it could potentially be any number of issues. I just ordered some new silcone hoses from DPH, so will fit these first, and take it from there. In the mean time I'll just keep adding Millers in the vain hope that it will clean up any injector issues. Will report back.

Cheers

Hoses arrived today from DPH, well impressed with the rapid delivery. Having spent about an hour sniffing them , (they smell lovely!) I then fitted them. Found a very small hole in the long intercooler pipe where it rubs on the engine cover screw. Still hasn't solved my issue though.

I'm beginning to suspect more and more now that it is an injector playing up. I find that when it starts it's very lumpy and I get a big cloud of grey smoke, that soon dies down and ticking over sounds quite normal. In neutral with handbrake on when I rev it, between 1500 and 2000 rpm I get quite a judder on the car which suggests misfiring right?

Is there any way of easily checking which injector could be faulty, or is this something best left to the experts? Also is changing an injector a big job? If these things are best left alone by the enthusiastic amateur mech can anyone recommend a good independent in South London who can check if it is an injector and which one?

So i'm not the only one that sniffs spare parts