I've been mulling through the forums and I have a question about how my 1996 Mystique 2.0L Zetec 122K miles is behaving.
The main symptom is that I can't get it to rev past 4000 RPM when parked. It will get to 4000 then 'woof' with the RPMS rising and falling between 4000 and ~4300. The strange thing...when I accelerate hard, I distinctively feel an increase in power at ~3800 RPM and it spins as hard as I push it...5500+ RPM.
Plugs are changed, wires are new.
It also idles somewhat rough at the low end and sometimes misses up until 2000 RPM where it smooths out.
I initially suspected the lower fuel filter so I filled it with gas, same symptoms. If it was the IMRC, fuel pump, or fuel filter would it even get above 4000 RPM?
When I changed the plugs I found oil pooled around the wire boots (electrodes were clean, no blow by), I am reasonably sure the valve cover gasket is bad. Could that be a cause?
Thanks for your help!
