So where do i go from here

[P-Funk!]

Comp is good. Did you do the test when warm or cold?

Oil control rings are worn.

 

[youngbull]

u said white clouds at start up? white is usually coolant, do u get a sweet coolant smell?. has it ever overheated? could be internal cracks. and best test for stem seals ( which dont show in leak down test, the valves should be sealing them...) is go down hill, in a lower gear not pushin on gas and at bottom of hill punch it a bit if big blue cloud shows its stem seals.

 

[digitalslacker]

Update:

I bought a compression tool from harbor freight today.

Compression when cold is 180-185psi between all 4 cylinders. I did a cold check due to a friend telling me that a warm test wouldn't help me specifically due to it not really smoking when at operating temp.

When I pulled the plugs I inspected each one and they are only about a month and a half old. When standing looking at the front of the car the 3rd Plug ( 1 - 2 -3 -4 ) looked pretty burnt. That was the same plug that was black when i replaced plugs due to a misfire. I will be doing another test tomorrow with the engine warm.

I am still suspicious of piston rings but since I am still getting good MPG, wouldn't that rule it out? I would think if my rings were going bad i would be getting worse mileage then what I am currently, 29-33mpg.

 

[mWxo3]

If it's not worth fixing, just keep feeding it oil. 1 qt every 1k is nothing. Drive it to the ground and rebuild or trade it in when the time comes.

Have you checked your air filter and vac lines? Maybe your PCV is getting backed up?

I just picked up a P5 as a beater and it has a intermittent smoke at idle. PCV has a little fresh oil in it. Been checking the oil daily and it doesn't seem like it's burning much if any at all.

Another way to check the rings is to put a little oil into each cylinder while doing the compression test.. the oil will help seal the cylinder and if it does.. then your rings are done.


I'm rebuilding my G35 right now for the 2nd time. This time, it's piston rings. (track/street car). 600 rwhp puts a toll on the engine.. even if it's built lol.

 

[Matt V]

I've heard you can put a spoonful of ATF in the spark plug valley (with the spark plugs removed) and then put your plugs back in and essentially it creates a seal when you start the car up again. This is what I've read up on on a few domestic boards. Wouldn't hurt to try it out at this point.

Here is a link that explains it further:

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/atftrick.htm

 

[Mikovin]

I have poured through the threads I could find on this smoking problem. I have not yet seen a definitive solution.

I have a 2003 P5. I observed it smoking badly at start up and had high oil consumption.

I assumed it was the guides and purchased a rebuilt head from Clearwater Head in Florida. New gaskets and installed everything. During the removal of the previous head I found a small amount of fresh oil on the #3 and 4 pistons.

Upon restart the conditions are worse. Compression checks are even across all four.

This evening I discovered there is actually oil laying in the dish area of the piston after shutdown. The oil is only laying on #3 and 4. 1 and 2 are clean and dry.

So here are the question:

If it is the rings blowing by why is oil only in two cylinders?
-I assume blow by would push oil through the pcv into the intake and cylinders which shouldn't be preferentially putting only in one cylinder or another.

If it were the valve guides on #3 and #4 then a new head should have fixed that, right?

I am at a loss now. What else is there?

Thanks!

 

[slavrenz]

I have poured through the threads I could find on this smoking problem. I have not yet seen a definitive solution.

I have a 2003 P5. I observed it smoking badly at start up and had high oil consumption.

I assumed it was the guides and purchased a rebuilt head from Clearwater Head in Florida. New gaskets and installed everything. During the removal of the previous head I found a small amount of fresh oil on the #3 and 4 pistons.

Upon restart the conditions are worse. Compression checks are even across all four.

This evening I discovered there is actually oil laying in the dish area of the piston after shutdown. The oil is only laying on #3 and 4. 1 and 2 are clean and dry.

So here are the question:

If it is the rings blowing by why is oil only in two cylinders?
-I assume blow by would push oil through the pcv into the intake and cylinders which shouldn't be preferentially putting only in one cylinder or another.

If it were the valve guides on #3 and #4 then a new head should have fixed that, right?

I am at a loss now. What else is there?

Thanks!

Get a new engine.

To the OP, $1200 is about what it would cost to swap in a used engine from a junkyard, so I say you should go this route.

 

[digitalslacker]

Okay.

I did a compression check at operating temp.

Cylinder 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
180 180 180 190

I also took a picture of the cylinder 3 plug in the middle of 2 and 4 so they go 2 -3 -4. These plugs are a month and a half old.

 

[Mikovin]

Get a new engine?

hmm...