Smokin KA

[doctorj240]

I just wanted to make sure what my symptoms indicate. I'm getting a crap load of oil/blowby from the crankcase vent. This morning the car smoked oil for the first time on start up. Compression on 2 is 70. Could this just be a headgasket or could it include rings or other mechanical crap that I don't have time for?

Thanks,Jimmy

[SHIEF]

Bottom line: head needs to come off.

[TrunkMonkey]

I just wanted to make sure what my symptoms indicate. I'm getting a crap load of oil/blowby from the crankcase vent. This morning the car smoked oil for the first time on start up. Compression on 2 is 70. Could this just be a headgasket or could it include rings or other mechanical crap that I don't have time for?

usually if it's a head gasket, two consecutive cylinders will have low compression. it sounds like you need a rebuild.

-demetrius

[doctorj240]

Bottom line: head needs to come off.

Yes, I realize this. Headgasket is on the way. I just would like to know if I could get by with just that. The car didn't smoke after class today. Besides this morning it hasn't smoked at all, I've just had a lot of blowby. That led me to believe that it was probably just the headgasket. I'm not sure of course. I'll run a compression check again.

[C-Kwik]

Run the compression check again. this time put a little bit of oil in the cylinder with bad compresion. If it goes up, it's the rings. If not, it's something else. A leakdown tester would be better at telling you what is wrong. Or actually, you can just attach an airhose to the connection for the compression checker if you have a regulator of some sort at the compressor. I wouldn't recommend using more than 100 psi. Perhaps even less as you don't need to measure the leakdown, only hear where it's coming from. Make sure the valves are closed in the piston you are testing. Listen for an air leak. An airleak at the intake means the valves are probably not seating correctly, or it has too much carbon build-up around the valves. The same can be true of air being heard t the tailpipe for the exhaust valves. Make sure you disconnect the crankcase vent tube. Air coming out of the coolant in the radiator indicates a bad headgasket. Air coming out of the crankcase vent tube usually indicates poor ring sealing.

[:: orion ::]

Rings break before headgasket on KA's...

I'd bet you need new pistons.

- Brian

[j-z]

ringlands

[Structure240sx]

def ringlands, happen to me back in september. only mine was 60 on #3 and 90 on #4

[j-z]

and remember just because you have low compression in one cylinder doesnt mean that there arent more broken ringlands. pull all of your pistons and chances are youll have more than just that one piston broken or cracked.

[C-Kwik]

I would check before assuming what is wrong. Nothing is ever that certain.

[j-z]

just curious as to how much boost youve been running and if the motor was tuned... were you getting any signs of detonation?

[doctorj240]

The problems started after I had a tuning session. In the first few runs it was detonating badly and we had to pull back timing quite a bit. After that I noticed a bunch of oil sitting below the air filter. I was running 7.5 psi.

[j-z]

i bet thats what caused it and now your ringlands are broken. pretty ****ty. have you talked to the tuner?

[doctorj240]

Nope, haven't talked to him. I'm currently searching for a spare longblock so I can do the repairs to this one.