Remanufactured ka24e with approx 70k on it. Replaced alternator, battery, plugs, cap rotor, & fuel filter. Fresh oil change, high octane fuel with lucas injector cleaner. Fuel pump runs, no stored codes, no codes in any modes other than egr which has been removed. Engine burns oil, likely from an improperly seated ring, 150-150-135-150 when compression tested. plugs were toast after 40k bad carbon fouling and insulator damage on #4, #2 and #3 seemed to have some oil around them. Thought it could be the crank position sensor but no codes? Checked mafs, O2, and tps. iacv, air regulator, temp sensor, injectors were all replaced with engine. Haven't checked the pcv yet.
A high pitched whine coming from the rear of the engine became noticable a few months before the issue began. I checked/capped all the vacuum lines. Started spraying starter fluid around the injectors, throttle body, iacv, etc... engine revs when I spray near the rear where the whine seems to emanate. I torqued the egr plate down hard, checked the manifold bolts, and sprayed again. Leak seems to be where the swirl control rod enters the intake. Is this an area prone to vacuum leaks?
No money or time. Need the car so I'm contemplating removing the actuator and JB welding the rod in place to plug the leak. Just not sure if its that or the nearby intake manifold gasket which is leaking. Any ideas on how to pinpoint it cheaply? Apparently I need something that will create alot of smoke.
Not even sure if this is the main issue.
