Possible piston rings... decision time

[clipperjay]

Did you test the coolant for hydrocarbons?
Sometimes a good compression doesnt mean a head gasket is not leaking water into the down stroke of the piston

[danny_p]

sounds to me like an old worn engine.   

[tony_ack]

Nope, not done a test for hydrocarbons, but I'm pretty sure the smoke out of the back is oil, not water. What confirmed it for me was after the wet compression test, there was a lot more smoke out of the back as the engine burned off the oil in the bores, but the colour and smell of the smoke didn't change compared to what it was normally like.

I think the engine is well past its best like Danny says. Going to start looking at replacement options and put some money aside, though the car still runs okay for now despite being a bit smelly so no rush as long as I keep an eye on oil and water levels

[leigh_harty]

Im in the same boat as you but with a vr6, doing my compression tests today

Not thought about getting a replacement engine and rebuild it yourself, its not that hard when you get going.

Good luck anyway 

Leigh

[Sam]

Where abouts are you based buddy out of interest.

Anyhow, your compression sounds about right (12bar as standard no?) and chances are that on such a well driven engine the bores may simply need re-honing to remove the glaze and put new rings on the pistons to seal them. If you catch it early the head wont even need re-building. I wouldn't describe it as a simple job but its a case of taking the head off and the sump and popping the pistons out. You could do it in a couple of days, this way you would also be able to remove and replace the head gasket.

[search]

I know this is a year old but check my user name and you'll understand.

that aside I'm curious to know what you did in the end? as it sounds like the problems I'm having although mine's not smoking but is breathing heavily with the oil build up behind it.

[mush]

just to throw a spanner in the works i have a 16v engine if you want it.

has everything apart from the engine loom and was running fine before i removed which was for my vr6 project.

mileage on engine was 165,000

yours for £50.00 - you'd have to collect

sorry to high jack but its for a good cause 

[search]

did a compression test came out as 175/ 145/ 140/ 180

[Sgt_Lemon]

just to throw a spanner in the works i have a 16v engine if you want it.

has everything apart from the engine loom and was running fine before i removed which was for my vr6 project.

mileage on engine was 165,000

yours for £50.00 - you'd have to collect

sorry to high jack but its for a good cause 

Where are you located, I don't need an engine but for that price why the f**k not haha

[danny_p]

did a compression test came out as 175/ 145/ 140/ 180

thats not healthy,   something is leacking,  drop the sump, pull and rebuild the head then push the pistons up time i think