think my golf has lost the gti in her

[yabbie]

as you might know i have a golf gti mk3 3 door 16v 2 liter abf 96 reg
It seems to really struggle to get any where near 5000 revs when i floor it theres nothing doesn't want to shift. when it does get to about 5500 revs it puffs out a little smoke which seems to linger in the air its just white/grey smoke. i have a pic of my spark plugs which i took today i shall post them soon what might be wrong with her i just sold my leg to have some work done suspension,mot,brakes,ice and more
Please i need some info

[Golf8vGti]

The little puff of smoke as you put it might be a sign that your rings may be shot.

[yabbie]

rings can i have a little more info ?

[Golf8vGti]

Rings as in the piston rings in ya bottom end, most likely worn so its letting oil into the combustion chamber which is causing your little puff of smoke. To sort the problem out im afriad its a bottom end re-build.

[monkeyalan]

the 5k revs thing is sometimes a cambelt/timing problem. if the belts a tooth or two out it restricts the revs.

[yabbie]

does it cost loads to have the bottom end re built. Or is it better if i swap the engine over ? might start with the belt and timing when i got the car it was quick now i think its slower that my old 1.4i feista.

i dont have a problem getting it to red in the revs if its just parked up there just seems to be no power to the wheels when i put the pedal down it feels like im driving with the handbrake on (double checked its not on ) could it still be the timing ? i need to get this sorted any more ideas guys ?

[Golf8vGti]

As said get the timing looked at as that can have a big affect on the cars performance.

I miss read your first post a puff of grey white smoke is usually a sign of water evaporating, rings is usually a puff of blue smoke. Might be worth getting a compression test aswell while your at it.

[neil_1821]

yeah usuallypiston rings when the smoke comes out, plus get the timing checked, make sure all the teeth are there.

I never take my golf past 3000rpm unless i'm annoyed at someone, althoughmines only a 1.4, even if you got a larger engine, if youkeep takingit up to that then you'll screw the engine up quicker. just take it easy

[Len]

Pah ! Fooey! Engines are made to be thrashed! I regularly take mine to the rev limiter!
The more you rev them the better they are!

If you have no real power then its likely to be piston rings. A compression test will tell you and you can do it easily yourself! Just go to Halfords and but a CR Tester. All you do is take all the plugs out put the tester in one hole at a time and turn over the engine on the starter! dead simple.

But then if your CR's are fine then go for timing.

[yabbie]

i lost my feet in a shark fight so they are lead now i cant help it i love driving my golf. but any ways i got fed up today dropped in the mechanics on the way home hopefully they find whats wrong i think they are going to start with a compression test then move on to the timing if its any thing else worse than that i will be getting a vr6 to fit in her  will let you all know the cause soon thanks for the help