Engine Misfire and smoke out of tailpipe @4000 RPMs

[beardown1]

I am working in a friends 96 Saturn SC2 with the above problem. I performed a compression check and cylinders 2 & 3 did not have correct compression. (low initial compression that gradually builds w each stroke). I added a small amount of motor oil to those plug holes as the Haynes manual recommends and sure enough the compressions was fine in the cylinders.......leading me to think worn piston rings. Does this sound right? Is there anything short of a rebuild that can help?

The car also has the crazy idle after warm up and fluxuating coolant readings that I have seen mentioned on other posts, but I think that is another problem.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!

[vamc]

Is there of any signs of a creaked head/head gasket?

[saturnspeed_12]

sounds like another cts gone bad. go to the dealer to get a new one if you want it to work properly and for longer then a couple days. also the piston ring issue is typical of saturns. but try marvel mystery oil and let it soak for 24 hours. constantly checking it and filling the cylinders if it goes low. dont submerge the pistons just make enough to pool. that will help a bit on the rings, probably gummed up with carbon like mine were due to bad cts. i was also told by the saturn dealer to run jb tune up or something like that in the crankcase to fix the carbon build up on the rings.

[beardown1]

Thanks for the quick reply guys! Vamc I had thought that it may be a head gasket.....but with the compression building to normal after I put oil in the cylinder....sounds like something else. Also their is what appears to be oil shooting out of the tailpipe. Only at 4000 RPM and above after complete warmup.

SaturnSpeed thanks for the info......I will definately check into your recommendations.

If anyone else wants to chime in......Im all ears.

Happy Holidays.

[sierrap615]

1. does your speedometer work correctly?

2. what color is the smoke?

3. can you climb above 4000 RPM?

[saturnspeed_12]

Originally Posted by beardown1

Thanks for the quick reply guys! Vamc I had thought that it may be a head gasket.....but with the compression building to normal after I put oil in the cylinder....sounds like something else. Also their is what appears to be oil shooting out of the tailpipe. Only at 4000 RPM and above after complete warmup.

SaturnSpeed thanks for the info......I will definately check into your recommendations.

If anyone else wants to chime in......Im all ears.

Happy Holidays.

right there, oil coming out the exhaust. i would definitely say the rings are in bad shape. maybe the marvel will fix it but with that much i dont know. i do know that the saturn dealer uses that jb tune up or whatever its called to put in the crankcase to eat the carbon out of the rings. im in the process of building a stout motor for boost and the one i got had the piston rings seized with carbon. it was a huge pain to get them off.