Engine problems, oil burning (56K runaway!)

[Hit_N_Run-player]

Ok, so last time i compression checked, cycl 3 was a little bit low. I know its been having problems, thats why i try not to run my KA hard, and im looking for a spare. Heres whats happened, i checked my oil since the last change about 2500miles ago, and its burned about 1.5-2 quarts of oil. Is this common? I checked the plugs (refer to pics that are humongous) and looked in the cylindars. cylindars 1 and 4 looked normal, but 2 and 3 looked liek they had a more than normal amound of oil on them. Im not sure if i exactly have a big problem here, or if its normal for a car this old to burn that much oil in between changes. Just help me out untill i get a new KA.

[D-Bo]

thats more characteristic of a blown head gasket than spark plugs

[corning_d3]

I agree with D-Bo. Do another compression test but this time add a teaspoon or so of oil in the #3 cylinder. If the reading stays low, you have a valve leaking, or a head gasket going/gone. If the reading jumps up, your rings are worn. Another way is to make an adapter that screws into the sparkplug hole, and connect an air hose to it. Make sure the cylinder your checking is a TDC. Run air into the cylinder and look/listen. Air bubbles/pressure in the radiator indicate a head gasket. Air noise coming from the intake indicates a leaking intake valve. Air sound at the exhaust pipe indicates a leaking exhaust valve.. Noise at the dipstick tube or PCV valve hole/grommet indicates blow-by. This test does so much more than a compression test.....

[Hit_N_Run-player]

Originally Posted by D-Bo

thats more characteristic of a blown head gasket than spark plugs

im not saying its to do with the spark plugs, i was just showing what the plugs look like (i actually think they look pretty clean/good). I dont see where all this oil is going unless it is a bad ring, and when i compression checked (this is the part that indicates a ring), i did all four cyl and got really low on #3, then after i was done i went back again and did #3 and got a sumwhat normal (but still low) compression which i think is because of fuel that got around the piston somewhere and made the leak seal temporarly. Hopefully the guy selling KA donor moter i found will be emailing me soon, then i can pop this out and either turbo the other, or do a rebuild on this one.

[Hit_N_Run-player]

Originally Posted by corning_d3

I agree with D-Bo. Do another compression test but this time add a teaspoon or so of oil in the #3 cylinder. If the reading stays low, you have a valve leaking, or a head gasket going/gone. If the reading jumps up, your rings are worn. Another way is to make an adapter that screws into the sparkplug hole, and connect an air hose to it. Make sure the cylinder your checking is a TDC. Run air into the cylinder and look/listen. Air bubbles/pressure in the radiator indicate a head gasket. Air noise coming from the intake indicates a leaking intake valve. Air sound at the exhaust pipe indicates a leaking exhaust valve.. Noise at the dipstick tube or PCV valve hole/grommet indicates blow-by. This test does so much more than a compression test.....

yeah, im going to do a leakdown sometime this week when i dont have so much homework.

[Hit_N_Run-player]

NEW REPORT- So i call my dad up (parents are devorced, and hes a very good mechanic) and he says to bring the car over and we'll take a look, and do a leak down. I told him what ive already come up with and that ive found a KA donor head/block with only 35K miles for cheap and he says like its nothing "Well, get that and well pull your stock 2.4L and do a rebuild, that way you have a spare one with only 35K." And then i proceded to tell him i cant afford that and hes like "Oh dont worry about it, ill help you out and we could do another engine build" (ive rebuilt tons of engine with him before, never a 4cyl though.). So im pretty excited, i want to get this KA tore down and rebuilt.

[Skylindrftr]

lucky, ive never gotten to rebuild an engine from the ground up before, it's my secret shame =(

[nissan_240sx]

Good luck with it