Compression test results - may need some direction

[lowandsleekDSM]

Hey everyone i have tried to search about my situation and got a few answers but i need a little direction with this. Today (today being monday) i did a compression test on my `97 2g gst (with 110,000 miles) and got the following results (starting from the passenger side to driver side) 180-180-179-150. Now with that being said, the 150 is kinda concerning me and this couldnt come at a worse time since i just recently bought a evo3 16g turbo from slowboy racing. Now im not sure what the service limit is for the 2gs, but my car is slightly puffing out white smoke under boost (thats what my buddy told me when i was in front of him) but as i searched the forums, i have collected that it could be the valve seals, HG, or a bad turbo. Ive yet to perform this test "wet". Im thinking its not the HG because i dont see any milkyness in the oil at all (but that really doesnt mean anything if you think about it) I have not performed a leakdown test yet but that might be the next step. Now my question is (just like what everyone has asked), am i ok with these numbers? i kinda planned on replacing the HG with a 4layer and some ARP head studs for a better piece of mind but thats down the road some. I wanna fix this problem before i put the e316g on and make sure my car is running up to par. Any advice will be very helpful.

 

[CTP]

Friend's car had almost identical compression numbers with a mildly blown head gasket. Try the test wet, do a leak down and if they both point to hg, then by all means replace it and see what happens. Replacing a hg is a hell of a lot cheaper and easier than a ring and hone.

And yes, the ARP's and a metal gasket (or at least just the metal gasket) can't hurt.

 

[rich3389]

Service limit is 127 psi.

 

[probegonedsm]

White smoke: White smoke is caused by water and or antifreeze entering the cylinder, and the engine trying to burn it with the fuel. The white smoke is steam. There are special gaskets (head gaskets are the primary gaskets) that keep the antifreeze from entering the cylinder area. The cylinder is where the fuel and air mixture are being compressed and burned. Any amount of antifreeze that enters this area will produce a white steam that will be present at the tailpipe area.

If white smoke is present, check to see if the proper amount of antifreeze is inside the radiator and the overflow bottle. Also check to see if antifreeze has contaminated the engine oil. You can look at the engine oil dipstick, or look at the under side of the engine oil filler cap. If the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, it will have the appearance of a chocolate milkshake. Do not start the engine if the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, as serious internal engine damage can result.

 

[lowandsleekDSM]

Well see thats the thing, i dont see any milkyness in the oil at all. I should know because i had some milkyness when i had a `95 f-250 with a blown headgasket, it had some milkyness and also the temp. was spiking sometimes too. So thats why i dont think its the head gasket, BUT with that said....comparing a ford to mitsu is comparing chalk to chocolate

 

[lowandsleekDSM]

i think i`ll just go ahead and replace the head gasket while im doing my timing belt becuase i dont want to do the timing belt when i`ll have to rip everything apart anyways, besides gives me a good chance to get that off my mind too....the headgasket and ARP studs that is.