valve tap and smoke and slow boost

[DSMKeg5]

I got a 92 awd laser, and it has some valve tap under boost and also it puffs a cloud of smoke out of the exhaust under boost. I did a compression test and it checks about 125 psi in all 4 cylinders. Also the turbo didnt spool up as fast as usual and stopped boosting around 4500 rpm's which it didnt do before. what is going on?

 

[skibumexicano]

I'd do a boost leak test..I'm sure you have alot or a huge vac/boost leak

 

[DSMKeg5]

i'll do a leak check but if i'd have a boost leak it wouldnt show 13 pounds on my boost gauge? thats what I have it set at.

 

[Eclipsed]

It could be bad piston rings. With a compression that low I would have everything looked at. 125 is the service point. Did you try to add oil after you ran the test then check to see if the compression upped any? If it does jump up a considerable amount then you rings are gone.

 

[DSMKeg5]

no i didnt try adding oil yet, maybe i'll try that.....how big of a job is it to change rings?

 

[Eclipsed]

no i didnt try adding oil yet, maybe i'll try that.....how big of a job is it to change rings?

It's a pretty big job. Unless you have a decent amount of mechanical experience I doubt you could do it. You'd have to pretty much take the engine apart and if you're already going to do that why not just do a full rebuild. But try that oil technique first. If compression jumps up a considerable amount, then it's your rings.