Don't make the same mistake I just made!!!

[bmob01]

Alright, so my friend came to me complaining about his oil burning. I could smell it when the engine idled (in the cabin of the car you could smell it) and when I was behind him on the road. So we took his car to my garage and took a look under the hood

I looked around the valve cover and couldn't find any leaks. I took out my compression tester and removed the sparkplug in cylinder 3 (first one I went for, wasn't going in any particular order). I couldn't find his fuel relay so I went under to see if i could disconnect his fuel pump manually.

I asked him to lightly screw in the compression tester into the sparkplug hole. I disconnected the fuel pump and he got everything set. Checked compression and it was 178. Nice. I went to unscrew the compression tester. I pulled it up and went onto the next cylinder. My friend looked at me and asked where the other piece was... I asked him "what other piece?". He said that adapter he put on, he figured the hose and end weren't long enough to fit down and screw in. We tried everything to get the adapter out, but it was threaded on pretty good. I had to compromise my multi-adaptive compression tester by using locktight, and now I cannot test other types of vehicles (I used it for my jetski and other toys). Just a warning to always make sure that if you are putting something down a deep, narrow hole, MAKE DAMN SURE YOU CAN EASILY GET IT OUT!

Didn't end up testing the rest of the cylinders, I think his compression is good (most of the smell wasn't from the exhaust, it was me driving through where he just was. I'm thinking the valve cover gasket is bad, any other suggestions?)
P.S. Its a 420a not a turbo

 

[cabbageman97]

You're burning it one way or another. Rings, valve seals, head gasket is possible.

 

[LiquidX]

What were the other cylinder numbers?

 

[BorinquenEclips]

Well dang, that suck .

Anyways my 420a leaked oil when I bought it, leaked after I fixed the valve cover gasket, I pulled the motor and replaced EVERY gasket aaaaaaaannnddd it still leaks. I have no idea how to get it to stop. When I pulled the motor the rear main seal was the culprit. It is a ****** to replace the rear main seal but it stopped leaking for a couple weeks before it started again. I've given up now that I have a GSX but just to suggest some places, my oil was leaking from the Rear Main Seal, Headgasket, Valvecover gasket, and oil pan gasket.

Oh yea im not lieing it was leaking from everywhere!! I would check the valvecover gasket first, if not then buy some degreaser and wash the krap out of the motor and then for the next week watch it carefully to see exactly where the oil could be coming from. If it looks like its everywhere then you may have the same problem I did. Hope I helped out some.

 

[JEFFREYCASTGSX]

Look behind the block, where the head gasket is.

 

[bmob01]

Alright I ran compression tests on all cylinders twice. I got 200psi across the board. Isn't that a little high? I had all the sparkplugs out, coil unhooked, and fuel relay disconnected. I let the engine crank until the needle bounced in the same place three times (about 7 or 8 cranks). Well we figured we mine as well put the new valve cover gasket, seeing it couldn't hurt to replace the old stock one (brand new felpro). Well, getting everything off was easy, putting the gasket on was an absolute pain . We could never get the gasket to stay where it needed to be when putting the valve cover back on. We tried putting it in the grooves of the valve cover first, then on the head, then a combination. We finally gave up, busted out the gasket maker and put micro dabs along the inside of the grove and got the gasket to stick in. Finally it made it on. I tightened everything back down (not too tight but I didn't use a torque wrench either, should have I?) and it looks to be ok. I hope it holds out while he's driving and everything remains good. Oh yeah and compression after the replacement was still 200 across the board. Does anyone have any ideas or tips to putting these gaskets and other hard to reach area gaskets on so they don't fall out? Thanks.

And it did not fix the oil problem. I think the main seal or something is to blame. No oil is in the exhaust, but oil is all over his subframe and drips onto the exhaust pipe. Any suggestions?

 

[colmer99]

Go on underneath the car and check the back of the block by the firewall at the oil pressure switch and see if it has a leak. Thats what happen to mine when i was burning oil.

 

[bmob01]

Thanks Ill give that a check. Do they make a UV additive to oil that I can use to trace if this isn't the problem?

 

[dooblea]

Wellsticking with the deep dark hole rule. I was replacing a head gasket on my 95 camry. As i was putting the exhaust cam back on one of the bolts decided to find the deep dark hole!!!! DOH!!! So now first thing monday morning i get to pull the oil pan, locate the bolt and put it in it's place instead of getting my gsx running

Oh and for the gasket to stay on i use a loctite brand gasket sealer. It comes in a purple tube(like a glue stick). I have to go to a industrial supply place to find it but a little of that makes any gasket instalation painless!

 

[bmob01]

thanks for the loctite info, I just wanted to make sure an adhesive was save to use, stupid parts clerk told me not to use it. I asked and he literally said "WTF are you crazy?!? Never do that to a gasket!". Rule #1 : Most parts clerks have no clue about anything (especially when I told him 1g eclipses were made in America ) He thought I was an idiot, oooh but how I laughed after I left

 

[constant_proj21]

For VC gaskets, put a little dab of rtv (the black stuff) in every spot where it makes a 90* angle. Will help it stay in there for install, and helps sealing a bit. Then just make sure the surfaces are cleaned up and install. As for torquing down VC bolts, you don't really need to. They're supposed to be torqued to like 7ft-lbs, so just make sure they're tight, and maybe go 1/4 turn to be safe.

 

[#40Fan]

If this motor has close to 100k miles, or more, then it is the valve seals.

 

[bmob01]

Alright, I didn't wanna have to do all the valve seals but mine as well. Wouldn't it smell of burning oil in his exhaust though if it were the valve seals? And does anyone recommend leaving the head on, or removing the head and putting some new parts in (cams, springs, lifters)