Low Compression in one cylinder and white smoke

[solson1041]

Hi guys, I've been going back and forth with problems on my car, and I've had it home for the weekend (fall break from Purdue) and been taking this as an opportunity to get lots of work done on my car.

It has recently started burning white smoke and I ran a compression test and cylinder #1 has about 20psi in it, but the others are ~155.

I'm thinking this is head gasket? It is putting white smoke out the tail pipe at idle, has low compression in cyl #1 and burned up coolant in near a week. The car runs decent otherwise, and it has really just started this recently. We thought it had piston ring problems before, but those problems *seem* to have gone away, and now we're dealing with these symptoms.

Is there anything else that one cyl of bad compression, and white smoke points to? I'd really like to know as soon as possible so I could get this repaired before I have to go back.

Thanks so much.

 

[solson1041]

I got my head back today, it looks beautiful, I'm so glad I got it reconditioned. The valves look great and are sitting just fine.

The head was warped, and thus causing it to not seal along the head gasket and therefore why I was burning coolant.

Thanks to everyone for the help, I'll be putting it all back together this afternoon.

P.S. I actually do think my piston rings are bad, but that's an entirely different issue, I had a thread asking questions about it. Either way, piston rings certainly had nothing to with these particular problems. I'm eager to get a leakdown and compression test once this new head is on to get a solid reading about the condition of those rings.

 

[niki_talon]

I have the same problem with my 1g Eagle Talon TSi 6 bolt. Smoking and low compression. Please Help blown head gasket or something serious?

Idle vacuum 12inHg.
Compression test:

Cylinder 1: 100psi
Cylinder 2: 170psi
Cylinder 3: 170psi
Cylinder 4: 170psi

Please Help 4G63 blown head gasket or something serious? - YouTube

 

[bryanwheat]

Take the radiator cap off when it is cold and start it. IF the gasket is blown into the coolant passage than it will push coolant out and you will see bubbles coming out.

 

[niki_talon]

Take the radiator cap off when it is cold and start it. IF the gasket is blown into the coolant passage than it will push coolant out and you will see bubbles coming out.

Thanks for the advice tomorrow morning I'll do it. I hope it is only blown head gasket.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Take the radiator cap off when it is cold and start it. IF the gasket is blown into the coolant passage than it will push coolant out and you will see bubbles coming out.

^^ This is correct however some HG leaks are not always big enough to check this way. Also having the coolant cap in a position of flowing coolant instead of on the radiator makes it harder to check for a HG problem that way. Simplest and really most accurate way to determine a HG leak is to do a block test. These are not really to expensive and are easy enough for a kid to use. Block Tester | AutoZone.com

 

[niki_talon]

^^ This is correct however some HG leaks are not always big enough to check this way. Also having the coolant cap in a position of flowing coolant instead of on the radiator makes it harder to check for a HG problem that way. Simplest and really most accurate way to determine a HG leak is to do a block test. These are not really to expensive and are easy enough for a kid to use. Block Tester | AutoZone.com

I will look for Block Tester in our stores here.
Thanks!

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Block tester check for hydrocarbons in the coolant system which have only one way of entering the coolant system. That is through a bad HG. If the color changes it is due to the presence of hyrdrocarbons. Hence color change means blown HG. Blue fluid changes yellow for gasoline and green for diesel.

 

[niki_talon]

Block tester check for hydrocarbons in the coolant system which have only one way of entering the coolant system. That is through a bad HG. If the color changes it is due to the presence of hyrdrocarbons. Hence color change means blown HG. Blue fluid changes yellow for gasoline and green for diesel.

Yes it's good for me. I will buy it only to find it in my city.

 

[niki_talon]

Take the radiator cap off when it is cold and start it. IF the gasket is blown into the coolant passage than it will push coolant out and you will see bubbles coming out.

Cold start
4G63 Cold start - YouTube

 

[niki_talon]

Hi guys, today I opened the engine
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Head gasket - good
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
The problem with vacuum 12inHg - Broken exhaust manifold
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
Cylinder 1 - Broken piston
Cylinder 2 - good
Cylinder 3 - Broken ring
4 Cylinder - good
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ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

 

[buhay6]

wow.....ya no wonder she wasn't starting easy! That's not a cheap fix there, well seeing as you have her all apart may as rebuild the top end to. Good luck man!