need help! need a new motor?

[boostfreak87]

hey i am looking at a 1st gen that i found around town. i stopped and asked about it and the guy said that it had low compression on #4 and that around 5500rpms it leaked oil. was just wondering if anyone had any idea as to what the problem might be and how much it would cost to fix it. thanks

 

[cano86]

It might be the piston rings

 

[architechnik]

If it's losing oil at 5500 rpms, then it's likely the head gasket or a warped or uneven head. It will blow air out of the side and by an oil channel and cause the oil to push out. This would also cause the low compression.

My money would be on a warped or uneven head, as it would lift the one side up slightly, possibly causing only on one cylinder on the end to have bad compression.

Swapping out the head gasket and getting the head resurfaced would likely cost around $400 at most, and this is on the high side. You could also get a used head to swap in if the head is too warped for a basic resurface for around $100.