White smoke/compression test/rebuild

[HareyCarey]

Okay, ladies and germs, here's the deal:
Car had been running for about 15 minutes, normal operating temperature, I ran her up the road to the store and got back and was letting her sit and idle to cool down and saw some white smoke. I gave her a rev and on release of throttle there was a larger amount than at idle. I walked back and watched as the smoke went to barely visible then she stopped smoking altogether. Next day, let her warm up and then my neighbor who is a Nissan enthusiast/builder suggested we compression test the engine and see what's up. When we removed spark plug number 2 there was white smoke rising out of the well. Compression test results: 1 2 3 4 respectively, 150 125(smokey well) 145 145. This was a dry test at normal temperature. Before I go back and do a wet test or leak down, does anyone have any bright ideas? I am already tearing the head apart next week or week after to do new gaskets and seals and timing belt along with a balance shaft elimination. Could the head gasket be coked or cracked? Maybe the head itself? No, I am not really losing oil. Yes, I am missing coolant but am not overheating. Not a sweet smelling exhaust and it almost smells like oil so it's confusing. All help and opinions are appreciated and respected.

So, that out of the way, I was planning to use the Cometic gasket kit with an oem timing belt and head gasket that will not see more than 350hp. Anyone care to talk me out of that or am I sniffing the right proverbial butt? I will only replace valves and springs as needed and hopefully won't have to because I haven't ever done them before and don't have the cheddar. Perhaps, I am over-analyzing it, but I believe a rework of the head and maybe some coolant lines and seals should fix me up.

 

[1995gsx20g]

your either losing oil or your not. being unsure doesn't help you or me.

if your coolant level keeps dropping and its not visible on the exterior of the motor or on the ground then its pretty much safe to say your burning coolant.

is there any mixing of oil and coolant?

whats the history of this motor?

your fine with the gasket kit, oem timing belt/pulleys/tensioner and oem head gasket but what i would do if you want to hit 350whp is get some arp head studs.

does the smoke smell like fuel?

 

[HareyCarey]

your either losing oil or your not. being unsure doesn't help you or me.

if your coolant level keeps dropping and its not visible on the exterior of the motor or on the ground then its pretty much safe to say your burning coolant.

is there any mixing of oil and coolant?

whats the history of this motor?

your fine with the gasket kit, oem timing belt/pulleys/tensioner and oem head gasket but what i would do if you want to hit 350whp is get some arp head studs.

does the smoke smell like fuel?

Losing small amount of oil at the oil filter housing but not anything unaccounted for. Losing coolant but no leak. No mixing as far as I can see. I will check again to be sure later but I am 95% positive it isn't mixed. History is clean, 131,000 miles when I bought it, a few receipts for waterpump o ring and gasket, boost leak tests, leak downs, etc. Nothing serious.

But, 350hp to the crank, sir. I'm trying to keep it right around 325-350 at the crank, that's the goal I set for her. I had planned on Arps but I was mum on that wasn't I?

Lastly, yes, the smoke smells fuely and oily but not...coolanty...there is a faint fuel smell in the engine bay as well if that is helpful to your diagnoses.

 

[1995gsx20g]

ok,

1) do you have a 50/50 mix of coolant to water in your car?
2) does it sputter and misfire when starting it after it sat all night?
3) does it have a long crank when sitting over night?
4) does it smell like fuel in the engine bay after sitting all night before starting it?

does your oil smell like fuel? if so i would change it then find out where the fuel is coming from.

and to solve your smoking issue i would do a leakdown and a coolant pressure test and then go from there.

 

[HareyCarey]

ok,

1) do you have a 50/50 mix of coolant to water in your car?
2) does it sputter and misfire when starting it after it sat all night?
3) does it have a long crank when sitting over night?
4) does it smell like fuel in the engine bay after sitting all night before starting it?

does your oil smell like fuel? if so i would change it then find out where the fuel is coming from.

and to solve your smoking issue i would do a leakdown and a coolant pressure test and then go from there.

Yes to the 50/50, doesn't sputter or misfire but almost dies and takes a sec to warm up. No long crank and it doesn't just smell like fuel unless I have driven it.

I will have it tested asap for those things but I am still tearing the head off to redo all the gaskets/seals and timing belt and bse. Probably an o ring and gasket for the water pump if it is still good and a new clutch(neeeeeeds one) going with an xtd stage 4 6 puck to give it a try

 

[1995gsx20g]

before you take it all apart i would do a leakdown because if it needs rings,valve's, valve seals, ect then your just did all of that work just to do it again.

 

[HareyCarey]

I will do that, thank you for your insight. I hope it isn't anything crazy. I checked her today and no mixing, little less fluid but she only smokes when you rev her...strange it isn't at idle as well. It is literally just the 2 to 3 seconds that I rev her that I cn see the smoke and you can smell some oil around the car's vicinity. I don't know, I will just pray that I find my way on it and hope for the best; I'll justhave to be patient I suppose.

 

[1995gsx20g]

i totally forgot about your turbo.. this could also be the culprit.

but since it only smokes while revving it i kinda wanna lean on rings.

btw are your intercooler pipes filled with oil?

 

[gst_man]

If it smokes after you let it idle, that usually points to valve stem seals.