long thread, take the time to read, youll be stumped.

Most of the people on this board know the issue i'm having. Low vac (14 & lower) and rich fuel. The vac goes lower than 14, usually to 12 or lower, and fuel is 10-11 AFR at idle and 10's at cruise. I've had this problem for several years now, even w/ different motors and heads. I've swapped every known sensor, and tried different ECU's. I don't want the thread to focus on that though.

Newly rebuilt motor was installed. Stock valvetrain, wiseco pistons, eagle rods. I've had the car sitting for a while while diagnosing has been done. No answers. Compression numbers, on the other hand, are making me wonder. I'd like to share them with you. These are numbers DRY and WET(half a cap of oil). both numbers were retrieved when the car's been warmed up.

from left to right(1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th)
DRY - 148-175-150-125
WET - 165-187-157-140

Interesting note, the 3rd cylinder puffed smoke every time it reached TDC during the test. The others didn't. This was ONLY on the WET test. Surprisingly, all spark plugs seem to be ok looking except for the 3rd. The third is BLACK. The numbers and the plug lead me to believe that the 3rd cylinder is the one doing all of the work keeping the car running.

The pistons rings (wiseco rings) were gapped .17 top & .19 bottom. No they weren't installed upside down. Rings were installed at the specified, per wiseco, with specific "o'clock" directions on each piston. The pistons are wisecos, 20 over. the cylnder walls matched and were bored to the pistons. yes they were honed too.

Also, the vacuum has changed dramatically. It was low before, but now, it idles at 8 or lower. In a parking lot, it idled at 200 rpm and the vac was at 1-2! amazing.

There are no vacuum or fluid leaks leaks as a smoke test has been done. Personally, from the compression numbers, wet/dry, I believe that the rings aren't seating correctly. Before I make the decision to pull the motor and redo it, I need insight on ideas. The car runs and is still able to be diagnosed further. This should be fun.

those compression differences would suggest a ring problem on at least 1 and 4. maybe 3 as well. with those numbers it would seem your #2 cyl is doing all the work, not 3.

as for the one black spark plug on 3, is it possible your number 3 injector could be sticking open or leaking? it puffing smoke could be from excessive unburnt fuel deposits in the cylinder.

i forgot to mention, the compression test was done w/ the fuel pump relay & coil unplugged. yes i agree. seems to be a ring sealing issue.

lol that's how you're supposed to do a compression test.

Let me know how the boost leak test goes.

Cyliber 3 is not doign all the work. Its the most fouled plug.

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon
Cyliber 3 is not doign all the work. Its the most fouled plug.

i'd like to get your opinion on the posted compression numbers

You can't trust a comp check on a brand new rebuild (other than some wildly flucuating numbers like 0 comp on a cylinder). Unless you've put some miles on the engine, the rings are still seating. They do not seat linearly (at the same pace). Therefore differences are not going to tell you for sure if something is wrong (THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE IS NOT SOMETHING WRONG IN THERE. Just that those numbers can't be trusted yet).

As Terry said (and you are noticing), cylinder three has some problems. But there is the possibility that the rings could be seating at a different pace that the others.

With all that being said, why have you not done a boost test yet :wary ? You have at least done a vac check, no? And I don't remember, but you did check ALL marks on the timing, correct?

timing's on, and i did a pressure test a few months ago. No leaks. smoke test was done too, a teeeny leak was found on the portfueler injector. according to a wiseco CSR, the rings take approximately several hours to seat. It's been roughly 75 miles. I verified that the ring gap is within spec and everything checks.

I'm starting over with diagnosing all of this. I'm going to redo a pressure test and after that, install new o-rings on ALL injectors. Also going to swap a fuel rail harness & injectors, just to be sure i dont have a short that's keeping cyl 3 injector open. thank you for your input mark, everyone else too.

i agree with tim.

75 miles is = to appx 1.5 hours. Hardly several hours.

Once again your not listening.

ok sorry

Have you tried the BLT yet? I know you said vacuum was back up?

Originally posted by Star Turbo Talon
75 miles is = to appx 1.5 hours. Hardly several hours. Once again your not listening.

I mentioned this and got yelled at :shrug

75 miles for a break in of new rings?

Jackass.

i dont understand why people insist on ragging the thread. what am i supposed to do, keep this to myself or ask for help

People are going to give you crap Mikey. Until the car gets sorted out. I got shit for a long time here in chat and my threads. Still get shit in chat.

I get shit all the time man. Dont sweat it.

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
i dont understand why people insist on ragging the thread. what am i supposed to do, keep this to myself or ask for help

Yesterday you said you were not going to talk about the car to Zac, 2gnt, or I.

Srsly, we give you crap for fun :P Everyone here gets shit. I get shit for driving a Neon, having a pink VC, and more than I remember. Fast and the Furious quotes make everything better. Everyone on this board has given you SEVERAL things to try for your issue and has been beyond helpful IMO.

AFAIK you have tried them all. Basically, IMO, its your timing or a vac leak.

I said yesterday to drive the car to get more miles on it (several hours worth) and you snapped. 75 miles is not enough for break in. However, I feel that compression would not cause your issue. You remember my old compression numbers, I still had 30+mpg and good vac.

I dont understand why you dont want to bring up the ECU. You told me that your ECU could not communicate with a scanner, but another ECU could. I had a 95 Neon that was like that. Caused all kinds of crazy issues. Replaced the ECU and the weird issues went away.

If you are not willing to take advice then dont ask for it.

Mikey,

Last time we chatted you said that you had tested the CTS, but please tell me you have gone the extra step and spent $15 to replace it..

Originally posted by Ebster1085
Mikey, Last time we chatted you said that you had tested the CTS, but please tell me you have gone the extra step and spent $15 to replace it..

I have said this too... Several times.

I've replaced the CTS twice. both of them are within spec. hot & cold. no change. thanks for everyones help

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
I've replaced the CTS twice. both of them are within spec. hot & cold. no change. thanks for everyones help

Last time being...?

2 months ago. before I gave it to the mechanic. I thought this was a vac issue

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
2 months ago. before I gave it to the mechanic. I thought this was a vac issue

Could be. Timing or vac is most likely. Just making sure it wasnt a 3 year old CLT.

I thought you were never discussing the car with Zac, 2gnt, or I again? Works both ways.

Originally posted by teklein
Could be. Timing or vac is most likely.

please stop pointing out the obvious. i'm sure its not my muffler

Originally posted by teklein
Just making sure it wasnt a 3 year old CLT.

thanks for making me feel dumb.

Originally posted by teklein
I thought you were never discussing the car with Zac, 2gnt, or I again? Works both ways.

the thread's purpose is meant for people that want to help me; for the few that care. on a side note, if this thread bothers you, and you don't have something serious to say and help, please don't reply in the thread. It gets unnecessarily long and pointless and I want people to use this in the future. Im just searching for a swift solution, not a 'lets have fun' thread.

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
2 months ago. before I gave it to the mechanic. I thought this was a vac issue

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC

Originally posted by teklein Could be. Timing or vac is most likely.

please stop pointing out the obvious. i'm sure its not my muffler

very good reading. i read it twice http://www.aa1car.com/library/vacleak.htm

it was the o2 sensor for who didn't know. damn tim, as i read through this, u were a jackass to me. fucker.

Originally posted by 420agreenvilleSC
it was the o2 sensor for who didn't know. damn tim, as i read through this, u were a jackass to me. fucker.

You were being tool, I was just keeping you in check ;)

Also, if you will remember after all of this I took your car into my garage and worked on it for two weeks straight, including your timing ;)

2 weeks straight... 8 hrs each day for 14 days? is that what you're saying?