Well I had my mechanic guy do a leak down and compression test. The compression test came back as:
170/165/175/175
Which looks good for 8.6:1 pistons, right?

He then did a leakdown test he said all the cylinders were 10 to 15% leakdown except #2. He said #2 is 40% leakdown. He said he did that cylinder 3 times to make sure and he got 40% each time. He said that 10-15% was pretty high for such a new engine. What do these numbers mean? Is something going to break soon or what? Need some input guys. I am getting a little worried about my investment. :wary

Did he tell you WHERE you were losing air?

Chances are it isn't a bottom end problem - could be valvetrain.

...and of course the numbers are going to be higher - "new engine" doesn't mean squat when it's running forged pistons with wider-than-stock piston-to-bore clearances.

I talked to him and he said that he thought it was going out the crank case. He said that he was doing it himself so it is hard to tell. I am going to go over on my lunch and help him and we will check it again to try to pinpoint it.

If it is the crank case, what could that mean?

I can't help you just yet, but I'm gonna be going through the same thing any day now.....

Update:

I went to the shop and warmed my car up and we did the test again. 20% leakdown. We took the oil cap off and saw smoke coming out. The mechanic said that meant the rings. I do not know what to think, any suggestions?

On a side note, after he replaced the tensioners and put the timing belt back on I am get a rough idle, I mean REALLY rough. It sounds like one of those V8's. It seems like it is going to die on me. I do not know what the heck is going on. It was not like that before I took it to him. When I am driving it is fine. When I get on it, it is fine, just at idle. If it was out of time, wouldn't it be bad all the time? Help.

well if your cam gears are not align right at idle it would be pretty much off from revin up and down slowly, to a v-8...do you got any cel on?...




Michael 99gs
HRC Stage 2
http://www.dreamwater.net/purplebeast

That ^^^^ will also give you compression problems. Smoke coming out of the valve cover I wouldn't worry about. Unless he's filling the cylinders with smoke or it's being pushed out by the air from the cylinders. Do the test again and pull the dipstick out. If you feel air rushing of it, it's rings, cylinder walls, or pistons. If you have an egt probe, pull it out. If air is coming out there, it's an exhaust valve problem. Likewise for an intake problem (pull the MAP sensor off). Lastly, open the radiator cap (not hot of course) and if it's bubbling air there, it's a head gasket. Good luck.