xile6

So I got some low compression is all cylinders around 230k miles on the car.
If I remember right my numbers where 120 80 70 150
Oil down the cylinders even it out.

My question is would it be smart to pull the head and pan. Then hone and re reign the motor?

I change the head gasket on the car a few motors ago.the cylinders look ok but I didn't take an specs.

So would re ring hurt it more the. Help it?

strategy400

Does the engine run poorly?

xile6

yea idle is crap pretty low around 550rpm then it will move to 540 and smooth out ever once in a while.

While driving it drives fine just low on power.

strategy400

Why not just rebuild it or swap in a better engine? If the rings are that worn then most likely so is everything else. Seems like a lot of work for a band-aid fix with questionable results.

xile6

well it was turbo. I build the turbo kit and installed it last yr. all was fine then about a month ago it started to idle funny. would stall out at lights.
so compression test and thats what I got.
so pull the turbo off and sold it to find another motor.
got screw over. paid $350 for a motor that has rust in it and was missing a piston.

called aroubd and got quoted $550 plus tax to rebuild that block.
the next option is get a use motor fron a company which does 30dats start up warranty. but they wasn $850 plus tax and shippin

thats out of my budget right now. so I was looking into reringing till I had more money. to rebuild the trash I have stilling in my garage.
plus this is my only car.

strategy400

I hear you. But still, a lot of work for questionable results.

xile6

Ah the work is nothing. Just don't want to make it worse or waste money I could have save.

steveeb

Just did the exact thing to my 203K mile 99 si. You should do a leak down test before doing anything to confirm where you're losing pressure. A low compression number doesn't necessarily mean bad rings. If the exhaust and/or intake valves are leaking, then you will also have to replace valve seals/guides.

Before the job, I had 140, 160, 160, 170 on cylinders #1 to 4 respectively. After the job it was 180 psi straight across.

xile6

Yea see yours are much better then mines.
And it's more or less rings. I try a leak down but couldn't lock the motor in place to well but I did hear a,it of air out the oil cap from cylinder 2 and 3.
Also added oil and compression jump up in all cylinder to around 180.
So it's either bad rings or a crack one from the turbo. It did spike once to 15psi but that was more then 4months ago and the problem just started this month.

So idk what to do. I'm going to see what I can save up and then I may re ring till I can rebuild the block I got in my garage.

jbpnoman

In order to re-ring the motor, you have to pull the rotating assembly. In order to pull the rotating assembly, you have to pull the main bearings, as well as most of the bottom end gaskets. You'll want to replace all of those parts. While you're re-ringing the pistons, you should DEFINITELY have the block honed and cleaned.

Pull the motor, strip the block down bare, and have a machine shop do the bearings and rings. Do the rest of the rebuild yourself. Save yourself some money that way.

strategy400

And why not go the extra mile and bore and deck it and put in new PISTONS. It's out and apart and at the shop...
Well now you need a new oil pump..

jbpnoman

Slugs? You mean pistons?

Boring is unnecessary, unless his sleeves are damaged. Decking is unnecessary, unless his block is warped. If his rings are shot, his sleeves will have oil burnt into them, thus the hone. Cleaning is just common sense. Bearings shouldn't be reused, especially since they have 230k on them. Gaskets shouldn't be reused. I'm talking bare minimum labor here. Could he use this opportunity to completely refresh his motor? Yes. Does he need to, if he's on a tight budget? No. Don't try to be a smartass.

strategy400

I didn't mean to injure your arrogant ego, but it doesn't mean you have to resort to name calling just because my opinions do not mirror your own.