i did a compression test a few weeks ago and got: (i have 00 si with RH kit)
150 200 150 200

the car was dying on me everytime i got to a light and had to slow down. after the test,
i didn't drive the car for a while cause i accidently damaged the plugs. got new ones and put them in and the car seems to drive fine and hasn't died on me once yet.

but i'm wondering how long can i drive the car (and is it safe?) in this condition before i am able to get it fixed? i think i'm also losing coolant too and this white-ish smoke is coming out of the valve cover breather hose. i'm wondering what my problem can be (trying to gauge the cost to repair), is it busted piston rings or maybe just a headgasket?

 

I would say you blew you head gaset since you say you have white smoke but how did you blow you motor again didn't you just get it rebuilt?

 

wouldnt the car be over heating also if his headgasket is damaged? anyway my compression is a lot worse than your is....
65 190 200 190 grrrr blown rings is going to cost me over $2000 i am taking the more expensive route to fix

 

I would agree that the head gasket is done. Just because the head gasket is blown does not mean that overheating would be a problem. Look at VDubbs... 60% of the running A2's left in this world have blown head gaskets and run fine!!!

 

as a recommendation (you and everyone else probably know this procedure already) what you do is, take off the radiator cap, start up the car and let it idle. if there are bubbles in the coolant, you blew a headgasket. if there arent' any bubbles in the coolant, then more than likely, your ringlands are gone.

 

yeah, i'm wondering also how the motor blew (if in fact it did) because the pistons and rings were supposed to be new and i haven't even boosted the car yet which is the worst part. i will check to see if it is the headgasket problem. thanks

 

oh yeah, how long can i drive the car like this without further damaging the car? right now it seems to be running pretty well.

 

just replace ur head gasket..should take a day, buy a helms, its hondas bible

 

do i have to take off the turbo kit to replace headgasket? and how long/safe can i drive around with busted headgasket?

 

u dont have to take off the drag kit but u will have to take off the manifold....dont push ur luck with a blown head gaket...i know i wouldnt

 

ok, thanks.

 

take longer than a day, it's always a good idea to get the head decked(resurfaced) to insure a proper seal.

 

well, there were no bubbles in the coolant as i let the car idle for a while. about how long should i wait? the car pretty much warmed up and smoke started coming out from the valve cover breather hose again so i shut it down. it did look like there was some oil in the coolant, but no bubbling. so i guess it's probably the rings. is it safe to drive? cause i gotta drive 100 miles to houston to get the engine work done. will it scratch up the cylinders?

 

you should try doing a wet compression test. For the cylinders that are low, pour a little oil in them and repeat the test. If it's your ring landings then the oil should improve the seal and give you a much higher number. You may also hear some bubbling through the oil.

-Xerxes

 

if there is oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil. that isn't a good thing. that should be a sign that you blew your headgasket (weird that there are no bubbles) and it MIGHT be a sign for a rebuild.

oh yeah, you will have to take off the exhaust and intake manifold to take the head off to put in a new headgasket. but, you can leave the turbo on the manifold though.


[Modified by boostedeg6, 1:35 AM 12/8/2001]