i spent an hour searching and couldn't find my situation, so here goes:

car ran great.
started sounding a bit like a WRX.. like when i broke ring lands, back when i used to boost.
started smoking at about 6krpm, right when vtec would cross over
did a comp test = 240ish across the board and 3-5% leak down. all was well.
got worse.
started smoking worse and at lower RPM.
did a leak down and got 45% on cyl. 1. i could hear noise out of the cyl 4 spark plug and a decent amount out of the exhaust.
all other cylinders = 3-5%.

bottom end has just been rebuilt. all OEM pistons/rings/bearing/etc. all spec'ed out, with a build sheet. before last build, i had a valve job done, as well as new seals. guides are still original ('98 itr motor from HMO).


i'm thinking bent/burned exh valve? since the last build i have about.. oh.. MAYBE 200 miles on the engine.

 

could you pin point where it was leaking when doing the leak down? I like to use a thethoscope, but even sometimes still it is hard to track down. Maybe remove the valve cover?

 

def in the head might as well start tearing down

 

Ummm, I wouldn't be revving a motor that hard with that few miles on a rebuild. If it weren't smoking, I'd guess the valve sseats... In this case, I dunno.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bakeoff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ummm, I wouldn't be revving a motor that hard with that few miles on a rebuild. If it weren't smoking, I'd guess the valve sseats... In this case, I dunno.</TD></TR></TABLE>

common practice is to drive for a while before revving it. the pistons/rings/etc are all OEM so it doesn't take too long for them to seat. also, i had a valve job done before this rebuild. it's all still fresh.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by arc_55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could you pin point where it was leaking when doing the leak down? I like to use a thethoscope, but even sometimes still it is hard to track down. Maybe remove the valve cover?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i just listened. it was coming out of cyl 4's spark plug hole and the exhaust.

 

up

 

???

 

Ok, to be clear can you state the leak percentages.
cylinder 1 45%
234 3-5%
But you are hearing it in cylinder #4?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by arc_55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, to be clear can you state the leak percentages.
cylinder 1 45%
234 3-5%
But you are hearing it in cylinder #4?</TD></TR></TABLE>

when testing 1, i could hear a bit out of the spark plug hole in four, along with the noise in the exhaust. i thought it was weird to hear noise from 4... seeing how the leakdown is only 5%.
are any of the valves open on four when one is at TDC. they should be closed, right?

 

number 4 would be going into its exhaust stroke so depending on your timing the exhaust valve may just be opening.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by arc_55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">number 4 would be going into its exhaust stroke so depending on your timing the exhaust valve may just be opening. </TD></TR></TABLE>

ah. that would explain if cyl one was leaking from IT'S exh. valve!