how do you know??? is there anyway i can test it at home to see if my piston rings are worn or not seated. i just had my motor rebuilt about 6K ago. im blowing alot of white smoke especially when i start my car up in teh morning. i know a compression check wont tell me wht type of shape my pistons are in would it???

 

If you pressurize a cylinder at TDC and air is blowing out the dipstick then you have piston ring issues.

 

Isn't white smoke supposed to be coolant? Maybe it's the headgasket

 

i have the same problem. not sure whether its piston rings or not!!

Rocket: how would one pressurise a cylinder easily? i have the head off my b16a at the moment..

 

Yes, probably the headgasket.

 

Doing a dry and then wet compression check can give you something to go by in regards to your rings. White smoke (condensation) is normal on cold startup.

 

Pour some WD-40 into the cylinder and see how long it takes to drain if any.

 

it would. if it were your piston rings you wouldn't be blowing white smoke though.

 

how much WD40 and what is a wet compression check

 

I would turn the crank until all pistons are level and put the same amount of WD-40 in all cylinders and then compare which has the lowest level of WD-40.

Wet compression check means to squirt some oil down the cylinder before doing the compression check. If wet and dry compression are noticeably different then the rings needed the oil to help it seal better.

 

have a leak down test done that will tell you whats the matter.

keith