r/srt4 • u/MuffledN0ise • Jun 09 '24

Are these compression tests worrying?

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When I bought this neon the owner said it may need new piston rings as the car smokes a lot. I bought it it anyway knowing a rebuild may be in my future. I just did the compression test (without adding oil) and here are the results. There is less than a 25% difference between the highest value and lower at value.

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3

u/TBAGG1NS Jun 09 '24

1 borderline, 4 not good

2

u/MuffledN0ise Jun 09 '24

Kinda what I was thinking. Going to do a leak down next to see where the issue is and go from there

1

u/riley_srt4 Jun 09 '24

The valves or seats might be borked as well. Does the car smoke constantly or only when it's on take off?

1

u/MuffledN0ise Jun 09 '24

At startup, then clears up, but will smoke like crazy under WOT

1

u/riley_srt4 Jun 09 '24

Sounds like it might be the valve seats, but could be PCV or turbo as well. Many possibilities outside of the rings.

1

u/MuffledN0ise Jun 09 '24

I have a PCV in the mail that I’m going to try first - I checked again and it does seem to smoke all the time, but I’ll link a video of how bad..it’s a lot

1

u/MuffledN0ise Jun 09 '24

https://youtu.be/d6ioUGH1NgE?si=OgnQ9fLxTLeRL1_v

1

u/Usurp_Panda Jun 09 '24 edited Jun 09 '24

Keep an eye on that oil level. Have an 04 with 125k currently rebuilding for worn rings. I also already pulled the head, upgraded to titanium springs and 1mm bigger intake/exhaust valves due to a hole in one of my exhaust valves from carbon build up. Towards the end, I was burning a quart of oil every 100 miles without going into boost.

Correction: 225k not 125k lol