Burning oil

[TaLoNBLiNGBLiNG]

I was changing my spark plugs today and I noticed in cylinder #4 (far-right cylinder if looking from the front). The spark plug itself was caked in burnt oil. I knew I was burning oil, but didn't know from where. Piston rings maybe? Anything I could try out to maybe fix it? Obviously, new spark plugs won't fix it, but I needed to change them anyways. I'm going to try Marvel mystery oil and see if that can fix some of it.

[Taboo]

Originally posted by TaLoNBLiNGBLiNG
Piston rings maybe?
Most likely (judging from what you said) - or valve stem seals. Run a compression or leak-down test to find out more.. :)

[TaLoNBLiNGBLiNG]

I bought a compression guage today, so I'll most likey do a compression test sometime tomorrow. I don't have the supplies to do a leak-down test. I had already planned on a rebuild.

Will higher-compression pistons increase horsepower? Also, would I have to bore the cylinder holes in the block to get them to fit? Otherwise I'll be going with new stock pistons.

[Blackboost]

Will higher-compression pistons increase horsepower?

Yes, just be sure to have some fuel mods to keep detonation away.

Also, would I have to bore the cylinder holes in the block to get them to fit?

That depends on the specs of the pistons that you want to get...

[indy1979]

Originally posted by Blackboost

That depends on the specs of the pistons that you want to get...

The best thing to do is get a dial bore indicator and see if the cylinder is tapered at all. if it is, bore it. a tapered cylinder can also cause oil burning. that and it takes a while for new rings to seat on an old cylinder wall unless you can find a builders ring somewhere.

Sam

[Taboo]

Originally posted by TaLoNBLiNGBLiNG
Will higher-compression pistons increase horsepower? Also, would I have to bore the cylinder holes in the block to get them to fit? Otherwise I'll be going with new stock pistons.
You'd need to use custom-made pistons (after making sure there's an adequate piston-to-valve clearance available) or weld and reshape the combustion chambers of the head to increase the static compression ratio of the engine. Since you already run 9:1 compression ratio, you'd need to find the detonation threshold of the engine - which might not be much higher than 9.5:1 due to the less efficient 1.8L head design.
Here's something that's (I think) never been done:
Punch the cylinders out to 3.35" (from the original 3.17") and use 2.0L N/A pistons. The small ends of the stock 1.8L rods would need to be machined to 21mm (from 19mm) to accept the 2.0L pistons and you'd need to check and compare the pin location of the pistons (since 1.8L rods are some 3.6mm longer, but - on the other hand, 2.0L has a bit longer stroke). Just an idea to toy with.. :D

[TaLoNBLiNGBLiNG]

Originally posted by Taboo

You'd need to use custom-made pistons (after making sure there's an adequate piston-to-valve clearance available) or weld and reshape the combustion chambers of the head to increase the static compression ratio of the engine. Since you already run 9:1 compression ratio, you'd need to find the detonation threshold of the engine - which might not be much higher than 9.5:1 due to the less efficient 1.8L head design.
Here's something that's (I think) never been done:
Punch the cylinders out to 3.35" (from the original 3.17") and use 2.0L N/A pistons. The small ends of the stock 1.8L rods would need to be machined to 21mm (from 19mm) to accept the 2.0L pistons and you'd need to check and compare the pin location of the pistons (since 1.8L rods are some 3.6mm longer, but - on the other hand, 2.0L has a bit longer stroke). Just an idea to toy with.. :D
Wooo! Sounds like a lot of work lol. I'm gonna see about trying to find a 4g63 for a swap because of insurance reasons. But, if I can't find one soon, I think I'll just replace the rings and seals. I'm running ok right now as it is but I can tell the engine struggles ,when i let off the gas, to keep it burning in there with only 3 cylinders to fire in. I'm sure the 4th is firing, just not as efficiently as it should be.