I had some issues this weekend with smoke and oil in the engine bay, finally got to look at it tonight and I'm pretty sure my engine is done. Did a compression test and this is what I got:
Cylinder 1: 70 psi
Cylinder 2: 150
Cylinder 3: 145
Cylinder 4: 135

When I pulled the plug in cylinder 4 it was completely covered with oil as well, pictures of my plugs attached in order (or not because of iPad, will upload spark plug from #4 right now)

This is where I need some advice to get me back to tight butthole. The car is a project car I bought for autocross, I enjoy driving it to work when it's nice and on the weekends. The goal with it this year was to drive to autox events within a 150 mile radius of my home. My plan was for a 200-225whp car that was reliable and fun to drive. So my question is where should I go from here? I've purchased good parts when it matters and used parts when they will do. Budget would probably be around $1500 and I am comfortable doing all work myself (besides what needs to be done by a machine shop). So I look for your opinions and advice

 

#1 plug

 

#2

 

#3

 

#4 again

 

Probably broke/melted a ringland

Pull the head off

 

Oil on plug 4 is from a leaky vcg, the issue is #1.

Do the teaspoon of oil test and you'll get a better idea of whether it's rings or valves.

GO! And report back yer findings!

 

ST 8.5:1 pistons, Eagle rods, valve job, try again.

 

Agree with flounder, do a wet compression test first. Does not sound like a healthy engine though!

 

lolol what's the point in any more tests? I mean its clear as day that motor is done.

don't waste time and start rebuilding

 

If you want to trust it to get you home 150 miles after beating the **** out of it during the day, and you have $1500 budgeted for your engine, then there shouldn't be much of a question. Just look through the build threads of the guys who built their motors and run them at the track. That will tell you what you need and what you don't.

 

So thinking about this more, rebuild my 1.6 or buy a used 1.8 and put that in instead?

 

1.6 vs 1.8?


WELL THERE'S A TOUGH CHOICE

 

Well if i go with the 1.8 I would have to wait longer to turbo, would be running just n/a for awhile, or rebuild 1.6 and run turbo and have a fresh motor

 

worth the wait.

 

Nothing you say will ever make the 1.Fail be a better option to the 1.8

 

That was my orignal thought, replace it now with a 1.8, just the fact of having a refreshed 1.6 over a used high milage 1.8 seems like a better option reliablity wise

 

Save your Obamabucks and do it right.

 

I'm pretty sure Obama just takes my money since I have a decent job

Does doing it right mean rebuild 1.8?

 

Yes. Any less displacement is doing it wrong