Rep Power: 0

So I have a 98 DX D16Y7 170k miles. So far I have put new HG, new head bolts, new rad, new thermostat and thermostat housing, the timing was done in March with new belt, tensioner, and water pump. The car runs and drives but it has low compression and it FINALLY doesn’t over heat anymore. I drove it about 6 hours to have my brother in law take it to Mexico to get a paint job and the AC fixed and I didn’t have to stop due to the over heating issue I was having previously. My biggest issue at this point is low compression. I did compression test and my psi is as follows.... #1 160, #2 140, #3 130, and #4 170. I have read way too much on what the correct PSI compression should be and I’m at a loss. It’s not smoking so I’m wondering if the rings could be fried without smoke? I’m also getting misfire in all 4 cylinders. When I drive it I hear a sound like a spray paint can rattle when I accelerate and I’m under the impression this is detonation. Can someone PLEASE give me some advice on what this might be?

 
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Also, when I had replaced my HG the first time I had the head resurfaced and reused the original head bolts which apparently I’m not supposed to do and used a cheap head gasket. It had started to over heat again so I put a fel pro HG and bought new head bolts the second time around. It’s not over heating now and I don’t seem to have any bubbles coming out where the rad cap is which is obviously a sign of a bad HG. Again, at this point I’m just trying to figure out my low compression and if it’s my rings even though it’s not smoking. Also, ALL my seals and gaskets have been replaced including front and rear main seals, cam shaft seals, valve cover and oil pain gaskets, spark plus seals, EVERYTHING except the valve stem seals.

 
Rep Power: 367

recheck spark plug torque

 
Rep Power: 222

rattling sound could be that the exhaust manifold is cracked

 
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what Problem would this be causing?

Exhaust manifold is good, already checked that. The rattle sounds internal.

 
Rep Power: 229

Did you keep track of the original valve order?

Did you de-glaze the cylinders?

If not then the valves/rings may need time to break in and deal properly.



Also hopefully you clocked the rings the right way and none of the gaps rotated over the wrist pins.

 
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I didn’t replace piston rings or anything. I’m only wondering if that could be my issue even though it’s not smoking.

 
Rep Power: 367

if you did not torque the spark plugs, it could lose pressure and cause misfires

 
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Seems unlikely to cause misfire in all 4 cylinders. Regardless, it wouldn’t be causing my low compression..... you do a compression test with the spark plugs out of the engine.

 
Rep Power: 367

true that, sorry.

 
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No worries, I honestly was asking what that would have to do with it. I’m open to any and all information I can get at this point.

 
Rep Power: 367

it's common for the oil rings to get stuck with carbon deposits and they will not function proper anymore to hold oil.

 
Rep Power: 229

Did you deck the head? If not then that gap may be losing compression. Especially with cylinders 2 and 3 showing low compression. The middle of the head is usually where it warps.

 
Rep Power: 0

I had the head decked before I did my first HG. I didn’t do it for the second one. It only over heated once after the first HG replacement, don’t think I even drove it 100 miles. Think it would have warped again?

 
Rep Power: 222

It can....