Just bought an '86 N/A...using oil, smokes pretty bad....need help

[sirgolfalot]

hello all,
I just bought an "86 N/A that runs like a dream. It's getting about 32-35 mpg on hwy and has good power all the way through.....BUT it's smoking like crazy and it's drinking oil. here's what I've found out and tried so far:

--smokes a little while driving at 70mph
--smokes a lot while accelerating
--consumed a quart of oil over 200 miles
--no oil on spart plugs

what I've tried:

I've tried a few different sealers and have put 300 miles on it since to work them in....they've helped some, but still smokes....

I know that the valve seals are prolly bad......that comes with the age of the car and will get better as I drive it....but do you think it's the rings that causing the consumption.....

I'll appreciate any advice given....

thanks,

Don

[yikes]

When you said no oil on the spark plugs I became confused. On the cars that I have had that blew oil smoke, the plugs had some oil deposits on them. What color were the plugs? Do you have any oil leaks? How much smoke?
But to answer your question, yes, seals and rings are normally the culprits.

[MR-Fixer]

I'm psychic. Therefore, I predict you will find a broken piston ring and or piston skirt in the Number One cylinder.

If its the valve stem seals, the smoke tends to come out when you let off the gas. If its rings the smoke increases with RPM's.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking for a Jspec engine imported from Japan. Even though they are used engines, I think they are better than what you would end up with if you rebuilt your engine. Much cheaper way to go too. Take this from someone who has done a Jspec swap, and a couple of rebuilds.

[TheAmazingDave]

Originally Posted by MR-Fixer

I'm psychic. Therefore, I predict you will find a broken piston ring and or piston skirt in the Number One cylinder.

Funny you should say that. I did a compression test yesterday on my 87.
Cylinder 4 - 170 PSI
Cylinder 3 - 165 PSI
Cylinder 2 - 160 PSI
Cylinder 1 - 105 PSI

All sparkplugs except #4 show lean conditions...

[MR-Fixer]

86mister2: my psychic sense tells that you grew up in america, of middle class family, you went to public schools, that your IQ is in the top 10%.

Almost all psychics are just good guessers.

By the way, you have a broken ring or piston skirt (or both) in your #1 cylinder.

[sirgolfalot]

MR Fixer....you were absolutely right...the # cyclinder / piston is done...I'm looking for an engine right now.......I'm still driving the car, it's just smokin.....I hope to pickup an engine soon that won't break me.....thanks for the help guys..

Originally Posted by MR-Fixer

I'm psychic. Therefore, I predict you will find a broken piston ring and or piston skirt in the Number One cylinder.

If its the valve stem seals, the smoke tends to come out when you let off the gas. If its rings the smoke increases with RPM's.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be looking for a Jspec engine imported from Japan. Even though they are used engines, I think they are better than what you would end up with if you rebuilt your engine. Much cheaper way to go too. Take this from someone who has done a Jspec swap, and a couple of rebuilds.

[SilverMR2]

When you pull the motor pull the number one piston and tell me if it looks like this..
These came out of my 85 NA number 2 & 3.

[zanny]

Originally Posted by SilverMR2

When you pull the motor pull the number one piston and tell me if it looks like this..
These came out of my 85 NA number 2 & 3.

Damn, how did you do that?

[SilverMR2]

I don't know how that happened i bought the car used and it "smokes a little" I had to put a starter in it and when it fired up it looked like the 4th of july and the kids were lighting white smoke bombs about 50 of them at once. I am still unsure where the pieces that are missing from the pistons are i have the whole motor apart and still have not found them..

[SilverMR2]

update on mine found that the number 4 piston was missing a section of ring land. I am now more wondering what how and when this all happened. But on a better note i bought a rebuild kit today the car should be up and running this weekend..YES about time had the car three weeks and finaly get to drive it.

[AustinTxMR2]

Originally Posted by SilverMR2

piston was missing a section of ring land. I am now more wondering how and when this all happened.

Several years back my Brother purchased a 86 with a slight miss. We figured the price was right and when we further investigated it, found a broken ring land on #1 piston. Turns out the previous owner locked up the motor from overheating it and drug it around dumping the clutch till it "freed up".

Do you think this could be the case? The way we found this out is when we figured out who his mechanic was and the mechanic told us what the previous owner had done

John

[SilverMR2]

That may have happened to this one but withit being on three out of four pistons there is only one person who knows how this happened and i am not in a big hurry to meet him, Because only god know how this was done

[ZMR2]

Originally Posted by MR-Fixer

86mister2: my psychic sense tells that you grew up in america, of middle class family, you went to public schools, that your IQ is in the top 10%.

Almost all psychics are just good guessers.

By the way, you have a broken ring or piston skirt (or both) in your #1 cylinder.

And of course hes a good guy to work with.

[mr2stealth]

maybe burning oil badly..my 88 sunroof smokes like you describe. it was burning badly.