Hiya, I'm hoping you all can help me diagnos a problem. My '91 Loyale SPFI MT has a miss. I know I've got one cylinder that's got a problem, but I'm hoping I can get some help narrowing it down. It runs good and isn't loosing any coolant. Uses and looses about 1 qt of oil in 300 - 500 miles. Smokes now and then, especially when I back off the throttle and then get back on it. Especially noticeable at low RPM and under load. Blue smoke. I think it's either a lot of oil leaking past the rings in that cylinder or valve guides. Am I missing something? Anyone have some advice or better diagnosis.

Thanks in advance, Stretch

Have you replaced things like, cap, rotor, plugs and wires? Which cyl is it?

PCV Valve? I had minor blue smoke that went away when I replace the PCV.

I just started driving this car after it had sat for about 18 months. It had this problem before I quit driving it and I had changed some of the suggested components, but unfortunately, I don't recall which. I know I replaced the plugs and I think the wires (they aren't OEM). I tried soaking the PCV valve in gas for a while to see if that made a difference. Didn't seem to. I think I'll try a new cap, rotor and PCV valve and see what happens. Oh, if I recall correctly it's the #3 cylinder.

Hey KStretch----One oil fouled plug might indicate time for a compression check if plugs and wires check out O.K.. All oil fouled plugs---bad news!

Thanks, yep it's just one that seems to foul. Guess I'd better do a compression check. I think I'll look for some JY heads and plan a swap sometime soon.

Hey KStretch---Don't forget to do a second compression check with oil to rule out a ring problem.

Boxer engines do not respond to a

 

"wet comp. test"

 

oil lays basically on the bottom of the cyl

 

inline and "V" engines - yes

 

horizontally opposed - no

 

This sounds like valve seals

 

but a new OEM - not after market - PVC valve

 

should be tried first

if you're loosing that much oil, make sure the block is good before spending time and $ on heads that might not fix your problem.

Hey Skip---Good to hear from you.

 

The very difficult trick in wet compression testing a boxer engine is to direct a small amount of heavy oil right to the upper surface of the cylinder wall. A few strokes of the piston and gravity will spread it enough to create a seal on ailing rings.