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I've posted this question before...

P

Plastique_synthetiX

CEG'er
Joined
Apr 2, 2001
Messages
51
Location
Port Hueneme(Oxnard) California ;4.4 miles from Vo
but maybe someone will have some new input for me this time around.....

Below are the details of my current problem.

Symptoms:

-The car runs well and the engine generally feel strong and smooth.
-The car consistently throws a check engine light.
-Excessive oil consumption
-When the throttle is any more than 25% open oil comes spewing out of the valve cover breather. This is especially bad on right hand turns and has caused me to lose control of the vehicle due to the oil getting on my brake disc and tyres.
-The valve cover breather appears to suck at idle and blow under throttle.
-Blue smoke and drops of oil coming from the exhaust.
-The engine stalls regularly on cold starts.
-The first time the engine returns to idle after a WOT run it stalls.

Compression Test Results:

-Cylinder one: 170 psi.
-Cylinder two: 200 psi.
-Cylinder three: 170 psi.
-Cylinder four: 170 psi.

Items Replaced (based upon many people's recommendations):

-PCV valve
-Oil retaining valve
-Valve stem seals
-EGR valve
-EGR solenoid
-Vapor management valve
-Charcoal canister

Items Inspected (based upon many people's recommendations):

-Oil separator cleaned and free of obstruction
-Blown out and made sure that all oil returns and journals are clear of obstructions
-Triple checked entire PCV system. There are no leaks, the PCV valve is ok, as is the PCV valve grommet.



At this point I am pretty stumped. I am wondering if this is being caused by worn piston rings. Do you have any recommendations or ideas before I spend another large sum of money and rip the engine apart yet again?

Any help that any of you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
 
I don't think it's your rings your compression is good all around. A little confused with the 200 psi cylinder though I don't think brand new zetecs even got that high.

It sounds to me like your head gasket might be on its way out.

What are the codes your car is throwing?
 
How much oil and what type do you fill it with? 170 is a little on the low side for a zetec but still within normal constraints.

and of course, what are the codes?
 
Now that I reread this it sounds like it may be something to do with your VCT.
 
Thank you for your replies.

I do not remember the specific codes off the top of my head so I'll have to look them up. I do know that the car throws both the running rich and running lean codes at the same time which is a tad irritating.

The head gasket has been replaced several times.

I've double checked the compression and the numbers came out pretty consistent with the spike on cylinder 2.

I had been using the recommended viscosity of Mobil 1 synthetic, but more recently I switched back to conventional oil due to the quantity that I have to add on a regular basis.

As before, I really do appreciate all of your input!!
 
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