new rebuild and now no start with low compression all cyl

[stonny9]

My dad just got a 89 Festiva auto with the fuel injected motor. 150,000 miles. Prev owner drove it for 200 miles after rebuild and it developed low compression. I tested them from passenger to drivers side 30, 30(plug electrode squished), 30, and 95.

What could be the problem? Was gonna check to the timing today.

[Festy46]

It's probably a leaking head gasket from a head that wasn't properly torqued or the head may be warped. The "plug electrode squished" is probably from using a too long reach and too hot of a plug.

[stonny9]

Just took off valve cover. Intake pipe had a 2-5 table spoons of oil that dumped out. Engine is filthy with a lot of oil grime. Could pass as never been cleaned let alone rebuilt 200 driven miles ago. Also my compression tester got stuck on one cylinder. Probably have to remove head to get at it from underneath. Coolant level is fine.

Yeah with all such low compression I cant see it being valves, rings, or timing.

This was just gonna be get a couple parts off of it and scrap the rest but kinda talked my dad/buyer out of it.

[william]

My nephew just picked one up with similar compression and
It had 3 broken exhaust valves.
Like big chunks out of them. The 3 bad valve cylinders had 30 one good cylinder had 85

[stonny9]

My nephew just picked one up with similar compression and
It had 3 broken exhaust valves.
Like big chunks out of them. The 3 bad valve cylinders had 30 one good cylinder had 85

Ok gonna pull the head now.

[crazyrog17]

My first guess would be timing though.

[stonny9]

Tried to set timing as we removed head. Couldnt get the marks to line up. Was maybe 4 teeth off. Pulled head and cylinder with bent plug was clean along with some small scarring to head and piston. Heavy carbon buildup on valves. Also looks like some coolant passages are blocked by the head gasket maybe some type of sealant. Will post pics another day. Work is over for today.

Edit. I may have been reading it wrong.

[stonny9]

Hope these pics work. I am thinking the head gasket was leaking and a sealer was put into the coolant but now it has failed completely along with the carbon buildup on the valves. Looks like some of the coolant passages are blocked and if so it could have caused hot spots in that area.

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[Advancedynamix]

Lightweight pistons. Either caused by detonation or to tight of a ring end gap on the top ring. Either way, you've found the problem.

[stonny9]

Lightweight pistons. Either caused by detonation or to tight of a ring end gap on the top ring. Either way, you've found the problem.

What do u mean? Is every piston broken? Is the top ring not supposed to be exposed at the valve relief?

Edit: looked at some pistons on ebay I had figured that was normal for that car as they were all the same. Probably gonna sell the car as is. Dont need it and dont want to fix and flip it in its current condition. would hate to get upside down on parts.

[bhazard]

Looks like someone got ripped off to me...

[fastivaca]

Every piston is broken. Top ring is NOT supposed to be exposed.

[stonny9]

Looks like someone got ripped off to me...

Not at all got it really cheap and already have an 88 carbed. Initial plan was to just take a few parts and scrap the rest. Tires are new along with several other parts.

[Advancedynamix]

Or, swap in a better engine and have a fun little car. B6D with a five speed would make for a much better driver than that auto.

[Chobobulous]

That is a substantial chunk of metal. Where did it go?