Is there a way to tell whether it's the valve guides or rings? My spark plugs are soaked in oil (the topside, not the actual firing side of the plugs) in every cylinder except for #2. I just replaced valve cover gasket and the little donut lookin gaskets where the plug wires go into the valve cover. Any suggestions?

 

For some reason, I don't think it's rings. I recently had the head off and saw the tops of the pistons, each of them had normal carbon build up, but I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like even if they were worn.

 

do a compression check. there is a procedure for deetermining bad rings or bad valves. will have to look it up (if you want to know)

 

Would love to know! -- Thanks austin!

 

do a regular compression check, then do it again, but this time put some oil in the cylinder, if it gets higher alot then its prolly bad rings, thats cause the oil will help seal the bad rings

 

Okay, this is going to sound newbie, probably. How do I do a compression check, and what tools/gizmos might I need to get 'er done? I'm a backyard mechanic, hehe, we don't use gizmos round here! [:'(]

Oh yea, could someone also give me an approximate price of the gizmo in question?

 

Compression tester is like $45 from advance auto parts

 

Okay, once I get it, how would I go about using it?

 

to use, remove spark plugs, block open throttle, disable ignition and fuel. screw in the tester to first piston, then crank it over for about 5 compression strokes, have a helper watch the gauge.

 

Does it smoke when you accelerate or decelerate?