Hello All!

I have a 2003 Protege5 (Automatic) and have a lot of questions.

1. When cold, engine starts right up, but smoke bellows out the exhaust. Removed the spark plugs and found oil pooled on top of the piston. Did a compression check of all cylinders, and found the following from 1 to 4: 75, 60, 70, 160.

2. Once it's warmed up, it WILL NOT idle. The smoke disappears, but if I don't keep the engine revved above 1500, it dies. Idle Air Control Valve has been replaced. EGR Valve has been checked/cleaned. No leaks on the intake manifold. No vacuum leaks.

History that I know of:

Bought the car, and possibly had a blown head gasket. Replaced it. Radiator had a crack. Replaced it. It ran fine for about a month, and now I have the issues above. I'm suspecting bad valves, warped head, bad rings, or cracked block. (have been doing a TON of research)

Can you guys help pinpoint what the causes of the oil/smoke, low compression on 3 cylinders, and why it just will not idle?

 

Sounds like the engine is junk.

 

It is solved?

 

Sorry to hear you went through all that effort and expense. With compression numbers like that, the engine needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

You could do a leak down test to narrow it to rings, valves, gaskets, but I don't think the outcome will change.

 

Have a "new to me" engine on the way. So we'll see. I looked around (not that hard, because I do not have the tools/space) for an engine rebuild kit, and with new pistons/rings/all that stuff, it would have cost more than to just by a used (but good) engine.

So here's hoping!!

 

Definitely post back on progress. A few pics would be nice too.