My EVO 9 smokes everytime I go more than 1/2 throttle. This probably started within the last 6-9 months. I do seem to be burning oil as I need to put a half quart in every month or so. Coolant also seems to need replenishment. Car still pulls hard without a hickup (just a smoke screen ). Last night I decided to check the compression.

Cyl #1 - 122 PSI
Cly #2 - 122 PSI
Cly #3 - 125 PSI
Cly #4 - 128 PSI

I believe it's supposed to be at least 135. So are the rings toast? The car is about to hit 100,000 miles and it's been modified basically it's whole life.

So what do you think? Should I keep driving it until something blows and then do a full lower and top end rebuild with upgrades (thinking of going to a 2.3L stroker) or possibly just dropping in a built motor or should I just take it apart now?

 

I have a evo 7 jdm & would like to know which bottom end kits or parts are good, where to purchase from etc?

 

Compression looks even across the board which is good, however, it seems a bit low. Could be the gauge. If its smoking in boost it could be your turbo. Check shaft play.

 

what color is the smoke is the most important question? Could be rings, but doubtfull based on compression, could be oil seals, could be turbo, likely a head gasket ( if smoke is wht). Provide more info pls.

 

Smoke is grey-ish white - I don't see any blue tint. The exhaust sprays a nice black something - it's all over my driveway where I start the car up and it's all over the back of the car. Any ideas? I did remove my lower IC pipe at the output of the turbo and it's clean - no oil in my IC pipes, so the turbo might just be leaking on the turbine side? I suppose it could be... I did buy it used (FP Green HTA). However, doesn't explain the lower compression...

 

Run your finger through the black stuff and see if it feels oily, and then smell it to see if there's any coolant, too. Probably don't taste it, though.

Everything look ok under the radiator cap? If you've not done a recent oil change, I'd take a look at the oil, too. And (as suggested above) check that the turbo is in good shape.

 

Black doesn't feel oily - rather, it feels sooty - like carbon (running too rich?). No coolant smell. Oil change didn't show any milky substance at all. Coolant cap is clean. All this seems to provide evidence that the head gasket is good. Perhaps I just have some bad valve seats/seals?

 

In no blue tint, and more of a white/grey smoke. Im going to say either headgasket due to the coolant having to be replaced. Headgaskets can fail in many ways, the way I think yours has failing is by a sligh crack or tear causing coolant from the cooling passeges to be pushed into either 1 cylinder or multiple cylinders im not sure it would effect your compression very much if it were a very minor tear or crack. As stated above the compression is even which is a great sign and also yes the guage or technique you used to do test could be fualty(yet consistant)

Some questions I have is how much boost are you running and do you have arp/map headstuds?

Another theory I have and this is going on limb is that your compression is lower from pushing more power thus resulting in extra wear and tear over lets say the average stock 100k mile evo and the tune(assuming you are tuned) you got was for slightly higher compression(when motor was healthy and not tired) and the lower compression is causing your motor to run richer which can create black soot in exhaust. Also if all fuel isnt being ignited burned it can possibly create a more wet/greyish smoke to the exhaust gasses.

 

Tuned for 24.5 pounds and no head studs (just stock).

I've thought about leaning it out some and seeing if that helps, but also need to make sure I don't start knocking. I'm also not ruling out the turbo. I bought it used and perhaps the oil and/or water seals are going bad, which could explain the smoking and use of coolant - however, it wouldn't explain the lower compression...