So I've been noticing for a few months if I fill my oil line up to between the top and middle notches, a few days later the oil level would end up at the bottom notch. Too cold to check things, but did notice oil on the passenger side wheel well area. When I would be at idle, I can walk to the exhaust, put my hand in front and oil "specks" will land on my hand. Today I go to do a compression test, noticed a real thin line of oil on the spark plugs. Took out the flashlight and a pool of oil was sitting on top of my pistons. Went ahead and did compression test of 155,155,157,155 so compression is great. Could this be a sign of a blown head gasket? Any other things to look for? I never overheated, no oil in the coolant and no coolant in the oil. At WOT the exhaust bellows out blue/black smoke. What concerned me was the oil pool on the piston tops.
2.3L, test pipe, black, 1100's, S2's, the usual. Head was stock (OEM head gasket), just cleaned with added springs and retainers.

 

Check your coolant for oil if you suspect a blown head gasket. Otherwise sounds like bad piston rings to me.

 

no oil in coolant. I'm guessing piston rings would cost the same as head gasket replacement.
Crap would that mean the shortblock has to be dropped???

 

Probably unless you know of another way of getting the pistons out. Try a leak down. That should help pin point it more towards the rings.

 

ok thanks

 

It sounds to me that your valve seals are whacked. Depending on the valve spring you went with you can need special valve seals - seals that are smaller in diameter. If you decide to pull the valve cover look for seals that have come off.

 

Sounds like valve seals and another leak if you are noticing it around the passenger side wheel.

 

Definitely NOT the rings. Wouldn't puddle up..
Valve seals or guides is my guess

 

Valve stem seals are shot!

 

Thanks for the suggestions. After talking to my builder, we're pointing more towards the guides since the seals were replaced when I had the head refreshed last year. Going to be a pricey fix so looks like it'll be a month or so before it gets fixed. Thanks again, feels good knowing what's wrong.

 

Maybe tell us what springs you went with. If the head was refreshed a year ago the guides should still be good. Personally, I'd want a peak under the valve cover before the shop gets their hands on it.

 

Just checked invoice and looks like I went with Supertech springs and retainers. I'll pop the valve cover off this weekend and take a few pics to get some insight on this.

 

What kind of valve stem seals did you use? OEM or the Supertech Viton ones?

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...s-leaking.html

Related.

 

Interesting, thanks for the link. The invoice just says overhaul gasket kit, but will get in touch with the machine shop and find this out. Still looks like I'll be shelling out around a grand regardless.

 

Ok took the valve cover off and apparently I can't find the "valve steam seals". What I did notice is my valve cover spark plug gaskets were trashed. One had a hole right where the plug sat and attached. I wouldn't imagine that causing so much oil loss and smoke though, but will be ordering new ones tomorrow. Another odd thing, I took out the plugs and no oil build-up on top of the pistons, but assuming it drained out since I haven't driven it since Thursday night.
Does anything look out of whack from these pics? I'll keep trying to hunt them but appreciate it.