Take a chance and just replace the head?

[kvonk]

2000 Saturn SW2: Compression test w/ questionably functioning tester: Dry-130-40-40-130 and wet: 130-50-40-140. The car runs okay but with annoyingly low power on hills. The test numbers are suspect.

I did a leak down test with a DYI tester (design from a Youtube vid) and the only discernible air movement detected was when I put pressure into the #2 & 3 cylinders. What happened was air cam out of the #4 cylinder only.

I'm hoping it's just the head but am confused as hell at this point. Mantra: Please only be the valves and not rings etc.

196,000 miles on the car and it goes through a quart of oil every 400 miles or so. Finances preclude a rebuilt engine swap at this juncture.

Any help is most appreciated!

[fetchitfido]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SATURN-1-9-S...0d2eb2&vxp=mtr

A quart every 400 miles isn't the head alone and compression numbers like that I'd doubt would be the head alone. If you can do the work yourself you could get lucky and drill & re-ring the pistons at the same time as your replacing the head.

I got super lucky, a friend told me about a guy with a '97 SC1 for $100. Drove it home, found a DOHC and all kinds of new stuff worth a TON more then $100. Engine appears to burn 1/qt 2000+ miles.
Point: Would be worth checking classifieds for S-Series with busted subframes or for ones that have been used by a truck/SUV as a stopping block.

[aaron95sl2]

Indeed, with those compression numbers and oil burning your rings are shot. Save up a little more money, rebuild the bottom end as well. Or, find a wrecked one with a decent engine in it.

[madpogue]

The only way air pumped into one cylinder can come out another (and not anywhere else) is a head gasket leak. Did you have the dipstick and/or oil fill cap off for the leakdown test?

[kvonk]

The oil fill cap was off but not the dipstick.

Originally Posted by madpogue

The only way air pumped into one cylinder can come out another (and not anywhere else) is a head gasket leak. Did you have the dipstick and/or oil fill cap off for the leakdown test?