Cefaln452

iTrader: (5)

i did a compression, and the outer 2 were lower than the inners

RednBlack

so you're saying to run the car with the oil cap off and look for smoke? is that at normal operating temps?

Cefaln452

iTrader: (5)

whenever... its like smoke/mist... kinda white/clear. only places it will come out of is what i stated before

rnjmur

I don't know about all the cobalt models, but I do know that the LSJ does not have a PCV valve. The PCV is handled by the hose connected on the back of the valve cover that goes to the intake and is not controlled by a valve.

I would do a compression and leak down test yourself, or take it somewhere else and have it done. 200 across all cylinders actually sounds a little high. I would normally expect to see 160 -10/+20 on a compression test on the LSJ unless you have aftermarket or higher compression pistons.

As far as seeing a little steam coming out of the oil cap, this is normal when the car is running at operating temperature. Small amounts of moisture and fuel will get into the oil and will be burned off when the car runs. If there is ALOT of steam coming out then there is more than likely a leak somewhere.

More_Torque_More_HP

The LSJ PCV system consists of a fixed orafice in the cylinder head intake face and a check valve in the intake manifold to make sure only vacuum is provided to the crank case. The problem is that at Hight throttle positions on boosted engines there is very little vacuum available for the crank case. It is important to maintain the connection to the air intake because that is the only negative pressure during high boost condition.

Now under hight boost condition there us blow-by the rings and through the ring gaps. If you do not have enough "flow area" hoses and connections pressure will build up and blow the dip stick out.

ff_drift_lol

yeah the smoke should be pretty abundant if it's a problem. any car will have a slight mist coming out but I mean smoooke

Cefaln452

iTrader: (5)

yeah when i say smoke/ mist, i mean pumping out of it like a choo choo train... my #1 was like 130, #2 170 #3 170 #4 130

jred89

im havin the same issue i just had a new head gasket put on the car and even put a new oil dipstick tube on the car cuz my other one broke but the dipstick still pops out about an inch?

Tjolley

You have a cracked piston I bet

thewolfpack5268

I had the same issue, the car wasnt smoking or burning oil that I could tell, and the car ran fine except at WOT the dipstick would pop out, what was it?

destroyed piston



look closely at the side of the piston laying on its side... its missing about 1/4

SlowSaturn

Hey guys, I'm having the same issue.
Have an 06 Redline with 60#, 2.8' pulley, tuned at 15 psi with meth injection.
When I first had the dipstick issue, I had the IM gasket replaced with the Phenolic spacer. Used the two paper gaskets that it comes with. It fixed my pop out issue for like three days, then the dipstick popped out again. PCV line from valve cover to intake is clear. I am going to do a Cylinder leakdown Test, but I was just wondering if there is anything it could be besides rings. Really don't want to tear the motor apart.

mrbelvedere

iTrader: (3)

broken piston

SlowSaturn

And you don't think it could be anything else? Only happens at WOT

SlowSaturn

I'd like to start this with my mod List:
2.8' Pulley
60# Injectors
Aem fuel pump
Snow performance meth kit with a tune
LS4 Throttle body
Phenolic intake spacer
I know I'm forgetting things, but those are the big ones. Now onto my issue.
Well, I did a leakdown test and sure enough cylinder #4 is my culprit.
On the bright side, the piston is most likely in tact because adding oil to the cylinder bumped up the compression. So it's narrowed down to rings. I'm not convinced they are worn though. This is only because when I bought the car 3 weeks ago it was running immaculate. And still runs amazing all the way up to 15lbs of boost at WOT. It also really hasn't idled any different and doesn't sound like a misfire, it doesn't burn any oil either. Again, I replaced my intake manifold gasket(s) and added the phenolic and the car didn't pop the dipstick at WOT.... Until two days later
My mechanic told me there is a possibility the ring may be sticking on a small score in the cylinder wall, so we replaced the oil filter and slapped in some of that "restore" oil additive in hopes it can lubricate and fill the scores in the cylinder wall. We didn't change the oil because I've had the dipstick pop 3 times, so the car did the oil change for me, lol. I have to wait 300-600 miles (never going WOT). After that I have to do a compression test to see if the restore helped. If that doesn't help, I am putting some seafoam in the spark plug holes and letting it soak for two hours then extracting it. I'm attempting all these methods to make sure the rings aren't stuck this way I don't pay for a motor I may not even need. If all of these methods fail, I've ordered ZZP's oil cap breather, this way (hopefully) I won't have to worry about my dipstick popping until I can comfortably afford to replace the motor, or have it rebuilt.
Well, now that you've read my novel I just want to know if there are any other methods I'm missing that will either unstick those rings or band-aid my problem until I can fix it.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate whatever input you have.

07blackg5

iTrader: (8)

when you had the intake manifold out, did you verify the pcv valve was functioning properly?

SlowSaturn

It seemed to be in tact? How exactly would you verify it?

07blackg5

iTrader: (8)

you can blow into it and suck out of it (no homo). it should let air in from the flange to the manifold, but not the other way around.

if the valve is bad or stuck, when the car is under boost, the crankcase will pressurize more than the fresh air inlet can vent and can/will blow the dipstick out. Or blow out gaskets/cause leaks, etc.

You should hope this is your issue, and not something more serious.

07blackg5

iTrader: (8)

It's something simple worth checking before you tear into the motor

SlowSaturn

I Blew into the line off the back of the valve cover and it was clear, but I'm assuming you're talking about the actual orfice on the manifold?

07blackg5

iTrader: (8)

the line on the valve cover is a fresh air inlet. no valve.

The valve in the manifold allows air to be drawn in from the crankcase under vacuum, and the fresh air is pulled in from the valve cover. In other words; air is drawn in from the valve cover, pass through the crankcase and into the manifold, and then pass through the combustion process and out the exhaust. The port on the valve cover is also where positive blowby/crankcase pressure is vented off.

The one way valve in the manifold is there to allow this to happen under vacuum, but prevent the boost pressure to be introduced to the crankcase

SlowSaturn

And that can cause blow by in the cylinder?

07blackg5

iTrader: (8)

i missed the part where you said adding oil bumped compression.

SlowSaturn

Yeah, I was gonna say, that's a tell tale sign for rings.

mrbelvedere

iTrader: (3)

a piston ring will not stick from a score in the bore. a piston ring will be stuck from a a scored up piston which you cant
by wishfull thinking you will need to replace the piston and ringset. a cracked/broken ringland which you cant fix either
unless you replace the piston and ringset in that cylinder. carbon will cause a ring to stick and the chances of you
fixig it is very slim the ringset could just be worn out on the cylinder

just pul the head and oil pan and remove the problem and fix it

tomj77

iTrader: (2)

When I had a talon my dipstick launched like 20 feet when I hit boost, bought new dipstick and problem solved, plus there was a clogged crank vent filter that was causing pressure in crank case. Dipstick has rubber seal , if it's worn out it will fly out when u hit boost