Leak down problem/question.

[MR240FACE]

Okay so, at the moment, I have a KA24DE stripped down to just the long block, with just the lower timing cover (no upper timing cover or valve cover) and crank pulley attached to rotate the engine.

I performed a leakdown test, and it is giving me 90% leakage on EVERY cylinder.

And air is coming out of the #1 intake valves at TDC, I've tested every cylinder seperately, and #2 #3, and #4 all have air coming out of the intake valves when the valves are closed and the cam lobes are obviously not pushing down on them at all.

I am not very familiar with leak down testing, but from what I have gathered there should be ~10% leakage in each cylinder. but there is air flow coming out of the valves while they are closed.

Oh also there's no oil pan or oil pump attached at the moment. And it is on an engine stand.

Can anyone please give me a clue as to what is going on or what dumbass thing it is I am doing wrong? Thanks and I greatly appreciate any help in advance.

[rcdad123]

you might have some heavy carbon deposits on the valves. why did you take the engine out?

[MR240FACE]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention It's actually a replacement engine. I fried my last KA cause my temperature gauge didn't work and at the same time my stock ABS plastic radiator post broke off causing all my coolant to leak out. but I wasn't aware of the overheating. thus a complete melt down. I was chasing my friends 06 WRX over like 9 miles of canyon. So yeah I needed a new motor. I actually made a thread about it some time ago. But the block and rings and head are fried, so here we are.

This motor, to my knowledge, has been sitting for some time. 2 years at least. if there are deposits on the intake valves, what could I use to renew the seal/clean the deposits?

Thanks a lot!

[MR240FACE]

Oh and it sat for 3 years too so it was bone dry at the time. does anyone have any input on this at all? things I could do to revive an engine that has been sitting for years outside?

And also, I did another leak down test this morning but i put a bit of oil in the cylinders and turned the crank a few times, and the leak down results were around 60%. however, when I got that result, air was coming out the bottom. like going out through the cylinder.

[CurleyMerkin14]

your rings could be worn to badly if you have a feeler gauge put the ring in the bore and put the feeler gauge in the split idk the exact specs but id shoot for .001-.003 ... also make sher the gaps on the rings are staggered and lined up with the skirts on iether side... should stop any blow by.. for the intake leak, could be your cam lobes are worn down. is there alot of play in the heads where the valves go it? my best guess would be since the motor has been sitting the springs have been sitting it 1postion with will make them weak and that is most likely your problem id get new springs or at least test those ones .

[MR240FACE]

Well with oil in my cylinders and few revolutions and PB blasting the valves and turning the engine over and waiting 24hrs I'm just getting air down below through the cylinders and the leaks in the intake and exhaust valves have come to almost a complete stop so that's good. I think the seals were just dry from it sitting for years. and the leakage is down to 40% in #1 with oil in the cylinder, but I do believe my rings are worn.

I think I'm looking at a full rebuild... you're a little ahead of me as far as what I'm doing though. my head is attached to the block so I can't check the gap in my piston rings.

But air coming down through the cylinders during leak down test definitely = bad piston rings right?

Oh and can I pull my crank and drop my pistons, replace the rings, and put them back in from the bottom? Is that a wise thing to do if my valve leaks end up stopping after a couple days of soaking up PB blaster? cause they get better and better every day. And I'd like to avoid removing and buying new head studs and gasket. But I'd rather do it right.

Otherwise, I guess any guidance or advice on what I should do here is greatly appreciated cause I've never gone past a head gasket job, So this would be my first full tear down and build up of the short block/ head.

Sorry for the novel lol.

[CurleyMerkin14]

Well with oil in my cylinders and few revolutions and PB blasting the valves and turning the engine over and waiting 24hrs I'm just getting air down below through the cylinders and the leaks in the intake and exhaust valves have come to almost a complete stop so that's good. I think the seals were just dry from it sitting for years. and the leakage is down to 40% in #1 with oil in the cylinder, but I do believe my rings are worn.

I think I'm looking at a full rebuild... you're a little ahead of me as far as what I'm doing though. my head is attached to the block so I can't check the gap in my piston rings.

But air coming down through the cylinders during leak down test definitely = bad piston rings right?

Oh and can I pull my crank and drop my pistons, replace the rings, and put them back in from the bottom? Is that a wise thing to do if my valve leaks end up stopping after a couple days of soaking up PB blaster? cause they get better and better every day. And I'd like to avoid removing and buying new head studs and gasket. But I'd rather do it right.

Otherwise, I guess any guidance or advice on what I should do here is greatly appreciated cause I've never gone past a head gasket job, So this would be my first full tear down and build up of the short block/ head.

Sorry for the novel lol.

if it is coming out the bottom of the bore or if the oil pan is on and air is coming out of the dip stick hole its your rings ... as for replacing them from the bottom it maybe possible never tried it but i always do it from top it would just be pretty hard but possible .. i still think its your springs that are making your valves leak i hope im helping alil

[MR240FACE]

Yea man I appreciate it. Just wanna know if there are any other solutions before I tear down the block and start spending a lot more money. But it's lookin more like I'm gonna have to. Thanks for the help!