Story Time:
A while back I sucked up water into my CAI and ended up bending a piston rod in the 3rd cyl. We replaced the part and recently I have noticed something odd with the car.
While I am in idle my car was making an odd "tinking" noise. I left it in idle got out and listened under the hood. At first I thought it may have been the plugs/wires, but all was tight. I removed the oil cap on the valve cover and there was an extreeme amount of exhaust coming out. That was also the root of the noise coming from inside the valve cover. We checked the compression and all 4 cyl. are pushing 150. The car still runs good!
It may be a valve problem, which in that case it would worth it to pitch in a couple more bucks and just put in a new engine with less miles.....RIGHT?

Are you sure it is blowby that is coming out and not just the the pumping of air from all the internals whizzing around?

Lastly, how did you get 150PSI for your compression? That's really low. You could be having blowby in all the cylinders if you truly have 150PSI compression.

I heard that it is ok as long as it is not below 149 so I am pushing the limit.

Wait.....what is that noise...o yes it is the little man on my shoulder telling me to just buy a JDM.

Back to the issue at hand...Yes I am sure it is not just the usual internals pumping, it actually pushes out around as hard as my exhaust does.

I always thought 170-180 was acceptable. :confused: Regardless, 150 in all four cylinders is definitely low.

Originally posted by nismoman20
I heard that it is ok as long as it is not below 149 so I am pushing the limit.

Wait.....what is that noise...o yes it is the little man on my shoulder telling me to just buy a JDM.

Back to the issue at hand...Yes I am sure it is not just the usual internals pumping, it actually pushes out around as hard as my exhaust does.

the compression numbers depend on how many times you crank the motor over while doing the test.

motor work is expensive, get a jdm, keep the old one and if its minor fix it, and you have a spare.

Sounds like the answer your looking for is, GO OUT AND BUY A JDM! ;) i would ayway if i were you..wow sucking up water is no good.

Seriously though, you will just keep maintaing the engine that has been abused over the long run it would be cost effective to purchase a relativly newer engine that is potentially more powerful. You still will have the old engine so if you mess something up you have the parts..or use that one to build up..just ideas.;)

Originally posted by slipper
the compression numbers depend on how many times you crank the motor over while doing the test.

Which is why the FSM says to crank and record the HIGHEST compression reading.

I posted information from the FSM on how to do a compression test and what the pressures should be for a 1991 US Spec SE-R here
http://www.se-r-list.org/new-archives/Week-of-Mon-20020729/008862.html

Minimum is 149psi which is where you're at. JDM time!!

I'm so excited for you, I can't wait until my motor takes a shit so I can put a VE or an Avenir in there! I shouldn't say that, I want it to at least wait until my truck is done.

How safe are CAI's anyway? I was planning to get one from HS or PR. We get some pretty heavy downpours up here sometimes. guess i can always go turbo if the engine breaks....

I think they're pretty safe, I never worried about my homemade one that I had on my XE. Not too far in the future I have plans to produce a bumper plug that you put in when it rains to keep water from going through the hole in the front of the bumper. It would install quickly and easily without tools. I don't know if NX's have a similar hole or not, I'm speaking mainly about B13's, but if I get into it and decide to make them, I could have people mail me just enough of a bumper cover so that I can make them for B14's, B15's and NX's as well. Like, get a damaged bumper cover that is still in good shape where I need it to be, and cut the rest of the bumper away so that only a small portion can be mailed to me. You can always get that AEM bypass valve to use in conjunction with a CAI, then you wouldn't have to worry about water. Most puddles are encountered on the passenger's side anyways, and our cars don't have CAI's on that side like Honda's do. Our cars are built the right way, with the tranny on the drivers side and the engine on the passengers side. Our cars also don't use lawn mower batteries. ;)

unless you are outside the US like say Europe? So maybe Nissan wasnt so smart.

Good idea however. I already came up with one because my hole was hand "Modified"(scissors) to about a 6 inch diameter allowing DOA birds and rabbits to clog my cold air filter.

Originally posted by Probedude


Which is why the FSM says to crank and record the HIGHEST compression reading.

I posted information from the FSM on how to do a compression test and what the pressures should be for a 1991 US Spec SE-R here
http://www.se-r-list.org/new-archives/Week-of-Mon-20020729/008862.html

Minimum is 149psi which is where you're at. JDM time!!

Read the article. How do you "relieve the fuel pressure"? I am sure it is something simple but want to make sure I dio this the right way this weekend.

TIA

Jerrod

With your car cold, pull the plugs, coat them with anti-sieze compound, reinstall. Start the car, get to operating temp. Pull the plugs, the fuel pump relay, crank and record. If your readings are below 180 or there is a deviance of 20%+ between your lowest and highest cylinder, yank your motor and replace with a JDM motor. Be sure that when your cranking the motor (checking compression) that your at WOT.

WOT when testing compression. Ibet you dind't.

CAI are safe if done right, I was plugging along in some deep water (Florida) and I decided to pull over and wait it out not to chance sucking up water, and my luck the road curved down so it just put me in deeper water which caused me to suck up water. I know have a AEM breather and highly recomend one, no matter what.

I think I will go JDM, 10 extra horses, no emissions shit, and around 90,000 miles less on the motor. All for under $500.

Do the compression test the PROPER way first. Then think about getting a JDM motor.

Terrin is a milky licker

I have a PR CAI, and a spare crap filter (a Tenzo or something). Carry the filter and a flathead screwdriver. If it starts to pour buckets, remove the CAI from the MAF and run a short ram. I have a trunked battery, so it is easier for me. I just turn the pipe, wedge it, and install the short ram. Two minutes of work and your done. Beats buying and installing a new motor.

Results

Compression is between 145-150. Should I go JDM or not. Still runs ok!