I just picked up another zuki. This one is a 95 Sidekick 4 door. It has over 200,000 miles on it. The problem is that it sputters, there is oil all over the whole engine, and there is oil in the water. I checked the compression and they were all right at 90 PSI, but I could not get to the third cylinder because of the intake. What do I do?

90 psi is a tad low - it's amazing that it would even try to run at that compression.

I would yank the engine and rebuild it - or at least remove the head and see what's the deal with the headgasket.  Water and oil usually add up to a bad head gasket.

Rebuilding is something to consider - especially if you got that 'Kick for near nothing and everything else (body, interior) is in good shape.

I bought a '93 with a bad crank bolt for $500, put 1700 into an engine rebuild, removed and installed the engine myself and drove it for three years with no problems!  It's better than a car payment - especially if you can do a lot of the tedious simple work yourself!

thanks for the info. I paid $700 for it and the paint is in good condition with two minor dings. It also has nice wheels too. It runs good when it is not sputtering. What should the compression be?

also I was talking to guy and he said the oil is all over because of the head gasket. could that be fact?

would exsplain low compression and the water in the oil . as to oil all over the engine .
 that could be a bad valave cover gasket , Dist  seal , front maine or cam seal , sear main seal .
 could also be a bad PCV valve  ring. thus it letting valve oil blow out

There is also oil sitting on the top of the plugs

Sounds like you need to clean that engine thouroughly to at least determine why it's blowing so much oil out of it. Compression on a healthy 16v of that vintage should be in the neighborhood of 180 to 190 per cylinder +- 1% variation between holes. yours sounds like it may be ready for an overhaul.

what is the best degreaser to use? I have a lot of things to clean, but I never know what to clean with.

Try and use something bio degradable, not harmful to the enviornment. whatever you use it's going to leave a hellofa mess under your truck. 

I hear you there

what is the best degreaser to use? I have a lot of things to clean, but I never know what to clean with.

Simple Green, full stength. BAD ASS stuff

Quote from: jawman on October 11, 2009, 07:32:02 PM

what is the best degreaser to use? I have a lot of things to clean, but I never know what to clean with.

Simple Green, full stength. BAD ASS stuff

+1...

I have used it before, but it expensive in the small bottle. where is a place to get it that is cheap? maybe in bulk or something?

I have used it before, but it expensive in the small bottle. where is a place to get it that is cheap? maybe in bulk or something?

wal-mart gallon ,,,like $15

sweet now I just need the soap bottle for my pressure washer