On my 03 Stratus I was getting a Misfire on CYL 4. The compression is about half of what the other cylinders are. After I did a "wet test" the pressure shot up...

It seems to run fine around town but the power is less than it use to be. And the check engine light is always on. It's been using about a quart of oil a week. It runs a little ruff in the driveway when you first start it.

Is this engine worth fixing? Is there a way I can keep it limping along for another year?

Thanks

 

have a leak down test done to confirm the worthiness of the engine.

 

What about Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer? Is that any good?

 

Need some number values from the compression test. Sure the 2.4 is worth fixing, assuming the car isn't a pos and engine work will out value the car.

 

Cylinders 1, 2 & 3 were all at 150 psi #4 was about 70.

I had run the car earlier that day but... when I checked it... the engine was warm but not at full operating temperature.

With a tablespoon of oil in #4, the pressure went up close to 150.

 

Ok good. Well, it is sounding like you have a ring stuck in a ring groove...maybe even piston skirt damage to go along with it. It's inevitable that you're going to have to pull the head and get a look at the cylinder wall on 4 to start. If it is messed up, you won't need to go any farther. If it looks good, you may just need a piston/rod assembly. We typically don't see internal 2.4 issues except for the occasional burned valve. The only time I can remember seeing piston or cylinder damage (other than extremely high mileage) is from oil starvation. That's something you'll need to determine. How does the oil look/smell?

I got tired of pulling heads a few years ago just to see things like that, so I got a borescope to peek in places. If you could find someone with one, it may save you some agnst.

 

Thanks for the reply!

Oil starvation... that's my concern! I check the oil level every week and change the oil every 3,000 miles, but I don't know what the previous owner did. We've had the car for about a year and a half.

Borescope is a good idea!