Technical Oil tide mark in Header Tank, and Oil Useage

[Sneachta]

Good Evening,

I have a 899cc 1999 Seicento, and have owned it for nearly four years, mileage was 35k on the car when bought, and 65k now.

Last year I had the head gasket replaced, as I could hear was gurgling when I stopped the car after a long run, and water was being used, but the car never overheated. A compression test was done at the time on the header tank, and it was fine.

All was well, until recently the engine started to use oil, it is being lost from the breather pipe with extra pressure and an oil tidemark has appeared in the header tank, also there seems to be a bit of a pong off the exhaust, but no made amount of smoke though.

From other posts it appears it may be the rings or could it be the head gasket, I didnt have the head skimmed last year if that makes a difference.

How would I tell if it was the rings?

 

[fingers99]

Compression test, dry and wet.

Dry test will reveal bad h/g or valve seals, wet test (about 5mm of oil down the plug hole immediately before each test) bad rings/bores -- if the pressure goes up noticeable over the dry test, then bores/rings are out.

 

[Sneachta]

Okay, thanks for that.