bent valves?

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

What's the easiest way to find out for sure if and which valves are bent? Symptoms? I'd assume compression test is the place to start. I'm not hearing any ticking from the engine.

My car won't rev past 2k, backfires, blows alot of grey smoke, and it's idling funky. The timing belt is on PERFECTLY correct. I've double checked, re-done it for good measures and it is still 100% correct.

91 talon TSI AWD turbo.

[Halon]

I'd do a compression test. If it's low, then do a leakdown test and listen for where the leaking is. If the leaking sound is coming from the intake or exhaust, well then you know valves are leaking. Or you can take the head off and give it someone like Red Rooster and they can test it for you.

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

Anyone know any typical problems with slightly bent valves? The car does run and it blows alot of smoke. Since the smoke is grey, I am a bit confused. Between the lack of reving and the massive smoke - I'm leaning towards some bent valves. I will do a compression test when I get home from work. Any other advice / information?

[Halon]

my car ran like absolute shit, wouldn't even idle for more then like 3 seconds, I had 9 bent valves.

[sleepydsm]

Are you absolutely sure that backing plate you use to line up the crank's timing mark isn't on backwards? I had mine on backwards, and it had the same symptons. We couldnt even get the mark on the crank pulley to come even close the the timing marks when trying to set the timing. Did you check the timing yet?

I had nine bent valves, and my car ran fine. It was just slow.

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

Compression test eh. The motor should have over 150 but it sure doesn't.

145-130-130-145. The 2 middle holes seem like they are flooded with fuel non stop and the two outer holes are MASSIVELY packed with carbon. These were all new ngk bpres6's as of yesterday.

Does this seem head related or timing related at this point? The compression is pretty weak but the service line is like 120 so I wouldn't think these numbers would create many problems

[Halon]

Those numbers, although not ideal, aren't all that bad. When I had bent valves, I had 0 compression in a couple cylinders. The massive smoking could be a few things. Could be bad valve stem seals. My car had that as well when I first bought it, got those replaced and the smoke was gone. Could be turbo related. Everytime I've ever dealt with bent valves, it always involved extremely low compression numbers, which you don't have, so I tend to think that's not it.

[Goat Blower]

It's timing related. It's not your valves.

[Pimpin Dsmstyle]

It's timing related. It's not your valves.
I think the smoke has everything to do with the head. I have no idea why it quit running and won't start but I do think the smoke is head related. The 14b never blew smoke before.

I think it could be possible that if the timing is way off, it could cause excessive smoking? But I'm not sure how that would work. 1 and 4 are at TDC and all of the timing marks are perfectly lined up. The base timing ( i think that's what it's called) is still not set because I haven't snagged up a timing light. I still don't think it should smoke like that.

[niterydr]

Sounds like timing is off...the smoking could be the valve seals on the head, or the piston rings.
Bent valves=0 compression.