cylinder 3 misfire

[2000 integra]

I have a cylinder 3 misfire and was told I need a new engine since there is oil in my engine. My car seems to be running strong still, although it idles a little rough(not much), but when I'm driving it seems fine. I had a compression test done and the results were:
cylinder 1 - 200
cylinder 2 - 190
cylinder 3 - 30
cylinder 4 - 195
I recently changed my plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and put injector cleaner in my tank. It passed smog fine and then a few days later the check engine light came on and it threw a code for cylinder 3 misfire. Seems to run smooth for the most part, and there's not too much oil on my plug in cylinder 3 so I'm hoping I don't need a new engine...
Any advice? Thank you.

[reddc2_geezer]

your vtec should hit super hard...mine did when i had a misfire...sounds like a burnt valve..not sure can be your injector as well...

[rocketsauce]

So you have oil in the cylinder? So where are the possible places it could be coming from?

Down from above:

Valve seal/guide problem
Head Gasket? Doesn't seem like an issue with oil here, it should be coolant

Up from below:

Broken piston ring(s)

If there isn't oil in the cylinder then check the spark plug and injector, but the low compression indicates a sealing issue though. A valve issue could cause that. Valve guides have been known to go bad and once the stem/guide clearance is out of spec it will only get worse, quickly. This will lead to the valve not seating correctly, which could certainly damage the valve, ruin the seal (and compression), and let oil into the cylinder.

I'm just trying to offer some ideas here; hope that helps. Good luck!

[2000 integra]

I appreciate any advice, as I don't know much about cars and am learning as I go...I will check the valves...I think he checked the injectors but I will check those too. Thank you! Oh, and it's a non vtec engine.

[andrew1320]

I had cylinder 3 misfire on my car too when I bought it. Found out it was a bent valve.

[DPancoast]

So um... Am I crazy or does that 30psi in the 3rd cylinder not throw any red flags for anyone else lol....

Rings would be my instinct guess. Did you do a wet or dry comp test? Could also be a valve stuck or having issues above that cylinder as someone else said

[2000 integra]

we did a dry comp test...

[reddc2_geezer]

Originally Posted by 2000 integra

we did a dry comp test...

more than likely a valve issue...time to save up and pull the head off...head job usually runs from 100 - 160 bucks...thats includes vac leak doen test..hot tanked, cleaned, grinding all carbon build up off the other valves and seating in new valve/valves, valve stem seals...just pick up a head gasket set and everything will come included..after the shop..slap the head back on, bam running again..oh yeah dont forget to do a valve clearance before starting the car...

[mutt8588]

how about a leakdown test so he can figure out where hes losing compression before he starts ripping stuff off the car?

[2000 integra]

yeah I'm gonna do a wet compression test this week...but I'm hoping it's a valve issue...

[mutt8588]

leakdown and wet comp tests are diff things, you know that right?

[2000 integra]

I don't know much about cars, so no...but I'll tell my friend who's helping me. Hopefully he knows the difference. Thank you.

[mutt8588]

you will need to go rent a machine to do it, but it will tell you where the leak is coming from, whether it be the head or the block, so you know where the issue is once youve got the head off the block, itll probably save alot of guess work (and the money that comes with the guess and check method, trust me ive been down that road, and its not a pretty one to look back on)

[hungry718]

It sounds to me like a bad ring.