2.3L ('02-'11) NEED ADVICE/HELP!!! low compression on cylinder 3 :(

[hannah2001]

my 2002 2.3 253k miles developed a severe valve cover gasket leak around the same time as a cylinder 3 misfire. i figured it could be oil leaking into the spark plug hole and maybe fouling it out, so i put new valve cover gaskets along with brand new motorcraft plugs, wires, and a new coil just to be safe cause i have never changed them since ive owned the truck.

put everything back together and no leaks, but the cylinder 3 misfire remained so now i started to worry. hooked up a compression tester and cylinders 1 2 and 4 have around 200 psi (i think thats high for this motor but my gauge might have been reading high idk. main thing is all 3 readings were very close to each other) cylinder 3 read around 80 psi no higher. i put oil in the cylinder and retested it and it read around 200. from what i understand that means its more than likely piston rings. i'm not a mechanical genius but i do know a lot and understand a lot so please correct me if im wrong on anything.

i drove it for about 2 weeks with the misfire while i was thinking it was just spark plugs. the misfire is not TERRIBLE, it got me to work and back etc. but im not happy with the results. now im looking for advice and guidance on the best route to take to get it fixed

1. IF THE PROBLEM IS PISTON RINGS, just assuming by the results with the wet compression test, if I put a thick oil in it or something like engine restore, would it help seal the rings enough to where i can keep driving it to work and back? about 20 miles a day and i live in middle georgia it is very flat no big hills. what about disconnecting the cylinder 3 injector and just driving it on 3 cylinders? would this destroy it past the point of it being rebuildable?

2. i've never been in a situation like this, is it generally a better decision to buy a remanufactured motor or take my motor to a local rebuilder? im scared of remanufactured engines especially from mass sellers because i hear so many bad things about them not lasting at all and then when they fail within the warranty period you have to basically pull teeth to get any help. just say powertrainproducts.com for example.

3. im very mechanically inclined, i do all my own repairs and have done just about everything myself except rebuilding motors and transmissions, i have all the tools necessary and if not i would buy them. is it realistic for someone like me to rebuild the motor in my shop at home?

thank you anyone for any advice. this truck is sentimental to me and i want to do everything i can to not junk it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

my 2002 2.3 253k miles developed a severe valve cover gasket leak around the same time as a cylinder 3 misfire. i figured it could be oil leaking into the spark plug hole and maybe fouling it out, so i put new valve cover gaskets along with brand new motorcraft plugs, wires, and a new coil just to be safe cause i have never changed them since ive owned the truck.

put everything back together and no leaks, but the cylinder 3 misfire remained so now i started to worry. hooked up a compression tester and cylinders 1 2 and 4 have around 200 psi (i think thats high for this motor but my gauge might have been reading high idk. main thing is all 3 readings were very close to each other) cylinder 3 read around 80 psi no higher. i put oil in the cylinder and retested it and it read around 200. from what i understand that means its more than likely piston rings. i'm not a mechanical genius but i do know a lot and understand a lot so please correct me if im wrong on anything.

i drove it for about 2 weeks with the misfire while i was thinking it was just spark plugs. the misfire is not TERRIBLE, it got me to work and back etc. but im not happy with the results. now im looking for advice and guidance on the best route to take to get it fixed

1. IF THE PROBLEM IS PISTON RINGS, just assuming by the results with the wet compression test, if I put a thick oil in it or something like engine restore, would it help seal the rings enough to where i can keep driving it to work and back? about 20 miles a day and i live in middle georgia it is very flat no big hills. what about disconnecting the cylinder 3 injector and just driving it on 3 cylinders? would this destroy it past the point of it being rebuildable?

2. i've never been in a situation like this, is it generally a better decision to buy a remanufactured motor or take my motor to a local rebuilder? im scared of remanufactured engines especially from mass sellers because i hear so many bad things about them not lasting at all and then when they fail within the warranty period you have to basically pull teeth to get any help. just say powertrainproducts.com for example.

3. im very mechanically inclined, i do all my own repairs and have done just about everything myself except rebuilding motors and transmissions, i have all the tools necessary and if not i would buy them. is it realistic for someone like me to rebuild the motor in my shop at home?

thank you anyone for any advice. this truck is sentimental to me and i want to do everything i can to not junk it.

1- Theres no mechanic in a can. You can try it...but the chances of it working are pretty slim.

2- I would have yours rebuilt by a quality shop. Remanufactured onea can be a crap shoot

3- Besides the machine work...yes you should be able to do it at home.

 

[hannah2001]

1- Theres no mechanic in a can. You can try it...but the chances of it working are pretty slim.

2- I would have yours rebuilt by a quality shop. Remanufactured onea can be a crap shoot

3- Besides the machine work...yes you should be able to do it at home.

do you recommend somewhere to buy good quality rebuild kits? there is only one by enginetech on rockauto but its out of stock no idea when they will get more. there is one on proenginebuilders.com, partsology.com. i wouldnt know which one to go with if i decide to rebuild it.

i just want good quality parts because I got 253k miles out of this motor i would like to get 253k again or more