2006 Kia Rio DTC codes p301 and p302

Tiny
SAVANNAHL2010
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 KIA RIO
  • 1.6L
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Car has been losing coolant, unable to detect leak, recently threw the above codes and blew smoke from tailpipe. Since I have been unable to duplicate smoke but have gotten a rough idle and code p301. Compression test for cylinder 1 was 115psi and 2-4 registered 120 psi. I was told psi should be 185-206 psi. Any ideas
Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 AT 9:27 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Code P301 and P302 are misfiring in clinders 1 and 2 respectively. Seems like you have a blown gasket.
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 AT 10:13 AM
Tiny
SAVANNAHL2010
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  • 4 POSTS
Do you think its just the gasket given the pressure is consistent on all 4 cylinders. Would a warped head or cracked block be more inclined to show inconsistent pressures on cylinders. I also thought I seen air bubbles on my oil dipstick.
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Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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A blown gasket need not necessarily mean a drop in compression. The gasket could have developed only a very minor leak and that would not show much differences on a compression gauge.

Use a clear bottle filled with water and dip a hose in it and atttach the hose to the overflow outlet joint from the radiator. Start engine and let it run, if bubbles keeps coming out of the hose, you know thw gasket has a problem.

Head gasket for this vehicle is metallic based so it would not leak as badly as with carbon based gasket.
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2015 AT 6:40 AM
Tiny
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So its not that unusual for all cylinders to read 120 psi when it should be closer to 200 psi, to confirm gasket, warpage or cracked block 'll have to tear it down?
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2015 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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A wet compression test is necessary to eliminate possibilities of dry piston rings. If all compression are low that can be the case.

If it is confirmed that the gasket is bad, you would at least have to take the cylinder head off.
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Thursday, August 13th, 2015 AT 7:58 AM
Tiny
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Thanks
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Friday, August 14th, 2015 AT 7:25 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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  • 41,814 POSTS
You're welcome.
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Friday, August 14th, 2015 AT 8:34 AM

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