[JP Noonan]

Well I just put 1.5 quarts of oil in my car yesterday because the green oil light came on. I guess I've been busy and didn't realize how much I've driven the car without checking the oil. My friend says that I'm blowing smoke that I assumed was from a rich condition (based on smell and color of the smoke) but must be from the oil control rings. The engine has between 140-150 psi on all cylinders, but sat for a long time after it was rebuilt.

Here is the question(s), is there anyway to tell the Compression Ratio of the engine based only on a compression test (i.e. find the CR without tearing down the motor)? Also if I can't control the smoking with some of the "snake oil" additives on the market I plan on doing a ring job. If I find that the CR is 7.6 not 8.0, has anyone tried removing the cylinder head gasket to increase compresion. I've heard that this is a standard practice on 1.7L big bore kit with no leaking problems. I don't want a leak at the head that will ruin my only pair of 2.0L 914 heads. I would prefer to remove the base shims but since all the head gaskets are the same (vs. the base shims which are different thickness) it would be easier.

BTW while the heads are off I plan on port matching them and polishing up the combustion chamber. I know enough not to change the ports (without a flow bench anyway) but I think the CR is going to drop because of this and I'm trying to figure out a way to compensate.

Any help would be appreciated.