From frontto back how are the cylinders numbered?

Low compression on cylinder number 1 and cylinder number 2 on a 2000 Toyota Solara 2.2L engine could be caused by a few different issues. Here are a few possibilities:

1. Worn or damaged piston rings: The piston rings seal the combustion chamber and maintain compression. If the rings are worn or damaged, they may not be able to seal the combustion chamber properly, resulting in low compression.
2. Damaged or worn valves: The valves allow air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber, and allow exhaust gases to exit. If the valves are damaged or worn, they may not be able to seal the combustion chamber properly, resulting in low compression.
3. Damaged or worn cylinder walls: The cylinder walls are what the pistons move against. If the walls are damaged or worn, they may not be able to maintain proper compression.
4. Head gasket failure: The head gasket seals the combustion chamber and prevents compression from escaping. If the head gasket is damaged or blown, compression can escape, resulting in low compression.
5. Leak in the intake or exhaust system: a leak in the intake or exhaust system can cause low compression.

The dry compression test you did on cylinder 1 and 2, 80 PSI and 60 PSI respectively, are not within the normal range and indicate low compression. The wet compression test results are also not within the normal range, 95 PSI and 85

If you didn't pull any wires off the cover they will still be in correct order at least. Manually turn your engine over till #1 cylinder is at top dead center on compression stroke (#1 plug removed to see). Insert distributor fully with cap off so that pointer will point at (or nearest) the wire for #1 cylinder when you replace the cap.

the compression is not bad however #2 is a bit low. what did the plug look like on #4. was it oily in appearance or chalky white. if it has an oily appearance then that cylinder is burning oil. it could be valve seals or valve guide clearance is too much or oil rings for that cylinder. the other colour is carbon meaning the cylinder is not burning properly. could be a weak ignition component that affects that cylinder or the cylinder has a lot of carbon build up in it. if it was white in colour then your burning coolant. not sure what you mean by header smokes bad, do you mean at the head if so then you may have something leaking onto it and its burning off.

this is easy, and i dont need to guess.
first off we, dont know what engine you have
G13?
G 16 what>? many sammi are swaps now, huge that is.
the FSM covers this. a free book,
here Ill post that. (why not post a photo of yours?)


my G16 is here, very clear, outside USA< they dont have year code !
all this is reg. by law. of your country

that is the lower left mount bolt on bell housing, below master cylinder, G16T is 96' year T = 96

From front to back. IE: water pump to flywheel.
1,2,3,4.

make sure engine is warmed up. Put cylinder one at top dead center,remove the valve cover,loosen all adjustment lock nuts,adust intake and exhaust valves on cyl #1 and intake valve on #2 and exhaust valve on #3. now rotate crankshaft 360 degrees clockwise, now adjust intake valves on cyl#3 and cyl #4 and exhaust valves on cyl #2 and cyl #4.now tighten lock nuts and install valve cover. specs are intake valves 25mm clearance and exhaust 28mm clearance, use a feeler gauge,heres a picture to show you where to check clearance.

There are probably 8 - 12 bolts/nuts that attach the valve cover to the cylinder head. Remove the bolts, clean the mating surface, install new gasket, and reattach the valve cover with the bolts.
You may need to remove the following spark plug wires vacuum lines air cleaner assembly oil filler cap

is there oil actually in the cylinder? or is the oil in the tube that the spark plug body lives in? if it's just in the tube, then you only need a valve cover gasket set which comes w/ a round rubber seal for the top of each spark plug tube. if however, the oil is actually in the cylinder, then you either have a faulty piston oil ring or faulty valve seals. the repairs for rings/seals are a giant PIA. let's hope it's just the valve cover gasket set

http://zukioffroad.com/Tech_Library/samurai_specifications.htm

If you take out number 4 plug and look in the hole do you see antifreeze? If yes, then yes, replace the head gasket.