Hyundai Repair: Low compression suspected (Tiburon 2004), hyundai tiburon tuscani, engine oil leaks

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sir / Madam,

I have purchased a Hyundai Tiburon (Tuscani) year 2004 2.0L. The car was previously equipped with a turbo kit which was removed by the seller. When driving the car, 0 to 60, the car performance (torque) has seriously dropped. I fear that this might be a compression issue.

Also, my engine is leaking. I have made the car checked, transmission gearbox gasket and oil seal were changed (suspected) but still oil is leaking from the engine.

My question is, do you think that removal of the turbo kit is the result for this performance (torque) issue and engine leak? Can this be a compression issue? Grateful if you can guide me how I can fix this issue and gain the original compression and stop this engine leak.

Thanking you beforehand.

Regards.

Siddick (Mauritius).

ANSWER: Hi, Siddick.

If this vehicle did not have a turbo from the factory, adding one after the fact can cause excess strain on the engine.  But if there has been a change from the way you bought the car (with the turbo already removed), it's unlikely that this change is a result of the previous turbo installation.

In regard to your engine leak, I cannot offer advice as to where the oil may be leaking as I cannot see your engine.  The only way to diagnose this is to visually examine the engine and determine the source of the leak.

Is the check engine lamp coming on?  If you have an automatic transmission, does it shift gears properly?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No, the engine light is not on. Yes the gear is shifting properly and the oil leak is not from the gearbox.

Can low compression causes the engine to leak?

I am thinking about overhauling the engine.

Regards.

Sid.

Answer
There's only one way that low compression can cause external engine oil leaks.  That is if the piston rings seal so poorly that the combustion pressure is enough to push seals out of the engine.  Otherwise, low compression cannot cause external oil leaks.

You should be able to check for the source of the oil leak visually yourself.  In most cases, it's a matter of replacing a seal or gasket for repair.  But in regard to the lack of power, I'd recommend taking the car to someone intimately familiar with Hyundai products to be checked.  It's hard to say what may have been modified on this car and how it may affect performance.  Such a person as I've recommended should be able to discern this by inspecting the vehicle, something I cannot do via the internet.