ORIGINAL: gcb

A small amount of side play is OK. Some engines are this way new. Oil going out the front makes it a :wet nosed" engine. When the piston and liner are excessively worn, sometimes it gets harder to adjust the needle. Sometimes you can regain some performance on an iron/steel engine by switching to all-castor lube (about 25%). Castor will form a varnish seal on the iron piston and you will regain some compression. High silicon pistons (ABC, ABN, etc.) will not do this.

My guess is that you have been using RC fuel with synthetic lube of a low percentage, intended for larger BB engines.

Good luck.Thanks for the information