4G63 Small issues

[XiKeiyaZI]

Hey there. I just finished a 1.8-2.0 swap and have successfully started the car and leveled the idle. Now I have a few questions

1 : I bolted up the exhausted header, not tightly, without a gasket simply out of OCD. When the engine is running, small amounts of oil will accumulate on top of the #1 Exhaust port. What might this mean?

2 : When the engine is running, there is a slight knocking noise. I'm dropping the tranny tomorrow to make sure that everything is in line as this is my first for any of this, but I started the car 3 days ago...it knocked for a second and then idled out and ran fine. What might this be?

3 : The engine smokes. It's light blue, and I know that the engine smoked in the previous car it was in. I'd take it this would be bad rings? How much damage might bad rings cause, how hard are they to replace, and what all would I need?

This engine has not been overhauled, I was very ignorant when I was talked into this swap....and now I have this swapped car in my hands with a bit more sense and understanding, but no one around to offer any direction. What would be my best course of action? Spending more money and pulling the motor again to work it over?

I just want to be able to reliably drive this car. That's all. =/ and I don't have tons of money to spend.

 

[KevinRR]

Your best bet would be to rebuild the engine. The cost of rebuild depend on how much work needs to be done on the engine. You would know that only by taking the engine out and having a machine shop check it out.

 

[misphit]

If there's oil accumulating at the top of the exhaust port, find out where it's coming from - some suggestions include the valve cover gasket, crack in the valve cover, a missing exhaust manifold stud & running it without a gasket at the same time, etc.

Furthermore, if you're noticing oil on the runner, it's probably getting into the exhaust which would be causing the burning oil that you're seeing.

My advice? Keep at it a little longer, do a compression test, fix your leaks (oil/air), and go from there.

Good luck.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

If there's oil accumulating at the top of the exhaust port, find out where it's coming from - some suggestions include the valve cover gasket, crack in the valve cover, a missing exhaust manifold stud & running it without a gasket at the same time, etc.

Furthermore, if you're noticing oil on the runner, it's probably getting into the exhaust which would be causing the burning oil that you're seeing.

My advice? Keep at it a little longer, do a compression test, fix your leaks (oil/air), and go from there.

Good luck.

Well.....oddly enough, I never ever thought about it,. but the gasket around the valve cover isn't even a gasket. Someone used Gasket maker in it's place. Suppose they didn't have a replacement gasket. How hard is a Valve cover gasket to get your hands on?

Also....The knocking noise is irregular. It kind of feels like it's coming from the transmission/block alignment. Like something is very quickly rubbing....then again I'm afraid that, for some reason the timing could be a slight bit off and the piston is tapping the valves lightly.

I checked the cam gears and the mating marks seem to be lined up. What else COULD be out of time? o.o I'm open to all possibilities before tearing the motor out.

 

[nek]

valve cover gasket is as easy as calling advanced auto.

 

[Alex Bland]

i bet if you find out the oil in the ports it will fix the blue smoke comeing out. oil burns blue, My car has a slight knock/use to before engine rebuild, only when it was cold then went away dont think its too bad

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

valve cover gasket is as easy as calling advanced auto.

Awesome. I figured they'd be harder to get my hands on than that.

 

[Lusion972]

I dont think the smoke is caused by the exhaust manifold being loose and without a gasket. The OP stated that it smoked in the previous car it was installed in. The knock you hear is probably the beginning of serious rod knock, you would hear it initial start up because the oil hasn't fully built up pressure and oiled every oiling point such as the bearings. If I were you I would pull the engine back out and swap out bearings and piston rings before it becomes a serious issue. You may have other underlying issues but not enough data was provided to be able to help any further.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I dont think the smoke is caused by the exhaust manifold being loose and without a gasket. The OP stated that it smoked in the previous car it was installed in. The knock you hear is probably the beginning of serious rod knock, you would hear it initial start up because the oil hasn't fully built up pressure and oiled every oiling point such as the bearings. If I were you I would pull the engine back out and swap out bearings and piston rings before it becomes a serious issue. You may have other underlying issues but not enough data was provided to be able to help any further.

I wanted to address that I found out what the issues were.

1 : The oil in the engine had not been changed. Through my negligence when I got it all together, I didn't think to change the oil so it was running light 2 year old oil. I would suspect that was why it was smoking.

2 : The slight knocking was the flywheel. The bolts had apparently not been torqued down correctly and the bolts had backed out just enough to set the flywheel slightly off angle. Thank God I discovered this before it became very serious.

Now... I DID want to pull the motor again and tear into it, but I have little experience in it and the one thing that I've come to fear is re-timing. So tell me... how hard would it be with someone who is learning hands on, is patient, and can read a book? Hahah. I want to do it, then again I don't as I don't think I'll even be driving this car for half a year. =/