What is needed to change piston rings?

[rolltidero]

My piston rings are fried."Now me and the mad scientist have to tear the block apart." Well me and one of my friends are planning to try to replace them ourselves without taking the block out. I know the general process, remove the head, drop the oil pan, and remove pistons. Obviously I am going to need piston rings and I might as well change other gaskets while it's apart. My friend has alot of experience with engine as far as assembly, me not so much. I don't plan on building the engine....right now, but what else will I need to change piston rings? Basically tools and parts. Thanks for any responses.

 

[bryanwheat]

You change then ten times if you want, but if you don't properly hone the block than they won't seal very well. The engine needs to come out and be torn down. Than the cylinders need to be honed and the piston to cylinder clearance checked. If it is still within spec than you can put it back together. If it is out of spec than it will need to be bored and new pistons. What is leading you to believe that your rings are bad in the first place?

 

[rolltidero]

You change then ten times if you want, but if you don't properly hone the block than they won't seal very well. The engine needs to come out and be torn down. Than the cylinders need to be honed and the piston to cylinder clearance checked. If it is still within spec than you can put it back together. If it is out of spec than it will need to be bored and new pistons. What is leading you to believe that your rings are bad in the first place?

My turbo seals and valve stem seals are good but I am blowing out more smoke than a stoner on 4/20. So much to the point that I can't see the car behind me. I have also noticed a large drop in power and I'm burning oil...alot

 

[Dsmkauai]

What color is the smoke? White or grey or black or blue ? Have you done a compression test or cylinder leak down test? I would before tearing anything down!

 

[rolltidero]

What color is the smoke? White or grey or black or blue ? Have you done a compression test or cylinder leak down test? I would before tearing anything down!

The smoke is bluish white. I took it to a garage and they told me the rings were bad. I assume they did a test but I'm not sure.

 

[Dsmkauai]

How do you know its not a turbo oil seal or valve seal? Are they that new? And ya bluish smoke is definetly oil. I would still do those test first they will shed some light on what's really going on.

 

[My1GLaser]

Go to adv auto and rent a compression tester and report back! They are simpler to use and should give a good idea of what's going on internally. We wanna see some numbers, not a mechanic's opinion! We are here to help you have a proper diagnosis and repair plan. I don't trust mechanic's...if they aren't DSMers!

I've had a completely clogged PCV valve allow my crankcase pressure to build to the point that I smoked screened my whole neighborhood in 2nd gear going about 35mph! You would have thought I didn't have any piston rings!

 

[bryanwheat]

Go to adv auto and rent a compression tester and report back! They are simpler to use and should give a good idea of what's going on internally. We wanna see some numbers, not a mechanic's opinion! We are here to help you have a proper diagnosis and repair plan. I don't trust mechanic's...if they aren't DSMers! That's the only place I take any of my vehicles in town!

I've had a completely clogged PCV valve allow my crankcase pressure to build to the point that I smoked screened my whole neighborhood in 2nd gear going about 35mph! You would have thought I didn't have any piston rings!

I had this very same issue one time. There was a metal intake that came with a car that i bought taken apart. I didn't notice that someone had closed the hole with rtv where the valve cover vent hose attaches. I swapped on 3 different turbo's until i figured it out. The thing would literally make such thick smoke that you couldn't see behind you.

 

[DSM1G90]

One can have great compression, but the oil rings could be bad...something to think about.

True on the PCV situation - plugged system can cause excessive crankcase pressure causing major oil burning ... and approaching pushing out the main seals at the crank ends.

Nobody said on how his spark plugs are looking like. If their black and slimy, then a definite oil ring problem is in store, but dry then we can blame the top end.

 

[rolltidero]

One can have great compression, but the oil rings could be bad...something to think about.

True on the PCV situation - plugged system can cause excessive crankcase pressure causing major oil burning ... and approaching pushing out the main seals at the crank ends.

Nobody said on how his spark plugs are looking like. If their black and slimy, then a definite oil ring problem is in store, but dry then we can blame the top end.

Under the cover they are shiny and there is oil pooling in the front. I'm not sure about compression right now but I do know that both the power loss and oil burning started at the same time.

 

[92awddsm]

Under the cover they are shiny and there is oil pooling in the front. I'm not sure about compression right now but I do know that both the power loss and oil burning started at the same time.

Pull the plug out and look at the electrode and see what they look like. Post a pic for us to see.

 

[My1GLaser]

How many miles on the motor? Has it been properly maintained?

Do you have a boost gauge? Is it hitting the same boost you were running before the noticed power loss? Have you checked the turbo for shaft play?

It very well could be rings, but you should exhaust all options before re-ringing a motor or doing a complete engine overhaul! I'd hate for you to tear into the engine based on a potential incorrect diagnosis! It's a lot of freaking meticulous work to build an engine correctly that will last you for many years!

 

[rolltidero]

How many miles on the motor? Has it been properly maintained?

Do you have a boost gauge? Is it hitting the same boost you were running before the noticed power loss? Have you checked the turbo for shaft play?

It very well could be rings, but you should exhaust all options before re-ringing a motor or doing a complete engine overhaul! I'd hate for you to tear into the engine based on a potential incorrect diagnosis! It's a lot of freaking meticulous work to build an engine correctly that will last you for many years!

Engine-Miles 130,000 well maintained (I've kept up with fluids and belts I don't know about previous owners though)
Turbo-no shaft play, rebuilt around 10,000 miles ago
Boost gauge-yes I have one and no it is nowhere near te same boost levels
Plugs-I will post a picture when I'm home

and I'm sorry I appreciate all the help but I know the rings are bad I just want to know how to change them

 

[rolltidero]

I did a compression test and everything was normal. Now my turbo is not spooling hardly at all. Like 3000rpm an 3psi of boost. I'm still blowing a lot of smoke. Is there any way to tell if it's turbo seals or piston rings?

 

[bryanwheat]

Well if the turbo is barely spooling and it is smoking bad, that is usually a sign of a bad turbo. Pull the intake and feel for shaft play, especially in and out play. Next remove the manifold and see if there is oil in the exhaust ports, or just oil in the turbine housing.

 

[92awddsm]

And check to see if the ic is full of oil.

 

[rolltidero]

And check to see if the ic is full of oil.

I will check when I get home. If it is would that be a bad turbo?

 

[92awddsm]

I will check when I get home. If it is would that be a bad turbo?

Yes, or pulling oil out of the vc through the intake pipe

 

[rolltidero]

So if my turbo is bad, what is a good replacement for it? It's my daily driver and I don't need large horsepower. I'm about acceleration more than anything as opposed to overall top speed.

 

[92awddsm]

So if my turbo is bad, what is a good replacement for it? It's my daily driver and I don't need large horsepower. I'm about acceleration more than anything as opposed to overall top speed.

14b or any variant of the 16g would be cheapest and easiest to install. Any of those would definitely be a step up from the t25.

 

[DSM1G90]

Maybe a quick and temp fix for now is to disconnect the oil line that runs to the turbo and cap it off. This would stop oil consumption.

Then undo the waste gate actuator arm from the waste gate connection and wire open the waste gate.

Wiring open the WG disables the turbo. Just don't get too crazy on the gas pedal.

 

[mitsubishikid]

For you to better understand, I think it would be best to just watch some of Jafros videos on youtube he has a ton of dsm related videos on there. below is a link to his channel
Jafromobile - YouTube

 

[rolltidero]

New occurance today. After I turn the motor off, smoke still trails out of the tailpipe for a few minutes.

 

[92awddsm]

New occurance today. After I turn the motor off, smoke still trails out of the tailpipe for a few minutes.

Sounds like the exhausta nd catalytic converter is full of oil too.

 

[rolltidero]

Sounds like the exhausta nd catalytic converter is full of oil too.

So it's sounding more and more like a bad turbo?