How easy to replace piston rings and valve seals?
Discussion
My 1994 1.8 is getting a bit stinky with burned oil when accelerating hard and the dipstick level is dropping at a reasonable rate, so I guess either rings or valve seals will need replacing soon.
I'm happy ripping the engine apart, but although I've done stuff like the removing & refitting the head, camshafts, HLAs etc... I've never rebuild a bottom end or messed with the pistons (although I have stripped down a broken 1.6 engine completely but I didn't rebuild it again). I've also removed and replaced a few 1.6 engines so happy to do that that, and I want to fit a new clutch anyway.
How simple are these jobs, and will i need any special tools apart from a ring compressor?
Would I need to have an engineering company perform any of the work?
thanks
James
I'm happy ripping the engine apart, but although I've done stuff like the removing & refitting the head, camshafts, HLAs etc... I've never rebuild a bottom end or messed with the pistons (although I have stripped down a broken 1.6 engine completely but I didn't rebuild it again). I've also removed and replaced a few 1.6 engines so happy to do that that, and I want to fit a new clutch anyway.
How simple are these jobs, and will i need any special tools apart from a ring compressor?
Would I need to have an engineering company perform any of the work?
thanks
James
What Lazza says ^^.
Failing that I'd have thought the simplest/cheapest way is to buy another lump and throw that in?
By the time you've bought new components and all the ancillary bits like gaskets etc. odds on it will have cost a lot more than buying a second-hand lump from a reputable supplier or known car.
Cheers, Pewe
Failing that I'd have thought the simplest/cheapest way is to buy another lump and throw that in?
By the time you've bought new components and all the ancillary bits like gaskets etc. odds on it will have cost a lot more than buying a second-hand lump from a reputable supplier or known car.
Cheers, Pewe
Yes it's had a new cam cover gasket and CAS o-ring.
It seems a bit extreme to just chuck the engine if all it needs are a new set of rings or seals (£140 for the rings and about £100 for all the valve seals) , and how would I know the replacement won't just need those doing either immediately or in a year?
Anyway, I like working on it and I want to learn how to do another engine-based job if its possible without requiring expensive special tools or an engineering shop.
It stinks of burning oil in the cabin once you get to higher revs and for a bit afterwards - does that point to either rings or seals or is it not possible to tell?
It seems a bit extreme to just chuck the engine if all it needs are a new set of rings or seals (£140 for the rings and about £100 for all the valve seals) , and how would I know the replacement won't just need those doing either immediately or in a year?
Anyway, I like working on it and I want to learn how to do another engine-based job if its possible without requiring expensive special tools or an engineering shop.
It stinks of burning oil in the cabin once you get to higher revs and for a bit afterwards - does that point to either rings or seals or is it not possible to tell?
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th September 17:00
Only way to tell is to do a compression test.
Take a reading from a cylinder then put a small amount of oil in the bore.
This will temporarily seal the rings so you can take another reading.
If the second reading is higher in all probability it's the rings.
If it's the same then you're probably looking at a valve related problem.
Lots on other forums as to how to...
Cheers, Pewe.
Take a reading from a cylinder then put a small amount of oil in the bore.
This will temporarily seal the rings so you can take another reading.
If the second reading is higher in all probability it's the rings.
If it's the same then you're probably looking at a valve related problem.
Lots on other forums as to how to...
Cheers, Pewe.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff