Thread: URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR LR90 on Route

B or C for my money. If worn will have low compression across all pots if broken rings likely to be one or two or more. If worn would have been coming for a while and you will have seen signs before. More likely broken rings from overheating.

PCV valve could be clogged too, pressurising the sump and forcing oil out

Fuel getting into the sump - hence increase in fuel consumption, oil level Ok but oil still getting out due to sump with fuel in it.

Garry

Well, this is not the best way to start a blog on my attempted trans Australian adventure - "Help, my engine has appeared to have blown up". But I can't change that now!

So I have made it 400km west of my start point in Brisbane to Goondiwindi, where the aforementioned has occurred:

- half a pint of oil ****ing out of my air filter onto the garage forecourt.

Further inspection revealed rather significant blow back on from the engine breather and oil being ejected from the dip stick much in the fashion of a Venusian fountain All pointing to over pressurisation of the crankcase.

Initial thoughts were that maybe I'd put slightly too much oil in to begin with, but further diagnostic tests and the volume of oil make this unlikely. Mr Blknight has given me a few more, to asses whether or not it is a generally worn engine or one of the piston/compression rings has let(ting) go....tomorrow morning will tell.

I would like to say this has been the first bit of bad luck of the journey so far, but it seems to be a continuation of a theme. Dealing with Queensland Transport made the process of import look like a piece of cake. 6 days, 8 piece of paper a L01 plate and few dodgy dudes later (one even insisting I fit side intrusion bars on my doors...made of, riveted in rolled hollow sections.....!! I finally got to say "mmmm...I love the smell of freshly pressed tin in the morning...it...*sniff* *sniff*......smells like...VICTORY!" Only to have my hopes dashed 400km later.

So here I am in a cheap motel, 150km from the planned camp with a sick 90.
So far I would like to say a big thankyou to Juddy and Gill for letting me stay at theres and fit out the 90. You guys are great. Blknight for giving me advice and tips. Thankyou. And thanks in advance to anyone else who comments.


Some pictures so far:

Picking it up at the port, Jerry and his Son helped me get a tow start due to a flat battery (I guess 2 months in a container does that!)

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Full packed

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Fitting out the truck, with new plates and Co -Driver prior to set off.

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Heading up towards Warwick. Slow climb up, but that was expected. Trouble seemed to begin after Warwick - Loss of power. I suspected that what ever has let go did so within 100km from Goondiwindi.

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Crappy shot in the fading light off the oil in the air filter. Paper element is soaked in the stuff.

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Now I am not sure, but does anyone know where I might be able to get a set of 2.5D piston rings from.....in Australia? And if any of the 2.25D rings fit, or 2.5TD for that matter?

If anyone has any other suggestions to help get me out of this little spot of bother, you would be make very happy. I have pretty much all the tools to strip the engine - bar maybe a set of compression tools for piston rings...but I would appear to be in major-ish truck stop so I dont think they would be too hard to come by.

Sorry to hear of your problems.

All 2.25 and 2.5 pistons are the same diameter (OEM), so rings should fit between them, however there are of course STD and anything up to 0.040" oversize (0.08" for 2.25s). I have a set of new 0.040" 2.25D rings in the shed if they are any help, but I'm sure you can get something closer.

Broken rings are common on 2.25s IME.

you dont NEED a ring compressor to get the pistons in with new rings on em..

you can iprovise them with a tin can and a hose clamp or do it like I do push them down then squeeze the ring in with your thumbnails.

Thanks Ben. I have a plate on the engine that tells me that I have STD rings, and 10 Thou oversize mains, STD big ends. That is all. I guess it depends on how bad things turn out to be tomorrow what happens next. Not sure yet what size I would need if that turns out to be the route I am to take.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

you dont NEED a ring compressor to get the pistons in with new rings on em..

you can iprovise them with a tin can and a hose clamp or do it like I do push them down then squeeze the ring in with your thumbnails.

AH ha! We must have had the same thought! I have plenty of baked bean cans and a few jubilee clips floating about