Need to do my rings V8 D2

[timdo1]

Hi everyone

I'm sorry to say that the D2 is eating oil now and i have to do the rings or change the motor. I'm a bit broke at the moment so i think i will do the rings. Has anyone ever done the rings while the motor was still in the car. Is it possible? I live just outside of Melbourne so i dont have a garage but could do the work in the alley behind my house. Looking for some insight and hoping its possible.

Thanks in advance.:D

[bee utey]

Should be no major probs if you can easily get the sump off. But are you sure its rings? Compression test? Heavy blowby? Leaks? Broken rings can sometimes result in excessive ring land wear and you would then need replacement pistons.

Often oil use is due to worn valve stem seals, can be done with the heads on vehicle with some difficulty.

[justinc]

1 litre per 5000km is about normal for these, how much is it using? what quality fuel are you using? what year is the d2?

jc

[Blknight.aus]

where are you? if your brisbaneish or ipswichish drop on over and I'll throw the compression and leak down gauges over it for you.

[timdo1]

Thanks guys,

Its eating about 3-4 lt of oil per week, even the thicker stuff, castrol GTX it eats more. Running like a chaff cutter and is fowling 2 plugs. Its also leaving a smoke screen James Bond would be proud of especially around 2500 rpms and above. I'm pretty positive its rings. Id like to do a comp test but havent got a tester and im in Hawthorn Melbourne, thanks for the offer though.

I think its rings, its had some head gasket problems over the last couple of years and i think the last time it got hot a couple of oil rings have been badly damaged. I originally thought it was a head gasket again and shelved the car for a year. I put it back on the road a couple of months ago with new plugs and was starting to think i had made a mistake as it ran very well. It started to run rough again after a couple of days, plugs were fouling, now its blowing smoke.

I'd just prefer not to pull out the motor, or am i creating more work and should just pull the damn thing out. I want to get this done and back on the road as cheaply as possible, and would consider a brand new 2nd hand motor, if the price was right. Anyway i just want the bus on the road as quickly and cheaply as i can. I really do miss her. Its a 99 d2 with 184 on the clock. Its been very good, both on and off the road and i dont want to scrap it over this issue.

Sorry for the slowness of reply but its the weekend and the kids have sport/ dancing/ parties etc, I dont get to see the website as frequently as i would like. I am leaving a good smoke trail around the eastern suburbs though, so i should be easy to trace around.

Thanks again for the replies and the help, you guys really are the best at answering these questions. :D

[bee utey]

I've done plenty of ring replacements with engines in cars, just not in a D2. Two important tools: a good ring compressor and some nylon tube to slip over the big end bolt which is uppermost. As you can't rotate the block to lower the pistons in vertically you must be extremely careful not to mark the crankshaft by striking it with the upper bolt. Clean ring grooves with a broken ring, use gloves as it has sharp edges. Honing can be done adequately with 120 grit wet-and-dry paper and some wrist action to get a good crosshatch. Clean the bores well afterwards. Do pistons one at a time to keep things simple and reduce the chance of putting bits together incorrectly.

[justinc]

i have seen a head gasket failure do this, blown into the crankcase/ valley. under no or light load (high vac) oil gets drawn into the cylinder/s that has the gasket failures and burns, causing the smoke.

either way, all will be revealed when heads are removed:D


jc

[Pedro_The_Swift]

To be honest,, I've never heard of one needing rings,,
head gaskets by the truckload,,, but not rings,,

anyone?

[justinc]

Even when my VERY WORN OUT 3.5 eventually broke a top ring, it NEVER blew oil or smoked, just had no compression in that cyl for a bit....

Oil control in these engines is very good, even at huge KM's so I would be surprised it is a ring issue, only way to really tell is get those heads off!!!:D


Come on, the suspense is killing me. Maybe we should have a poll on the outcome?

I say head gasket failure from fire ring to valley in 1 or more cylinders.

JC :)

[justinc]

Also, it is possible that IF the vehicle had been sitting for a year with moisture in the cylinder bores from suspected head gasket problems, them yes the subsequent corrosion could ruin oil rings VERY quickly:(

JC

[Pedro_The_Swift]

anyone?

and not Just anyone,,,;):D

[timdo1]

Thanks everyone for the responses. This is why i come to you guys, you always seem to have answers.

The consensus seems to be its a blomn head gasket, but if it is rings i can do it in the car, am i reading this right? If it is a head gasket it will be much easier. If not......bugger.

I will be doing it in a couple of weeks, I guess youll all have to wait for the outcome until then.

Thanks for the feedback.:D

[justinc]

Yes an insitu re ring can be done in vehicle, BUT if the bores are damaged/ rusty etc then a hone may not be enough to clean them up. Then it will be engine out. Best to get those heads off....:D

JC