Engine experts please come in!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Keller Texas
Engine experts please come in!
After rebuilding my lt1 to 383, lt4 hot cam 1.6rr, stock heads I have had a problem with oil loss-300 miles per quart smoke blowing out passenger side exhaust. After about 1500 mile it was obvious something was wrong, build went in and resealed the intake because he found oil in the intake ports and the plugs were fouled. Still oil problems and wet plugs. I was told to check for o2 leaks because that could give computer false sence car is running lean and in turn not let the rings seat. OK I checked the stock manifold on the passenger side under the aluminum protector and found a hairline crack about 2 inches. Alright this could be it. I put some Comp Hooker headers on and the engine really rocks. Dry plugs but still blowing blue smoke on same side and lossing oil-same amount-Are my rings shot or will it take time to seat with this changed condition- is there anything i can do to make them seat? My builder wants to give it 1000 miles and if they dont seat we will have to replace/rebuild- compression was 230 in all cylinders? What are my chances? Thanks
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
It doesn't sound good. Rings should seat almost immediately for all practical purposes. You said your heads were stock. Were they gone over? Any chance of bad guides? Other than that, you're probably looking at another complete teardown. A leakdown test should tell the tale. Much more telling than a simple compression test.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Keller Texas
New guides, ect. The builder said it was the rings and the rich condition would not let them seat. Said he has seen it before and they can possibly still come around. I want your opinions.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by 66grandsport
New guides, ect. The builder said it was the rings and the rich condition would not let them seat. Said he has seen it before and they can possibly still come around. I want your opinions.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Keller Texas
The lean condition was caused by the o2 getting in the crank in the manifold. This in turn told the computer to send in more fuel. When I put the hooker headers on the engine was real rich. The crack inthe manifold was tricking the computer to send in more fuel.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 18
From: Scottsdale Az
Originally Posted by 66grandsport
The lean condition was caused by the o2 getting in the crank in the manifold. This in turn told the computer to send in more fuel. When I put the hooker headers on the engine was real rich. The crack inthe manifold was tricking the computer to send in more fuel.
Sounds like it could be bore wash.....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
rings seat within the first 20 miles or so, normally.
As it stands... I donno what to suggest.
I know back in 1955, when the SBC was first released, GM had a problem with oil consumption. It was real bad, new 55 Chevy's billowing blue smoke... not good for marketing... the TSB fix? remove the air breather, start the car, and sprinkle some Bon-Ami into the throat and let the engine suck it in. That abrasive allowed the rings to seat.
Would that work today? I doubt it... rings have come a long way in 50 years.
As it stands... I donno what to suggest.
I know back in 1955, when the SBC was first released, GM had a problem with oil consumption. It was real bad, new 55 Chevy's billowing blue smoke... not good for marketing... the TSB fix? remove the air breather, start the car, and sprinkle some Bon-Ami into the throat and let the engine suck it in. That abrasive allowed the rings to seat.
Would that work today? I doubt it... rings have come a long way in 50 years.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by 66grandsport
Is bore wash curable?
What is interesting, the lack of oil (caused by the increased gas) should have sped up the break-in, unless... the rings wore down beyond the point of no return...
Last year, my 92 (with 145k miles at the time) died when the AFPR blew up... sending gobs of fuel into the intake through the vacuum hose. When I removed the plugs, #'s 6 and 8 were full of fuel. The engine is still running fine. I squirted some oil into each cylinder before cranking it over again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by 66grandsport
After rebuilding my lt1 to 383, lt4 hot cam 1.6rr, stock heads I have had a problem with oil loss-300 miles per quart smoke blowing out passenger side exhaust. After about 1500 mile it was obvious something was wrong, build went in and resealed the intake because he found oil in the intake ports and the plugs were fouled. Still oil problems and wet plugs. I was told to check for o2 leaks because that could give computer false sence car is running lean and in turn not let the rings seat. OK I checked the stock manifold on the passenger side under the aluminum protector and found a hairline crack about 2 inches. Alright this could be it. I put some Comp Hooker headers on and the engine really rocks. Dry plugs but still blowing blue smoke on same side and lossing oil-same amount-Are my rings shot or will it take time to seat with this changed condition- is there anything i can do to make them seat? My builder wants to give it 1000 miles and if they dont seat we will have to replace/rebuild- compression was 230 in all cylinders? What are my chances? Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by snootworks
I'm going to refrain from commenting on most of the stuff here, buuut...
Do a leakdown test before tearing into the motor; it's worth ruling out any top end issues first.
Do a leakdown test before tearing into the motor; it's worth ruling out any top end issues first.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
it doesn't sound good, I've never had a rebuild take more than a few hundred before the rings seated...let alone had any real amount of oil consumption. I guess you don't have much choice but to go the extra 1000 miles, as long as the builder is going to honor his work, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for those rings to seal now....sorry, but I think you're in for a tear down.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by 66grandsport
Total seal rings. Blowing smoke out pasenger side-blue some black. Computer says on right on tune.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
I'm wondering if you have KB pistons with that stupid a$$ system of a roll pin to hold the oil ring in place.
1) A lot of engine builders cut too much off the oil ring for that roll pin crap and have oil consumption problems becuse of it. Now this only happens with the KB pistons. If you have SRP's or something with rail ring spaces you can disreguard this.
2) Of course you could have a damaged oil ring anyway, even I've bent one or two in my life putting them in a sharp bore with little to no champer. Its easier with pistons that use a rail ring spacer because they are cut with more back clearance and the ring can stick futher out from the ring land.
3) Valve guides gone??
4) Maybe the V/S retainer is hitting the seals and destroyed them?? But on only one cyl its a bit unlikely.
5) Does the plug look like its passing alot of oil compared to the rest of them??
Not everything it could be by any means but some things to think about and take look at.
Will
1) A lot of engine builders cut too much off the oil ring for that roll pin crap and have oil consumption problems becuse of it. Now this only happens with the KB pistons. If you have SRP's or something with rail ring spaces you can disreguard this.
2) Of course you could have a damaged oil ring anyway, even I've bent one or two in my life putting them in a sharp bore with little to no champer. Its easier with pistons that use a rail ring spacer because they are cut with more back clearance and the ring can stick futher out from the ring land.
3) Valve guides gone??
4) Maybe the V/S retainer is hitting the seals and destroyed them?? But on only one cyl its a bit unlikely.
5) Does the plug look like its passing alot of oil compared to the rest of them??
Not everything it could be by any means but some things to think about and take look at.
Will