How long before rebuilt engine rings seat? EDIT. Help a 1st time engine builder.

[brianao34]

Thanks man. I can't stop driving it. Haha

[Spitfi-r]

And the problem is solved!!!

My car has been down a year. It's so nice to have it running again.

I just read this thread all the way from the first post.

Congrats on getting her up and running. As someone who just got my first engine in and running a few months ago after a lot of pain and frustration I know how good it feels to finally get her up and running.

[brianao34]

there should be 4 rings per piston. Top two, then two more to complete the oil ring, that is each oil ring should have a top an bottom edge.

This isn't necessarily true...

The top ring or compression ring can just be a standard flat ring like mine was with no top or bottom.

The second ring or scraper ring from my experience always has an edge to it that must be positioned to scrape oil off the cylinder walls into the crankcase.

And the third ring or oil control ring can either be a two piece or three piece design as commonly seen. Mine was the two piece design as shown but was missing the inner tensioning spring the first time.

[brianao34]

I'm glad my thread helped others out. It was definitely a learning process for me and you very quickly realize how many people don't know as much as they think when it comes to fine tuning and precision troubleshooting. I used to think my a close friend of mine was a Master Mechanic until we started troubleshooting this issue.

[brianao34]

OP, glad it worked out.
Stanley, could have been the block initially. Who knows all r3v can do is speculate. It is easier to figure out with the motor present.
In the future, there should be 4 rings per piston. Top two, then two more to complete the oil ring, that is each oil ring should have a top an bottom edge.

I reused the same block, nothing changed other than a rehone. I don't see how "bad block" is a proper diagnosis. If it had a resleeve done correctly then there is a proper sealing surface for the rings to seat. No secret magic going on to cause excessive oil to burn.
Not to be an ass, but I reused the same block just to prove a point.

[kevvve]

great thread. great ending.

im in the process of rebuilding my first engine as well and found this thread inspiring.

[delatlanta1281]

Yeah, I think you blocks bad too.

;)

congrats on the great outcome

OP, glad it worked out.
Stanley, could have been the block initially. Who knows all r3v can do is speculate. It is easier to figure out with the motor present.
In the future, there should be 4 rings per piston. Top two, then two more to complete the oil ring, that is each oil ring should have a top an bottom edge.

[NeedaE30]

I just read through the thread, and was glad to find a happy ending!

I hope you at least got your money back for the rings...

^ lol exactly this

congrats dude

[Stanley Rockafella]

Yeah, I think you blocks bad too.

;)

congrats on the great outcome

[z31maniac]

Glad to read your conclusion, I was going to say beat the absolute shit out of it and see what happens (couldn't have hurt?)

I've had motors that burn oil, and then properly beating the shit out of them with a few fresh, frequent oil changes, loosens up the oil control rings......then all good.

Glad you had a happy ending.

[SubDad]

glad to find a happy ending

+1 :)

[Conki]

I just read through the thread, and was glad to find a happy ending!

I hope you at least got your money back for the rings...

[brianao34]

And the problem is solved!!!

I had Deves Piston Rings to send me another set of rings since that was the last possible problem.

When I got the new rings from them I realized the oil control rings had a spring tensioner in them, which the first set he sent me did not...
He sent me a two piece oil ring with only one ring...
And I explicitly remember asking him the first time why the rings he sent me weren't the same as the ones I sent him as a reference and he assured me that it would be fine.

Went through the grueling process of tearing the engine down again and rehoned the cylinders and put the new rings in.

Cranked it up for the first time yesterday, it smoked pretty bad like before for a good 5-10mins and then it quit. Took it for a test ride using the "Motoman Break-In Method" and after I quit seeing smoke I decided to drive it to Tuscaloosa, (100miles away). Drove there and back beating the snot out of the S50 with the biggest smile on my face.

Got back home 200miles later and it hadn't burned a drop of oil :D

My car has been down a year. It's so nice to have it running again.

[butters]

It just makes a big vacuum leak and idles like crap, but still runs.

Ah I see. I had it in my head that this would kill the motor.

[brianao34]

wait what

Haha, what's your confusion? I did that to relieve any crankcase pressure if there was any just to eliminate that as a reason as to why it was burning oil.
It just makes a big vacuum leak and idles like crap, but still runs.