Built s15 sr20det problem

[Madngineer]

hey I just finished an s15 sr swap and i am having a few issues. I bought a motor built with aftermarket pistons, rods, springs, retainers, etc. I did a compression test before i bought the engine and had 150 psi across the board. I installed the engine and ran it for a few days. After about a week the car was producing white/blue smoke. I removed the spark plugs and found them to be saturated in oil. I did another compression test and had 125, 140, 140, 130. I also removed the turbo manifold and found oil in cylinders 2 and 3 exhaust valves, 1 and 4 were dry. I suspect my rings or valve seals are gone or both.

any input would greatly be appreciated, thanks

[boro drift]

Had this engine been ran before you bought it?

[s14tan]

And was the motor properly broken in?

[Madngineer]

it was run before, but the previous owner replaced bearings and one ring that was not installed right. The car was running fine for about a week. It still runs and idles fine but when you get on the gas it smokes badly. I think i am going to take it to a machine shop for a diagnosis. any thoughts?

thanks

[boro drift]

With it smoking under acceleration, I'm gonna say you got some rings that didn't seat.

[Madngineer]

With it smoking under acceleration, I'm gonna say you got some rings that didn't seat.

so, what steps should i take to get them to seat? I was going to have them replaced and have to whole engine checked for any other problems

[boro drift]

so, what steps should i take to get them to seat? I was going to have them replaced and have to whole engine checked for any other problems

Re-hone the block, and a new set of rings.

Bore prep is the secret to seating piston rings. Mostly, CLEANLINESS!

I use Zep 'Power House' cleaner on the bores with white paper towels. Spray and rub the bores untill the paper towels come out clean.

Once the bores are clean, oil the ring lands,(I pour a little oil on the dome of the piston and smear it to the sides to let the oil drape over the rings and lands), and install the pistons.

[Madngineer]

Re-hone the block, and a new set of rings.

Bore prep is the secret to seating piston rings. Mostly, CLEANLINESS!

I use Zep 'Power House' cleaner on the bores with white paper towels. Spray and rub the bores untill the paper towels come out clean.

Once the bores are clean, oil the ring lands,(I pour a little oil on the dome of the piston and smear it to the sides to let the oil drape over the rings and lands), and install the pistons.

thanks for the info. I just removed the intake manifold and found oil in the manifold and above the valves. There is actually a puddle of oil above all the intake valves.

Do you think i need both seals and rings? Any input would help. I think its strange that rings and seals could go at the same time.

thanks steve

[boro drift]

thanks for the info. I just removed the intake manifold and found oil in the manifold and above the valves. There is actually a puddle of oil above all the intake valves.

Do you think i need both seals and rings? Any input would help. I think its strange that rings and seals could go at the same time.

thanks steve

Your next step is to perform a leak-down test. That will tell you where the problem lies.

[Madngineer]

Too Late, I already removed the head. I inspected the rings and cylinder walls and they seem to be in great shape. The walls are still crosshatched. The cylinders were full of oil, enough to fill the piston dome. It seems my problem lies in the head. I might have bad valve seals or bad guides.

[boro drift]

Too Late, I already removed the head. I inspected the rings and cylinder walls and they seem to be in great shape. The walls are still crosshatched. The cylinders were full of oil, enough to fill the piston dome. It seems my problem lies in the head. I might have bad valve seals or bad guides.

Sounds like bad valve guides then. Remove one of the valve springs, pull the valve out about an inch or so, see if it has any side to side movement. There should be barley enough to feel by hand.

[Madngineer]

the head shop said my guides are loose and i need a valve job. I have another head, i think i will use it instead of dropping 400 in labor to get this head up to par.