Signs of bad rings

[scotch_kris]

So recently the car has started smoking on idle occasionally. Has started since I done pigeon mod, decat and removed silencer.

After a bit of driving it seems to clear itself and come back occasionally. It's not too bad but def noticeable considering I can see it in my mirror when sat in traffic but a quick blip of the throttle and it doesn't get any worse.

Haven't lost any oil either so bit baffled.

Is this just a sign of turbo seals or could it be rings? Plan on doing a compression test this week. Also car doesn't get used much sits there for a week or 2 and comes out at weekends.

Currently using 5w40 oil with an oil change happening next week to 10w50.

Read a bit about symptoms of sr20 ring failure but they all seem to be epic fails with dipsticks blowing out and oil dripping from manifolds etc which I def don't have lol

[sausages]

I seem to have a very similar problem

[richie s14a]

If it was rings would'nt it smoke all the time? most likely to be turbo oil seals. Standard turbos tend to push oil past the rear seal at 14 + psi.

[scotch_kris]

Yeah that's what I thought tbh mate.

Its only running 0.7bar was turned down coupe months ago from a bar. So it could be turbo seal although they were only done a year ago

[richie s14a]

My turbo lasted 8 months at a bar then started smoking. You need a staggered real oil seal when running a bar or over.

[scotch_kris]

Was yours just smoking on idle too?

I'm thinking it may well be that. As its only became noticeable since removing bov and doing pigeon mod and putting decat on. So perhaps the pigeon mod is letting oil past the seal where its putting pressure on the core and causing it to smoke :/ clutching at straws lol hoping its def not rings but as you said it would surely smoke constantly if so

[Jon]

I would say that dying turbo oil seals are the most likely explanation.
S14 piston rings are not mentioned very often on the forum outside of full-on rebuild threads.

My own original turbo died: long winded description here:
http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.p...=1#post5290794

[scotch_kris]

Seems identical to my issue mate. Good thrashing seemed to solve it until parked up for week, then it occurred again. Sat on my mates drive at and angle was when first noticed it. Never seems to smoke on boost or that either as asked a mate behind if it was chucking out smoke.

Glad its could just be that took a lot of worry off lol as got day at pod in couple weeks ahaha

Mate up rating his turbo soon so may have to have his s15 t28r from him and get that rebuilt and slap it on

[richie s14a]

Mine smoked on idle and while driving prob because my oil seals had completly disintergrated!. t28r will b more responsive but quite expensive to have rebuilt.

[inliner_04]

Are you sure its not just running rich? Youve fitted aftermarket parts and its not been custom mapped to suit? Until my car was mapped it used to smoke when left to idle for 5 minutes or so.

[scotch_kris]

It could well be tbh but its kind of blue smoke time will tell

[inliner_04]

I thought it looked blue too, but it never used even a drop of oil and the smoke used to smell so fuelly.

[pippin89]

If you are doing a compression test that should identify ring problems. Once you have done it put a drop of oil around the top of the piston and do it again. If compression goes up then its a ring problem!

[scotch_kris]

How am I ment to put a drop of oil round the piston?

[pippin89]

Sorry wasn't the best description. In through the spark plug hole. A small amount of oil around the top of the piston where it meets the cylinder. The idea is that it helps the rings to seal so if compression goes up significantly then the rings weren't sealing very well in the first place!

[scotch_kris]

But that makes no sense....

As I could pour any liquid in there and worn rings or not it would show higher compression surely as its still effectively making the compression chamber smaller therefore higher compression

[pippin89]

that's why you use a very small amount. You would only do it if your compression is low as it shows that it is the rings and not anything else, like a cracked head etc. And it would be a significant increase.

[scotch_kris]

Ah yeah that would make sense, sorry not long up lol

[pippin89]

Ah yeah that would make sense, sorry not long up lol

Haha no worries dude.

[Jon]

Aargh. That was a missed opportunity for a bit mischief