Deglazing Bore with Old Rings

[TwistedMetalGmbH]

Was wondering if anyone has ever deglazed a bore and reinstalled the pistons with the same rings. I ask because I have a beater car I daily with a little petrol 4-cyl, its a money saver for sure but i've already rebuilt half the car being 20 years old. I'm probably going to do a refresher on the motor down the road at some point, just because. Parts are fairly cheap and the inside of these motors seem to build up a lot of junk.

Although the engine is running fine currently I suspect its having some blow by. At high rpm it'll sip a little oil but if I drive it nice and easy (low rpms) no oil gets used.

Now a set of OEM rings is pretty cheap and I may just end up doing that but was wondering if anyone has ever deglazed there cylinders and reinstalled old rings. Kind of seems counter productive but just wondering. Other engines has reported the piston rings and drainage passages getting plugged up with crap, causing oil burning issues.

Got me thinking that it might be doable but at the same time maybe not worth taking the risk.

[one eyed mick]

If its running good LEAVE IT ALONE !!!!!

[PaulKemp]

If you breaking the engine down that much why would you not put some new rings (please gap them appropriately) in?
It's cheap ish and you'd be gutted if you honed the bores fitted the old rings and found it no better than before

[TwistedMetalGmbH]

one eyed mick said:

If its running good LEAVE IT ALONE !!!!!

Yeah I hear you. Don't fix it if it ain't broken but im looking for a good project next summer. Gotta keep myself sharp with turning the wrench. Take a year or two off and you get a little rusty. Car is just over 100K right now. But im stacking up miles quickly with a job switch, 250+ a day at times. I'll probably be at 150K by june '17.

If the oil consumption stays the same I will probably ride it out. But if I start seeing oil consumption when driving easily I will probably rebuild it. New OEM rings seem to be going for only about $100 so thats no big deal.

All in all about $400 bucks should get me a refreshed motor. The car owes me nothing and has saved me so much coin I don't mind the investment. Would also make it easier to get rid of when it comes time to part ways.

[TwistedMetalGmbH]

PaulKemp said:

If you breaking the engine down that much why would you not put some new rings (please gap them appropriately) in?
It's cheap ish and you'd be gutted if you honed the bores fitted the old rings and found it no better than before

I'm mostly curious, thinking many people are too scared to try. But out in the sticks im sure someone has done something like that on there tractors, or whatever.

I'm thinking it may be possible the rings are more dirty vs worn.

[227bhp]

Measure the bores and compare with factory specs, it's what they are written for and the only way you will know what to do.

[steveo3002]

the work involved to get that far is enough to make me stump up for a set of new rings , would be a crying shame to do all the work and pay for bolts and gaskets and its just the same or worse

[stevesingo]

I'd try a change in oil viscosity (thicker) and possibly go to a fully synthetic as synthetics generally have a higher flash point and therefore less likely to burn.

Worked on my of 205GTi many moons ago.

[blade7]

Did it many years ago on an Escort RS2000. I was fitting a replacement short engine and the cylinders looked glazed so I honed them a little. It made a bit of racket for the first 30 seconds and then ran fine.

[stevieturbo]

If you say it basically uses no oil....what oil consumption issue are you trying to fix ?


Are you saying you want it to use oil or something ?