Bluesmoking newly restored engine
Discussion
Hi all,
Yes, I have searched this forum for topics about piston rings and found some, but none really describing my problem.
My Griff 500 is newly restored including a complete engine rebuild. It has run for just a short while since finished, perhaps 5–10 startups, and very soon I noticed blue smoke from the exhaust while reving up and then releasing the throttle. Nothing upon start and nothing at idling. Well, not as far as I can detect by eye anyway. I also have some clearly visible smoke coming out of the crank vent hose if I pop it loose. Not much pressure from there, but smoke. Yes, filthy smoke. Not OK!
Must be some issues with the piston rings, says my experience. Yes, the engine is new and all (relined by V8 Developments), there shouldn't be any problem with the ... well yes, I'm thinking it might as well be faulty rings. Because:
- I had major problems when balancing the inner parts of the engine, the rings had to go on and off the pistons several times for various reasons. The rings were "twisted" back and forth, time and again. Do you think that they may have lost their elasticity due to this? Sounds reasonable? Note: All rings were carefully gaptested before installed. Not sure about how tight the oil rings are allowed to be in their grooves though. Ideas?
- I also happened to run the engine a bit hot on the very first start. Had no reliable temp gauge connected and there appeared to be some air gaps in the cooling system. Are the rings sensative to this, do you think?
I bought the piston rings from TVR Parts, their cheapest kit for something like £48. A bad choice? If I go for new rings now, which I probably need to, I really need some good advice what to go for. I've heard about "Total Seal" rings. Worth a try? Where to get? TVR Parts seems to offer a more expensive type also, sold per piston. Seen some at Racetech Direct too. The Hungarian TVR enthusiast Verpoorten Automotive offers "V8 Performance Rings" – "Torsional Plasma Moly High Tensional ..." and so on. Any experience?
As usual – I would very much appreciate all your input! It isn't exactly a dreamjob to lift the heads again, pop the sump etc etc. Regards/Stefan in SWE
Yes, I have searched this forum for topics about piston rings and found some, but none really describing my problem.
My Griff 500 is newly restored including a complete engine rebuild. It has run for just a short while since finished, perhaps 5–10 startups, and very soon I noticed blue smoke from the exhaust while reving up and then releasing the throttle. Nothing upon start and nothing at idling. Well, not as far as I can detect by eye anyway. I also have some clearly visible smoke coming out of the crank vent hose if I pop it loose. Not much pressure from there, but smoke. Yes, filthy smoke. Not OK!
Must be some issues with the piston rings, says my experience. Yes, the engine is new and all (relined by V8 Developments), there shouldn't be any problem with the ... well yes, I'm thinking it might as well be faulty rings. Because:
- I had major problems when balancing the inner parts of the engine, the rings had to go on and off the pistons several times for various reasons. The rings were "twisted" back and forth, time and again. Do you think that they may have lost their elasticity due to this? Sounds reasonable? Note: All rings were carefully gaptested before installed. Not sure about how tight the oil rings are allowed to be in their grooves though. Ideas?
- I also happened to run the engine a bit hot on the very first start. Had no reliable temp gauge connected and there appeared to be some air gaps in the cooling system. Are the rings sensative to this, do you think?
I bought the piston rings from TVR Parts, their cheapest kit for something like £48. A bad choice? If I go for new rings now, which I probably need to, I really need some good advice what to go for. I've heard about "Total Seal" rings. Worth a try? Where to get? TVR Parts seems to offer a more expensive type also, sold per piston. Seen some at Racetech Direct too. The Hungarian TVR enthusiast Verpoorten Automotive offers "V8 Performance Rings" – "Torsional Plasma Moly High Tensional ..." and so on. Any experience?
As usual – I would very much appreciate all your input! It isn't exactly a dreamjob to lift the heads again, pop the sump etc etc. Regards/Stefan in SWE
Thanks for all your input! Great forum this is.
I would love to take the car out for a proper tour to let it run in nicely, but up here in Sweden we usually let our fine open cars stay inside during winter. I'd rather not try the Griff on salty, snowy roads ... I know that a proper run in is necessary to bed in all bits, but this is not the first engine I'm rebuilding and I can't recall seeing blue smoke after say 20 minutes of running on my previous rebuilds. For a short while perhaps, when the engine is "wiping off" the initial oil coat from assembling, but that is more like seconds. However, this is my first Rover V8, so could of course be individual differences.
As said, I've run it for say 20–30 minutes maximum, mostly standing still and with varying revs. Most notable is the constant smoke coming out of the crank vent hose, from exhaust only at certain revs. Probably I will have to run it more before final judgement. But with the seasons we have here I would have perefered to get it all fixed BEFORE the sun is back and the car is out on the road again. Letting it run for hours standing still is not that tempting ...
I'm using semi synthetic oil, 10W-40. Should I use thicker mineral?
And yes, the rings are installed with the correct face upwards.
I will do a compression test and see what it shows. I have a meter lying around, so why not.
Thanks again for your comments!
I would love to take the car out for a proper tour to let it run in nicely, but up here in Sweden we usually let our fine open cars stay inside during winter. I'd rather not try the Griff on salty, snowy roads ... I know that a proper run in is necessary to bed in all bits, but this is not the first engine I'm rebuilding and I can't recall seeing blue smoke after say 20 minutes of running on my previous rebuilds. For a short while perhaps, when the engine is "wiping off" the initial oil coat from assembling, but that is more like seconds. However, this is my first Rover V8, so could of course be individual differences.
As said, I've run it for say 20–30 minutes maximum, mostly standing still and with varying revs. Most notable is the constant smoke coming out of the crank vent hose, from exhaust only at certain revs. Probably I will have to run it more before final judgement. But with the seasons we have here I would have perefered to get it all fixed BEFORE the sun is back and the car is out on the road again. Letting it run for hours standing still is not that tempting ...
I'm using semi synthetic oil, 10W-40. Should I use thicker mineral?
And yes, the rings are installed with the correct face upwards.
I will do a compression test and see what it shows. I have a meter lying around, so why not.
Thanks again for your comments!
Haven't had time to visit the forum for a few days (and not my garage either), very happy to see more contributions to this discussion! Seems like all indicates that I will not have to take the engine apart once again and that feels very refreshing indeed. I will certainly change the semi synthetic oil to one specified for break-in purposes before firing up again. Really hope that this oil hasn't damaged my break-in chances now ...
And yes, to clarify: The engine is a full rebuild with new liners installed by V8 Dev. However used pistons, but all were measured thoroughly before assembling.
I'll post again when next step is taken. Looking out of the window now, watching the snow fall ...
And yes, to clarify: The engine is a full rebuild with new liners installed by V8 Dev. However used pistons, but all were measured thoroughly before assembling.
I'll post again when next step is taken. Looking out of the window now, watching the snow fall ...
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