Engine rebuild
Discussion
I'm just after canvassing some opinions on this
Scoring from legitimate engine builders and what I should do.
My new built engine died in three days due to an oil leak issue that was not noticed and resulted in a spun big end bearing. The bottom end was rebuilt free of charge following the failure and i was offered the car back. Not happy with a coolant loss after the free rebuild I insisted the car was checked over and was told no leak was found under test by the engine builder and the car was good to use.
Not happy with this advice I asked for the head to be removed so that I could send it off to the company that reworked the head for inspection.
I now have the car minus the head sat outside.
The car has done around 500miles since the rebuild and on inspection by my untrained eye this scoring is a worry. I can feel them with my finger but I'm told that my leak down rates are around 8% on all cylinders of the engine builder.
I'm now in two minds if to have the bottom end re done by another company as I have invested over 10k into it now and seeing this on my ductile liners is annoying me and dont know if it's acceptable.
Scoring from legitimate engine builders and what I should do.
My new built engine died in three days due to an oil leak issue that was not noticed and resulted in a spun big end bearing. The bottom end was rebuilt free of charge following the failure and i was offered the car back. Not happy with a coolant loss after the free rebuild I insisted the car was checked over and was told no leak was found under test by the engine builder and the car was good to use.
Not happy with this advice I asked for the head to be removed so that I could send it off to the company that reworked the head for inspection.
I now have the car minus the head sat outside.
The car has done around 500miles since the rebuild and on inspection by my untrained eye this scoring is a worry. I can feel them with my finger but I'm told that my leak down rates are around 8% on all cylinders of the engine builder.
I'm now in two minds if to have the bottom end re done by another company as I have invested over 10k into it now and seeing this on my ductile liners is annoying me and dont know if it's acceptable.
You may be over-reacting to a non-existent problem. I don't understand why you took the heads off. It would not be at all unusual to have air pockets in the cooling system after engine work and for the level to drop over the next few weeks as these work out of the system. Unless you think the people who did the leak test were lying, I don't see any reason to assume there is actually a leak. In any case, the leak would have to be inside the engine itself for that to justify mucking about with the engine again. Was there some evidence of that you haven't mentioned? Even if it does turn out there's a cooling system leak, that doesn't justify repeating the work you've already had done on the bottom end. I'm not sure which scratches you're concerned about, but if the leakdown test results show it's sealing well there is unlikely to be anything substantially wrong with it.
Edited by GreenV8S on Friday 22 May 18:47
Oh this forum gets tedious......despite it being a reasonable query/thread.
As always, how about some background as to how this turn of events came about ? Why was this engine rebuilt, whatever engine it is ?
And as others have alluded to.....exactly what did this rebuild entail to warrant such an expense ?
And those pistons dont really look like 500 mile old pistons, and sure as hell that bore does not look like a 500 mile old bore. So presumably whatever scores or markings you are seeing, have been there for many thousands of miles.
But of course no, it should not use water/coolant. But you're not giving us any clues as to whether this was an external loss, internal, other...or unkown.
But how do you say there was a coolant loss....if no leak was found ?
And how could an oil leak so severe as to lead to engine destruction in 3 days...go unnoticed ? That seems extremely hard to believe.
And it sounds like you're having multiple parties working at this ? Rather than leaving it to one shop to deal with....which means if there is any blame, it's easier to place liabilties.
As always, how about some background as to how this turn of events came about ? Why was this engine rebuilt, whatever engine it is ?
And as others have alluded to.....exactly what did this rebuild entail to warrant such an expense ?
And those pistons dont really look like 500 mile old pistons, and sure as hell that bore does not look like a 500 mile old bore. So presumably whatever scores or markings you are seeing, have been there for many thousands of miles.
But of course no, it should not use water/coolant. But you're not giving us any clues as to whether this was an external loss, internal, other...or unkown.
But how do you say there was a coolant loss....if no leak was found ?
And how could an oil leak so severe as to lead to engine destruction in 3 days...go unnoticed ? That seems extremely hard to believe.
And it sounds like you're having multiple parties working at this ? Rather than leaving it to one shop to deal with....which means if there is any blame, it's easier to place liabilties.
Half the story is missing as usual, who? What car/engine? Details about this oil leak?
I think the best thing to do is to take it to someone who knows what they're doing and have it inspected properly, not by some armchair expert on a forum with pics.
If it's crap then ask for your money back, if they don't then take them to court.
Although the problem you may face now (although it's unclear) is that the original builder has to be given a chance to put it right before you can take action against him.
I think the best thing to do is to take it to someone who knows what they're doing and have it inspected properly, not by some armchair expert on a forum with pics.
If it's crap then ask for your money back, if they don't then take them to court.
Although the problem you may face now (although it's unclear) is that the original builder has to be given a chance to put it right before you can take action against him.
I suspect it's been bore washed and I bet the plugs are sooted up as well. Lots of white smoke on startup if petrol engine and a nice smell. Research fuel wash out, petrol. If I'm correct your pistons will also be scored, your oil will be be black and it'll stink of petrol.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 22 May 23:09
Boosted LS1 said:
I suspect it's been bore washed and I bet the plugs are sooted up as well.
I'd not be surprised it it's det'd (top of the piston looks a tad suspicious in places round the edge and with the marks in the carbon) bent the top land / ring, and possibly knocked the bearings out too.....mtrehy said:
The scoring was there before someone honed it more recently.
A lot depends on what exactly you paid for. One man's definition of "engine rebuild" can be very different to another's.
The engine casing, inlet and exhaust valves are the only thing that has remained from my original engine.A lot depends on what exactly you paid for. One man's definition of "engine rebuild" can be very different to another's.
Not referring to the brown ring at the top of the bore but the grey portion (even the hone didnt remove that wear impression) thats not a fresh bore or piston IMO 
you can make pistons look like new by soaking in thinners overnight so I'm not convinced they are new, I am presuming this is a Renault 16v unit 
if you can feel those scores with your finger nails its re-bore or liner time
you can make pistons look like new by soaking in thinners overnight so I'm not convinced they are new, I am presuming this is a Renault 16v unit if you can feel those scores with your finger nails its re-bore or liner time Edited by Zener on Saturday 23 May 09:44
Evoluzione said:
Half the story is missing as usual, who? What car/engine? Details about this oil leak?
I think the best thing to do is to take it to someone who knows what they're doing and have it inspected properly, not by some armchair expert on a forum with pics.
If it's crap then ask for your money back, if they don't then take them to court.
Although the problem you may face now (although it's unclear) is that the original builder has to be given a chance to put it right before you can take action against him.
Presumably he feels he took the car to "experts" which has lead to the current situation.I think the best thing to do is to take it to someone who knows what they're doing and have it inspected properly, not by some armchair expert on a forum with pics.
If it's crap then ask for your money back, if they don't then take them to court.
Although the problem you may face now (although it's unclear) is that the original builder has to be given a chance to put it right before you can take action against him.
It's pretty well known from every post here....even mediocre builders out there are few and far between, nevermind the golden unicorn of an expert.
But partial stories with lack of real info and background etc....are just BS.
But all that compounds if one person builds, another person maybe installs, another bolts on other parts, and then maybe nobody or another person tries to tune. All a recipe for problems and blame.
But as others have said, the top ring land marking on that bore....is not a 500 mile fresh bore or hone.
although the pic is also unclear...the block deck doesn't even look like it has been machined recently ( but may not have been necessary depending on whatever level of claimed rebuild was done )
Edited by stevieturbo on Saturday 23 May 10:08
stevieturbo said:
Oh this forum gets tedious......despite it being a reasonable query/thread.
As always, how about some background as to how this turn of events came about ? Why was this engine rebuilt, whatever engine it is ?
And as others have alluded to.....exactly what did this rebuild entail to warrant such an expense ?
And those pistons dont really look like 500 mile old pistons, and sure as hell that bore does not look like a 500 mile old bore. So presumably whatever scores or markings you are seeing, have been there for many thousands of miles.
But of course no, it should not use water/coolant. But you're not giving us any clues as to whether this was an external loss, internal, other...or unkown.
But how do you say there was a coolant loss....if no leak was found ?
And how could an oil leak so severe as to lead to engine destruction in 3 days...go unnoticed ? That seems extremely hard to believe.
And it sounds like you're having multiple parties working at this ? Rather than leaving it to one shop to deal with....which means if there is any blame, it's easier to place liabilties.
The engine was rebuilt because it was broken.As always, how about some background as to how this turn of events came about ? Why was this engine rebuilt, whatever engine it is ?
And as others have alluded to.....exactly what did this rebuild entail to warrant such an expense ?
And those pistons dont really look like 500 mile old pistons, and sure as hell that bore does not look like a 500 mile old bore. So presumably whatever scores or markings you are seeing, have been there for many thousands of miles.
But of course no, it should not use water/coolant. But you're not giving us any clues as to whether this was an external loss, internal, other...or unkown.
But how do you say there was a coolant loss....if no leak was found ?
And how could an oil leak so severe as to lead to engine destruction in 3 days...go unnoticed ? That seems extremely hard to believe.
And it sounds like you're having multiple parties working at this ? Rather than leaving it to one shop to deal with....which means if there is any blame, it's easier to place liabilties.
The pistons, liners, rings, rods, verniers, cams, lifters springs and caps were all replaced and all bearings and seals replaced. The head was fully reworked and jenveys bolted to it with light weight fly. they are all sub 1k miles. The engine had a a link ecu and new loom fitted. The engine had mapping mileage and break in followed by approx 600 miles use by my self (spun bearing).
Car got rebuilt and given back but I'm now losing coolant.
Not happy I fully check for external leaks, non found. Get independent garage to sniff test and source leak where I'm told if its leaking the car needs stripping.
The car goes back to engine builders where all tests are carried out and it concluded there is no leak. I find this strange tho as I'm topping it up frequently.
I'm offered the car for collection as good to go but I'm not happy so instruct engine builder to remove the head and send me the bill. I collect the car and head and send the head off to be checked over by the company.
The head is inspected and has some further work carried out to improve performance. On reasembly of the head it is found two exhaust valves have slight bends in them as the machinist failed in his attempts to lap them in so new ones are fitted.
I then find the scores while looking for witness Mark's on pistons. It's worth adding the car never made the expected power so cam timing was extensively explored. While inspecting the pistons it was bought to my attention that a leak sealer had also been added to my coolant system but not mentioned.
Why an engine builder would do such a thing if there is no leak I do not under stand.
Since the engine was repaired following the leak it has done no more than 300 miles plus mapping/checking.
It sits outside with the scores and leak sealer clear as day in the engine. I will get some pics
Boosted LS1 said:
mtrehy said:
The scoring was there before someone honed it more recently.
A lot depends on what exactly you paid for. One man's definition of "engine rebuild" can be very different to another's.
Nope, the scoring's new.A lot depends on what exactly you paid for. One man's definition of "engine rebuild" can be very different to another's.
You are very experienced and are bang on the money.....
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