Make slowboy not so slow - Page 14

**asshanson** · 03-04-2009

The other day I got a leakdown test. Compression was 160 +/- 3 across the board, with a loss of 9-14%, the middle two cylinders leaked the highest and had oil on the top of the pistons, which explains my huge oil burning issue.

Here is the plan for the next couple weeks:
Wednesday 3/11: Take off manifold/turbo/o2 housing, take them to Minneapolis with me and have them coated at MAP
Tuesday 3/17: Return to Iowa, remove head by Wednesday evening and have a local machine shop acquaintance check valve seals/guides, flatness, etc.
Saturday/Sunday 3/21-22: Have same guy come over with ball hone and ring filer, install new rings and bearings and hopefully get head back on and timing set by the end of the weekend.

I've never set timing before while the motor was in the car, I have no idea how to compress the tensioner, I need one of those screw thingys but I don't know how they work exactly.

Since the head and everything will be off, I'm debating deleting the ABS stuff since it should be pretty easy with that out of the way. I'll see if they have the parts at u-pull, or spend the $150 and get them all new from mitsu.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 03-04-2009

Put the tensioner in a vise.

**asshanson** · 03-04-2009

Yea thats what I did before, used a c-clamp. How do I loosen everything then, undo the tensioner pulley? I don't have the tool to re-tension, maybe I'll borrow someone's when I'm up there next weekend.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 03-04-2009

Just unbolt the tensioner or cut the timing belt or whatever. The hardest part will be when you need to re-tension it and get so that you can put the pin back in and out with it all set and tightened. It isn't an auto tensioner that you just pull the pin and let it expand.

Swifty1638 · 03-04-2009

you can borrow mine andrew.

**cmspaz** · 03-04-2009

Now aren't you glad I have connections down there?

**asshanson** · 03-04-2009

This is true, I couldn't have done this until June or later otherwise. Swifty I'll look you up next weekend and get that.

**scheides** · 03-04-2009

Holy fuck dude, sounds intense. I have a tensioner tool as well, I'll trade you your dog for it

Of course, it's actually only 1/3 mine, the other 2/3 is hughes and zac, so you'll have to offer them something too

**Kracka** · 03-04-2009

Hmmmm what do I want....

Its the nice hardened AMS one.

turbotalon1g · 03-04-2009

good luck man. I havent seen your car in years.

FattyBoomBatty · 03-04-2009

I hate engine problems.

A//// Guy · 03-04-2009

The only thing im wondering is how a motor with only a couple thousand miles has ruined rings already. Can a really bad break in process do this? I wouldn't think so but Im not sure.

**asshanson** · 03-04-2009

If the rings never seated properly then it would always burn oil, plus it was gapped pretty loose from the beginning. It also sat on a garage floor for 3 years after the first 1000 miles, probably doesn't help.

**cmspaz** · 03-04-2009

^Troof.

Not only was it a garage floor, it was a garage floor in Ames, Iowa.

Swifty1638 · 03-04-2009

didn't you see it last year at a dyno day aaron?

I also ponder if the rings really are bad..

-A. Swift

A//// Guy · 03-05-2009

An engine sitting covered up and sitting for a couple years wouldnt have any effect on rings going bad. The only thing I could see happening from that is surface rust on the cylinders, which would be bad.

I suppose seating the rings could have been the issue. I just would think with all his experience with engines, he would know what to do with engine break in.

**asshanson** · 03-05-2009

Well, I guess what are the alternatives? A really bad leaking head? The car pushes a little coolant, but I've only filled it up once or twice in a year so thats not bad, so the headgasket isn't really blown. I just don't know what else it could be, lightly cracked block or something?

Symptoms:
1. 160 compression on 9.0:1 pistons - I'd expect 180-190
2. Burns 1qt oil every ~700 miles
3. Burns a TON of oil after a pull on decel or between gears
4. Crankcase pressurized, dipstick popped out once before I crushed the tube a bit
5. Ton of blowby into catch can, need to empty every oil change, also letting some oil into intake/turbo/piping

Swifty1638 · 03-05-2009

I guess that's just not something I'd guess at.

-A. Swift

**asshanson** · 03-06-2009

Well shit. I don't think I can get the rings in time now since I have to return the wrong ones I ordered. Still waiting to hear back from Magnus on the exact specs that were ordered, I don't want to have to order them again.

Still taking off my turbo parts to be ceramic coated though, but the rering may have to wait until after the cruise.

FattyBoomBatty · 03-07-2009

I just want to throw this out there, but did you check all the valve stem seals and guides?