Piston Ring Change

[Pilchard]

Just had my Bongo in the garage and the diagnosis is that the piston rings are probably knackered. The van has been sat up for 2 years with out turning the engine. Oil is squirting out through the inlet manifold.

Can I access the pistons from the top or do I have to go in from the sump end.
I got an engine manual from some dodgy character off ripoffBay last year but the print is so small I can't make it out even with a magnifying glass.

Any help would be most welcome.

Thanks

Kenny

[francophile1947]

You'd have to go from the sump to remove the pistons and access the rings.
If it hasn't run for two years, the rings are probably just stuck in the grooves - try squirting a load of Redex through the injector holes and leave it overnight - hopefully that will free them enough for it to start (there will be clouds of white smoke if it does ).

[Pilchard]

Thanks John. The annoying thing is the engine runs great up to 3000 revs but then it gets lumpy and smokey.
I'll try the Redex tip tonight.

Thanks
Kenny

[scanner]

Thanks John. The annoying thing is the engine runs great up to 3000 revs but then it gets lumpy and smokey.
I'll try the Redex tip tonight.

Thanks
Kenny

Have you changed the fuel filter since it was stood for so long?

[helen&tony]

Hi
Also, If it's been a couple of years or more, then the fuel itself can degrade due to a number of reasons, and whilst petrol is the worst culprit, diesel can also cause difficulty. It depends largely on the degree of heat and humidity, and whether the vehicle has been in the shade, but, most emergency generators are drained and the fuel replenished if it's to be standing for 2 years plus.
I would think that you're lucky if you can start it with no problems. Normal procedure would be to get some releasing oil in the bores, wind it over by hand, and don't attempt to start it until this has been done a couple of times, and then change all the fluids. When you have changed everything, wind the engine for a few times without starting, put a fresh battery in , and attempt to run it for a short period only, to get some oil round, leave it for a short while and start it properly.
You'll need to check the brakes out, and run a pressure test on the coolant system, in case you've had a joint in the system weep and let air in
An engine should be run every few weeks in order to maintain it! You may be lucky, and if it's not a lot longer than a couple of years, chances are it MAY be that you can resurrect it without too much damage
Cheers
Helen

[teenmal]

Hi it will be lumpy and smokey if..Quote Oil is squirting out through the inlet manifold.

You need to find out what is causing this particular problem.

Good Luck.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Quote:
Oil is squirting out through the inlet manifold.
Mice eaten the valve-stem seals...
If the rings are stuck, or a valve temporarily corroded in place...
We did , once, de-sieze an engine with brake fluid!!!!!....AND it worked (surprise surprise), as that's all that was to hand
Cheers
Helen

[mikeWalsall]

Dunno about diesels .. but with petrol engines removing the spark plugs .. put Coca Cola down the plugs holes .. leave over night .. still with the plugs out .. see if it cranks over which blows the Coke out .. put some Redex in .. leave for another day .. still with the plugs out .. crank it over to blow the surplus Redex out ..

[helen&tony]

Hi Mike
That'll work ...unfortunately, the engine we de-seized was actually rusted, and defied all attempts, so we towed it with brake fluid as a releaser....side -valve engine...and it ran well afterwards!...more by way of a miracle!
Cheers
Helen

[winchman]

. Oil is squirting out through the inlet manifold.


Kenny

Have you checked the crank case breathing system?
I also would have thought the piston rings would just be gummed up but cant explain why it differs at different engine speeds?

[briwy]

Where is the oil coming from out of the inlet manifold? We are assuming this is a diesel? Do you mean there is actually a jet of oil coming out?

Could be an oil leak from the turbo oil feed which could explain why it goes lumpy when you rev it, turbo not working properly.
Have you looked in the air induction pipes, air cleaner etc to see if there are any traces of oil in there.

Has the garage said why they think the rings are knackered? Have they done a compression test?

[Pilchard]

Where is the oil coming from out of the inlet manifold? We are assuming this is a diesel? Do you mean there is actually a jet of oil coming out?

Could be an oil leak from the turbo oil feed which could explain why it goes lumpy when you rev it, turbo not working properly.
Have you looked in the air induction pipes, air cleaner etc to see if there are any traces of oil in there.

Has the garage said why they think the rings are knackered? Have they done a compression test?

Lots of good points for me to check. The garage did a pressure test and said there was a lot of back pressure. Not sure what that means but they said most likely cause would be piston rings. It looks like an awful big job to replace them. I've just done the head gasket so am used to having the engine in bits.
There was a bit of exhaust leakage where the exhaust connects to the outlet so I would imaging this would affect the turbo operating correctly. I'll keep you posted on how I get on.
Kenny