oh no, blue smoke and loss of power...

[hardflipman]

anyone know if this is a big problem.
was coming back from a week away in the borders and tried accelerating at one point in the journey and it was pretty damn sluggish then i noticed vast quanitites of blue smoke coming from the back. after a quick test it seems that it only happens after 3000rpm. the car is absolutely fine otherwise and i'm pleaeed to note pretty mpg from the jourey.

anyhoo, a quick bot of research seems to point the finger at the rings being worn is this accurate? is it likely to be costly? and will it need to be sprted urgently?

cheers

it's a an sreg e240 by the way!

 

[Aussie Nick]

It is either the rings (most probable) or stem seals or both. It will be expensive

 

[panason1c]

A couple of checks first........Check the breather pipes/system isnt blocked ......also, check the engine hasnt been overfilled with oil.

Remove the dipstick and with the engine running see if there is any backpressure/smoke coming from the dip-tube.......this would indicate worn or broken rings.

 

[hardflipman]

oil level seems fine as the computer tells me oil is at the correct level. i hadn't had any issues previously and haven't touched the oil so doubt it is that. the only difference was that the car had got very cold (was under a good few inches of snow) but it had all melted by the time i used it. and the engine had warmed up before putting my foot down as we'd been driving for about an hour.

i presume there is no way of prediciting that these things will happen...

 

[Aussie Nick]

If you want to put yourself at ease without expense try a compression test which you could probably carry out yourself with a compression gauge.

 

[hardflipman]

would i be being stupid to think i could repalce the rings myself? i don't have much mechanical experience but have many years ago taken 2stroke motorbike engines apart

 

[wireman]

You will need a fairly comprehensive tool kit, lifting gear and a place to work safely to do it your self, Just take the head and sump off then remove the big end caps and push the pistons up and out of the bores, you may need to extract the engine as a whole to do it. The bores should be checked for wear and damage, a quick rebore and new pistons will sort that.
Reassembly is of course the reverse of the above.
Maybe the answer is no

 

[hardflipman]

hehe, i kind of thought it might be a bit more compicated than working on a motocross bike!

cheers

 

[Aussie Nick]

I think you should have a go. Man are you going to learn a lot and so will quite a few of the members here.

 

[hardflipman]

to be honest i would give it a try if i had the time but i just don't at the moment.

the problem i am having though is finding a mechanic who will actually do the work. no one seems interested in fixing an engine!

more interestingly though the problem seems to be intermittent which to me would make it seem like it's perhaps not rings cos you'd expect the problem to be there all the time.

 

[Aussie Nick]

we are back to a compression test

 

[jamesmc]

I would take Nick's advice, do the compression test and then debate findings in this thread.

 

[BlackC55]

DON'T take the engine apart.

You have a blocked breather.

It is most likely to be the one at the flywheel end of ythe engine.

Gearbox has to come off for the repair as the breather is behind a plate behind the flywheel.

 

[hardflipman]

thanks for that. everyone i've spoken to has been mighty surprised at the thought of the rings going.
if it is the breather would that explain why it's intermittent?

 

[panason1c]

thanks for that. everyone i've spoken to has been mighty surprised at the thought of the rings going.
if it is the breather would that explain why it's intermittent?

You first posted about this problem 25 days ago when i suggested that you first check that the breather system is not blocked/restricted (post #3).......... there have since been others suggesting the same action...........why dont you now just check out the breathing system first of all rather than ask hyperthetical questions without checking out the suggestions already offered?

 

[Aussie Nick]

Settle down Panasonic he's only a junior member he'll get there eventually. Hardflipman I think you should have followed Senior member Panasonic's advice in the first instance as this was an easy fix situation compared to the rings. I think it is natural to panic in these situations and pretend that the problem will disappear by seeking continual advice on the forum.The fact is one should actually test the proposals put forward by experienced members in order to save perpetuating the anguish and despair to yourself. I think it would be useful now if after thoroughly investigating the problem if you would come back and post the results.

 

[ramsanjan]

i think you need more diagnosis be fore you go ripping your engine apart . your cars not going to all of a sudden start smoking .

 

[MotardMan]

Hardflipman, you don't say where you are, but I have a chap locally (Gloucestershire) whose hourly rate will not make you cry, and who knows his stuff. He'll happily take the job on, if you have not found somewhere else to do it?