My car is currently sat in the garage waiting to have work done to it. Its slowly started to smoke more and more so I suspected the valve stem seals to be the issue as it only smoked once the car was warm, mainly at lights and stop start traffic jams.
so as im lacking most the gear to strip the engine down, i threw it in to my garage to do, however after a week of waiting on a price, i got told it wasnt the stem seals but the rings. Naturally i asked how they knew this and was told that the engine shop had said that S3's are notorious for the rings failing and there no way its the seals, bearing in mind its 19 years old.
Now, i fully trust the garage as the owner is a good mate of mine for 20+years and i do spend quite a lot of time messing about there, but this has got me a little confused as i never heard that the rings were bad on these cars.
as far as i know, no compression test has been done and no investigation work as to whats actually failing and causing the smoke.
Going to get TJ's engine and strip that down, rebuild and refurbish it and 'see' if im capable to do it right. Its something i have been wanting to do for a while now, and if i get it right, brilliant. Thinking of doing a engine swap and then rebuilding my original to forged spec's over time.
Anyways, im looking for any advice about the rings or stem seals, im reluctant to let the engine place near the engine anyway as i have now heard not so good things about them not lapping valves and tophat liners being damaged on installs. Unfortunately they seem to be about the only local place to me.
here's a couple of the last days work on her
removed headlights without the whole bumper off. 10 mins a light roughly. no scratches or damage to the car either.
much cleaner and MUCH brighter. the headlights from trups are quality for sure. need to align them and take for a night time test. daylight looked bright tho.
and cleaned up.
stay safe all,
danny.
so as im lacking most the gear to strip the engine down, i threw it in to my garage to do, however after a week of waiting on a price, i got told it wasnt the stem seals but the rings. Naturally i asked how they knew this and was told that the engine shop had said that S3's are notorious for the rings failing and there no way its the seals, bearing in mind its 19 years old.
Now, i fully trust the garage as the owner is a good mate of mine for 20+years and i do spend quite a lot of time messing about there, but this has got me a little confused as i never heard that the rings were bad on these cars.
as far as i know, no compression test has been done and no investigation work as to whats actually failing and causing the smoke.
Going to get TJ's engine and strip that down, rebuild and refurbish it and 'see' if im capable to do it right. Its something i have been wanting to do for a while now, and if i get it right, brilliant. Thinking of doing a engine swap and then rebuilding my original to forged spec's over time.
Anyways, im looking for any advice about the rings or stem seals, im reluctant to let the engine place near the engine anyway as i have now heard not so good things about them not lapping valves and tophat liners being damaged on installs. Unfortunately they seem to be about the only local place to me.
here's a couple of the last days work on her
removed headlights without the whole bumper off. 10 mins a light roughly. no scratches or damage to the car either.
much cleaner and MUCH brighter. the headlights from trups are quality for sure. need to align them and take for a night time test. daylight looked bright tho.
and cleaned up.
stay safe all,
danny.
