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Cheap piston ring replacement

Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 NISSAN ALMERA
  • 1.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 88,000 MILES
Car burns oil badly, compression is low, nothing else is causing the issue so I am looking to replace the rings. Now I have a very limited budget and cannot afford a full re-machining job or anything fancy, just wondering if it is possible to replace the rings without taking the head off. If I can just go in through the sump. Means I do not have to redo the timing on the car.

Any help would be great.
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Thursday, June 29th, 2017 AT 4:43 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Nope, head has to come off cylinder should be honed as well. Check to see if there are blocked drains in the head and for valve seals being bad. If compression is way low then the rings probably will not fix It anyhow. Maybe a burnt valve?
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Thursday, June 29th, 2017 AT 5:45 AM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Thanks for the info, I was hoping I wouldnt have to take the head off as I didnt want to mess with the timing but if it needs to be done then ive not got much choice, im going to check the valves and stem guides while I there.
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Sunday, July 2nd, 2017 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
MAXIMILIAM
  • ADMIN
  • 436 POSTS
Please get back to us and let us know what happened or if you need more assistance.
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Monday, July 3rd, 2017 AT 2:50 AM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Will do, ive done a bit poking around today, calculated the psi from the compression ratio, checked that every vent is clear and redid a compression test since the info id gotten from someone else saying how to convert the ratio was wrong. Turns out my compression is spot on actually slighty up on the 9.9-1 at 145psi that its meant to have and the test gave me about 155-170 so compression is good makes me think its had rings at some point as its an 88k car with original engine. Im now really thinking its badly worn valve guides. What do you think?
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Monday, July 3rd, 2017 AT 2:46 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try valve seals first they wear out due to material and heat.
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Monday, July 3rd, 2017 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Noted, I'm probably gonna take the valve cover off tomorrow if I've got time, got most of the afternoons light before I'm on nightshift so it shouldn't take too long to figure out what's knackered inside it
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Monday, July 3rd, 2017 AT 3:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,347 POSTS
Please let us know what happens, we are interested to see what it is.

Nice work Hmac300

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, July 5th, 2017 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
So I've got the valve cover off and realised that the valve springs and stems are completely enclosed in the head, without taking the camshafts off I'm not sure how to check the seals. Unless you know any different?
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Thursday, July 6th, 2017 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Yes cams have to come out then there is a special tool that removes and installs the new seals.
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Thursday, July 6th, 2017 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Aaah crap, so I'll have to do the timing on the engine if I do that, but I don't need to remove the head?
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Thursday, July 6th, 2017 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
No the head doesn't need to come off, you will need to put air to cylinders to keep valves closed while replacing the seals otherwise valves may drop into cylinder which would require you to pull head then.
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Thursday, July 6th, 2017 AT 9:30 AM
Tiny
NICHOLAS WRIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Right, time to look at buying seals and how to redo the timing then I guess, thanks for the help, I'll keep you updated
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Thursday, July 6th, 2017 AT 10:15 AM

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