engine swap or try new rings?
CamoCivic
New Wagonist
Hi there civic folks,
I have a 1990 4wd 6sp wagon 178k. I blew the head gasket last year when in CO and had to get a new one since the old one was pitted. Car runs great and I put another 40k on it last year (I drive too much), but every tank of gas also requires a quart of oil. I feel bad about the blue plume that I leave behind me when I start accelerating after engine braking down the steep mountain grades out here. I think I want to get this car running perfectly. Dad (still my go-to answer guy on cars) says oil is cheap and the engine is old. He thinks that a set of rings might help some, but likely wouldn't completely fix it (got too hot when it overheated so pulling oil past the valves). Just keep adding oil until the car dies via some other means. Other car-heads say rings are cheap and easy--try it.
This car had a hard life before it came to me (ranch car) so I know the first 150k on it were likely hard. But I milk old cars for year by being attentive. How many miles can I expect to keep getting by 1)just adding oil, or 2) trying the rings? OR should I do what Dad is thinking--find a new engine and swap the whole thing, and plan to drive that new engine for a long, long time?
The car is in great shape (well, need to do front suspension this year, and fix the AC, but otherwise...) and I can't find any other vehicle on the market (in the U.S.) that gets 30+mpg, is 4wd and fits all my music touring gear AND is fine going off-road and in snow.
Thoughts?
sharon
I have a 1990 4wd 6sp wagon 178k. I blew the head gasket last year when in CO and had to get a new one since the old one was pitted. Car runs great and I put another 40k on it last year (I drive too much), but every tank of gas also requires a quart of oil. I feel bad about the blue plume that I leave behind me when I start accelerating after engine braking down the steep mountain grades out here. I think I want to get this car running perfectly. Dad (still my go-to answer guy on cars) says oil is cheap and the engine is old. He thinks that a set of rings might help some, but likely wouldn't completely fix it (got too hot when it overheated so pulling oil past the valves). Just keep adding oil until the car dies via some other means. Other car-heads say rings are cheap and easy--try it.
This car had a hard life before it came to me (ranch car) so I know the first 150k on it were likely hard. But I milk old cars for year by being attentive. How many miles can I expect to keep getting by 1)just adding oil, or 2) trying the rings? OR should I do what Dad is thinking--find a new engine and swap the whole thing, and plan to drive that new engine for a long, long time?
The car is in great shape (well, need to do front suspension this year, and fix the AC, but otherwise...) and I can't find any other vehicle on the market (in the U.S.) that gets 30+mpg, is 4wd and fits all my music touring gear AND is fine going off-road and in snow.
Thoughts?
sharon
Comments
I personally don't like opening up motors. I never hear success stories with rebuilds not continuing to use oil.
With as cheap as these single cam motors are, typically $200-$600, you'd be looking at a lot less down time just swapping in a new motor.
Thanks...
The rings and bearings are npr and i got them off ebay with new pistons for 125$ shipped.
Re-ringing a block is a lot of work, but its not as complicated as I first thought it was.
You can get a honing tool from harbor freight on the cheap, you probably have a cordless drill already to use it. Idk check youtube theres DIY's all day on just about anything you can imagine.