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From: ins_aeas@jhunix.UUCP (Earle A .Sugar)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Oil burning and piston rings
Message-ID: <1098@jhunix.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 3-Nov-85 13:11:57 EST
Article-I.D.: jhunix.1098
Posted: Sun Nov  3 13:11:57 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 08:41:45 EST
References: <314@g.cs.cmu.edu.ARPA> <187@cdstar.UUCP> <289@watmum.UUCP> <518@ttidcb.UUCP>
Organization: The Johns Hopkins Univ. @Bawlamer, Merlend
Lines: 50

> < who is for dinner >
> 	My `79 Plymouth (Mitsubishi) Champ, with ~92k miles, emits a puff
> of grey smoke when I shift. Oil consumption has gone up also. This obvious
> pollution bothers me. My question is, what is the most cost effective
> solution that will last around ~25k miles. Some possible solutions :
> 	1) Poor some kind of gunk into the oil that 'fills and seals
> 	   scratches'. I imagine this just postpones the problem for
> 	   a short time.
Yup, and probably could cause increased wear elsewhere if it is merely 
an oil thickener.
> 	2) Replace the rings. Is this job too tough to do myself?
> 	   Should other things be replaced at the same time? Are
> 	   they a hassel to replace. Can this sort of stuff be done
> 	   with the engine still in the car. The Champ is fwd, with
> 	   a transverse engine.
Forget it.  With fwd, your trans/diff case is under the engine.  To change 
rings, you have to pull the pistons.  In a normal car, this means pulling the 
heads and dropping the oil pan so that you can undo the connecting rods and 
pull the pistins up and out.  With fwd, you cannot pull the oil pan to gain 
access to the connecting rods without removing the engine from the car.
Is it possible that the oil leak is occuring through the heads (valve 
guide wear?)?  if this is so, pull the head, take it to a machine shop that 
specializes in head work, and have the worn parts replaced.  While you're 
there, have them do a porting job which will give you better power and 
fuel efficiency.  From what you describe above, valve guide wear seems to 
be the culprit, rather than ring wear, because the smoke occurs at times 
of high cylinder vaccuum (during shifts when you suddenly close the throttle),
rather than a constant smoke (which is more indicative of ring wear).
> 
> 	3) Replace the engine with a used, rebuilt, new engine?
This is not a vintage Mustang that you're talking about.  A Champ is hardly 
worth the price of a rebuilt engine (>$1000 if you don't install it yourself).> 
> 	4) Replace the car.
This may be the best long-term solution.  Maybe you can get yourself a car 
that might be worth rebuilding in the future, like one of those new Mustang 
convertibles, or a Corvette.  Or maybe something more down to earth like 
a Taurus (that new Audi-esque Ford family sedan).
> Seems to me, that solution 2 or 3 is probably the way to go. Any comments.
4 is probably your best bet, especially with the promos to sell remaining 
'85 models (8.8% loans, etc.).
-- 
______________________________________________________________________________

Earle A. Sugar
Disclaimer:"I doubt anyone else here agrees with me."
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