Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 1, 2021 | 11:49 AM
  #1  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Rebuilt Engine Smoking

So trying to trace down a smoking issue on a fresh rebuilt longblock.

Had a full longblock rebuild on my 84mm gsr motor. Had it bored over to 84.5mm with new forged pistons ring gap set and measured via the shop
Cylinder head was fully rebuilt new LMA's new valve stem seals, guides, keepers, oem valves checked etc.

Now i'm 5,000 miles into the motor and it smokes when coming to a stop on decal. Doesn't seem to really smoke much any other time though. My catch can fills up pretty quick after a week of driving with anywhere from 5psi to 28psi depending on how i'm driving. Each round trip is maybe 30mins total of drive time so I don't put many miles on the car on the daily. When I pulled the catch can lines off the back of the block one of them had this gunk in the line. Mind you my motor oil doesn't look anything like this when I drain it nor is my dipstick milky like whatever substance appears in the catch can lines.

I have checked the turbo system and there's no oil in the exhaust nor compressor housing. Turbo has a oil restrictor via Garrett's rec and the oil drain line is properly setup to drain without issue.

I'm stumped as to what the issue is and I hope it's not the rings. I have done a compression test and the numbers came back strong but I know a compression test doesn't show everything. So I'm waiting for my leakdown tester to arrive to get a better scope of what's going on with my motor. Any help or guidance on what the issue is would be greatly appreciated. I'll also throw in a little video of driving that helps show the smoking issue.













Last edited by GEN2 LS; Jul 1, 2021 at 12:25 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2021 | 04:08 PM
  #2  
Chance EG's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 451
From: Texas
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Do you know what the rings were gapped to?

I also want to know what that nasty looking paste/gunk is in your catch can lines. I'm guessing it's just oil mixed with gas fumes, but I don't know if it's normal for it to coagulate like that - I've never cut into lines and looked.

Leakdown test is a good idea. I don't have much to offer, but very curious as well. Hope you can figure it out, good luck.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2021 | 04:50 PM
  #3  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Originally Posted by Chance EG
Do you know what the rings were gapped to?

I also want to know what that nasty looking paste/gunk is in your catch can lines. I'm guessing it's just oil mixed with gas fumes, but I don't know if it's normal for it to coagulate like that - I've never cut into lines and looked.

Leakdown test is a good idea. I don't have much to offer, but very curious as well. Hope you can figure it out, good luck.
Not sure on the ring gap I'll have to ask my builder in the morning. I hope he didn't set the gap too loose.

Yeah as for the gunk I think it's just a build up of oil/gas fumes and condensation over time. I couldn't find any of it within my oil pan or anything just built up within one of the catch can lines.
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2021 | 04:34 AM
  #4  
DaX's Avatar
DaX
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,118
Likes: 667
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

I think the gunk is acceptable - as you stated it's just oil vapors, fuel vapors, and moisture/condensation. I get that in my catch can lines too, though mine has more of a blue/green tint because I'm running VR1 oil which is blue. I usually put about 3K - 5K miles on my car each year, and I try to make it a point to pull my catch can lines and catch can for a deep clean every 3-6 months, and I get a fair amount of gunk each time. My setup is a "drain back" type...so if yours isn't, you may need to clean it more often. I do end up having to rinse the catch can filter out every 4-6 weeks. I don't get any smoke out of my car.

Deceleration creates vacuum, so I'd be thinking rings or valve stem seals. Maybe the top rings are gapped correct and doing their job, but the oil control rings have an issue?
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2021 | 09:33 AM
  #5  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Originally Posted by DaX
I think the gunk is acceptable - as you stated it's just oil vapors, fuel vapors, and moisture/condensation. I get that in my catch can lines too, though mine has more of a blue/green tint because I'm running VR1 oil which is blue. I usually put about 3K - 5K miles on my car each year, and I try to make it a point to pull my catch can lines and catch can for a deep clean every 3-6 months, and I get a fair amount of gunk each time. My setup is a "drain back" type...so if yours isn't, you may need to clean it more often. I do end up having to rinse the catch can filter out every 4-6 weeks. I don't get any smoke out of my car.

Deceleration creates vacuum, so I'd be thinking rings or valve stem seals. Maybe the top rings are gapped correct and doing their job, but the oil control rings have an issue?
yeah that's the answer i'm getting from several people on the rings possibly... uggggghhhh yeah I pulled the valve stem seals out a few days ago and replaced my supertech ones with honda oem on the IN and EX side and it didn't change anything smoking related. Was really hopeful that it wasn't the bottom end.
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2021 | 12:36 PM
  #6  
Aradin's Avatar
Premium Member
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 188
From: Maryland.
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

It could be possible the second rings are installed upside down.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2021 | 12:08 AM
  #7  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking





Reply
Old Jul 4, 2021 | 06:02 PM
  #8  
Ryanthegreat1's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 500
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Not enough ring gap and the gap closed up on boost scoring the cylinders.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2021 | 06:43 AM
  #9  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Originally Posted by Ryanthegreat1
Not enough ring gap and the gap closed up on boost scoring the cylinders.
Never thought of that. Possible though.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2021 | 05:41 AM
  #10  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Well after pulling my turbo kit completely off today and really taking a close look I believe my turbo is blown and might be the culprit to all this smoke. What do you guys think? It's a brand new Garrett with maybe 4,000 miles on it at best.


Reply
Old Jul 17, 2021 | 05:49 AM
  #11  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Reply
Old Jul 17, 2021 | 11:50 AM
  #12  
Ryanthegreat1's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 500
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

I think you found the problem. Looks very wet inside the turbine housing. Running a properly sized oil restrictor and have the drain tube as vertical and free flowing as possible?
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2021 | 02:55 PM
  #13  
GEN2 LS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 59
From: North Carolina
Default Re: Rebuilt Engine Smoking

Originally Posted by Ryanthegreat1
I think you found the problem. Looks very wet inside the turbine housing. Running a properly sized oil restrictor and have the drain tube as vertical and free flowing as possible?
Yep the exhaust housing was very wet behind the exhaust wheel. Yeah I was running the proper oil feed line and restrictor per Garrett's recommendations. Also had the oil drain line properly setup no kinks etc.

Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
VDMTom
Honda / Acura
42
Mar 2, 2009 07:39 AM
VindiCated
Acura TL, RL & ZDX
11
Dec 17, 2006 03:16 PM
ritz
Honda / Acura
34
Aug 23, 2006 01:41 PM
1point6B
Honda / Acura
95
Jan 4, 2006 12:41 PM
Built to Spill
Honda / Acura
55
Apr 26, 2004 12:15 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:17 AM.