For info on my ongoing saga, check here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=306849

Well we finally got the engine in Thursday night, but noticed two small oil leaks around some plugs in the side of the block, the allen head kind. We had no allen head tools so we had to wait until last night to remove them, seal them and torque them. This is one more thing added to the list of Pro Block faults.

Well the car started on the third pull. Really rough idle as expected, but then smoothed somewhat. then it got really rough and died after about 10 minutes.

We checked every connection and I checked the oil level. There was white foam on the dip stick. I then pulled a couple plugwires and plugs and found oil pooled on the tops of the pistons. Fresh, clean, clear oil just sitting in pools on the piston top.

We checked the intercooling pipes thinking maybe my non-rebuilt turbo was leaking oil into the intake tract. It was dry as a bone.

Then the spark plug holes and seals in the valve cover. No oil there.

Any ideas what is doing this?

 

what brand of rings

 

The ones that came with the Ross Racing pistons. Straight from Jane at Ross Racing.

 

Something really got screwed up in the process. You checked your valve seals?

 

if you have pools of oil on top of the pistons, you have serious problems. and the oil was foamy? did it smell like coolant?

 

To make sure I didn't have leaks, and so as not to waste a gallon of coolant, I only had water in it. Also, the oil on the dipstick was foamy. The oil on the pistons was not.

 

Given the amount of skill (or lack thereof) of the engine builder... I'd suspect the head gasket or rings (he did put rings in, right?)

But then again this is a DSM motor so I don't know