Ugh New engine time?

[fc steve]

car is an 81 rabbit with a 1.6 na motor in it.

   Just got a new set of injectors in it and its been starting and running great since i have installed them. But ive got a couple issues still. One that its had for a while is a fair amount of blowby. If i look at the hose and have it off of the intake i can see it puffing pretty hard. Seems to be in time with the engine on a particular cylinder. Is the head gasket leaking to an oil drain in the head possibly? I can see that the head gasket is leaking oil out of the front of the head in the normal spot.
    On to the big issue. I appear to be making oil the fuel doesnt really smell like diesel but in the past couple hundred miles the level has gone up on the stick about 3mm. (normally im adding a quart every 3-400 with the blowby and leaks i have) Is it possible that this is headgasket blowby related? Or does it sound like i have a hole going out?
    As i stated before the engine starts great once the plugs warm up Idles pretty smooth and seems top pull fine for a 50 hp car. Thank you guys in advance for your help.
Steven

[Black Smokin' Diesel]

Looks like you have two issues here. One being a bad headgasket seeing that it leaks on the front of the engine and second, worn piston rings. Blow-by and the oil level going UP are from worn rings. You should smell the oil for diesel in it. A compression and leak down test will tell you what's going on.

[fc steve]

Yeah time to buy a comp tester...


Like i said the oil doesnt really smell like fuel. But i am aware thats the reason that im "making" oil Anyone got a low mile motor for sale?

[fc steve]

What kind of luck have people had with re ringing these provided the bores are still in spec?

[fc steve]

Also i know its not likely but could a blown hg cause the making oil?

[maxfax]

How many maile do you have on it??

I as well as alot of others have had good luck with re ringing as long as the cylinders are decent..  I threw rings at one with about .003" wear in the cylinders and it was fine..   Just make sure you use decent quality rings, and hone the cylinders well..  

I'm not going to say it's inpossible for a HG to be making oil, but it's not real likely inless you have coolant going into the oil..    Since you would have the head off to do the gasket that woudl be the time to throw some rings in there as well...

One other note, (geting up to my podium) since you have a 1981 you car used the dreaded 11mm head bolts..
Read this:http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=21948.0

[fc steve]

Yeah previous owner installed arp studs. And its not coolant in the oil its not milky at all. Im looking at another 1.6 tomorrow. If it sounds good ill swap it and start to rebuild what is in there now.

[maxfax]

Thank your previous owner!!   Otherwise I'd say you're woes is all ring related..  Good luck on the other engine!

Let us know how the bores look on your current engine..   I've been surprised how little the bores wear on these on gennerally.. The engine I referred to earlier head a tad over 500K miles on it.. On the other end of the spectrum the one I am rebuilding for my car had terrible wear...  It was an old fart car, 177K miles but all short trips..  The bores were horrible....

[fc steve]

This thing only has 140k on it :/ Im gonna comp test the current engine before i pull it tomorrow. If they all test good i don't know what im gonna do different tho... It starts and runs fine. And the making oil is a classic ring deal

[maxfax]

Has your car ever had veg oil run though it that you know of??   Or did the po happen to replace rings?  Some brands of rings tend to suck big time....

[fc steve]

   No veg oil from po he bought it from an old lady. And he didnt touch the bottom end. Gonna start pulling the head in a few.

[fc steve]

Head is off. No crosshatch left on bores but no scoring. #2 has some slight pitting about 2/3 down the bore. #3 exhaust port has HEAVY (1/8 in) wall of carbon all the way around.

The piston to wall clearance is around .012" stock spec is .0012" dunno if a re ring would do much good with bores that worn.

[maxfax]

Ooooh, you you may be pushing it there....   Sounds like another casulty of not being run enough...

[fc steve]

Yep ordering .5mm over pistons and bearings. rebuild time. How big can the cracks in the head get before i should worry?

[rabbitman]

Yep ordering .5mm over pistons and bearings. rebuild time. How big can the cracks in the head get before i should worry?

The bentley says the cracks between the valves can be no bigger than 2mm(?)