Hi guys,

What mileage would your recommend to replace piston rings? Anything else I should look at replacing/maintaining while I have the engine opened up? (Car has 35,000 miles)

 

I have over 100,000 miles on my S, and have never had the bottom end gone over. You should have a very long life on your rings if you are using synthetic motor oil and changing it often.

 

I agree with the above poster, but if I already had the motor opened up I would go ahead and change piston rings, bearings, and the timing chain.

 

Wouldn't that just be wasting $ at only 35k miles?

Anything else I should look to replace at that mileage (anything, suspension etc?)

 

Isn't that something that you wouldn't even consider doing if the car is routinely maintained? I've have cars over 200k and not even thought about replacing the rings. It's usually something you have to do only when someone has been grossly negligent.

 

That is definitely not the case, I keep my cars in tip top shape. I just thought now that I'm going to be taking the car apart, might as well replace anything that might need it. Basically from what I can gather is I do not need to worry about my piston rings/bearings/t-chain for a while?

 

My experience as an amateur engine rebuilder is that the factory hone job and ring combo is better than anything you can throw at it after the fact. You will have the best cylinder seal with the OEM hone + ring package UNLESS you send the whole thing to be professionally built... and even then the results are not guaranteed. Another thing - even engines rebuilt completely with OEM parts are likely to suffer premature wear and not last as long as the original.

The only reason you should consider touching the rings and bearings is if you have evidence of their failure. Were your compression and leakdown numbers bad? Were you suffering from very low oil pressure, hearing any bad sounds from the crankcase? If the answer is no, don't touch the bottom end. It will undoubtably last to 100k and beyond with proper maintenance and you would likely halve that by fiddling with it. This is one of those cases where DFI if IAB!

 

Why's the car/engine being torn down in the first place? If you're just having head work done, and you weren't having any problems with the engine before, I'd just leave everything alone that you possibly can. 35k miles is too soon to need *anything* done to the engine.

 

Haha, it's not that extreme. It's just a new head/header/cam and LSD going in. All the other stuff is on top so that's not really worrying me. Just thought I might as well ask while the engine is open.

Asking a lot, because this is the first car I've really done anything to aftermarket/modified - all very new to me. Thanks again guys

 

Just deal with the top end and put it back together. I just did the same stuff.

 

Usually the first sign that rings need replacing is when the engine is consuming oil and/or blowing smoke out of the exhaust. If you are not losing any oil over the course of the miles between oil changes, then don't even consider it. It is pointless work that will have no benefits. Best case scenario would be it is working equally as well as before...so no point to it. If you were replacing pistons, then that would be a different story.

 

So did you ever find out why you dyno'd low? Or are you just going for it and hoping it was no big deal?

 

I'm leaving it until all the new mods are on, if it is still dyno'ing low then I thought I'd investigate further

 

^ cool