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How to check if your rings are going bad?

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Old 03-28-2007, 09:59 PM
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Default How to check if your rings are going bad?

Without doing a leak down test is there any way to tell if your rings are going bad? I noticed that my catch can get filled pretty quick from blow by. The car seems to idle fine and drive ok. Is there any signs I should be looking for?
Old 03-28-2007, 10:50 PM
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its not a leak down test but it does require a compression tester;


1) perform a normal compression test
2) record numbers
3) put small amount of oil down the sparkplug hole
4) re-tast compression

if numbers are higher after oil is added your rings are most likely bad.

this may not work for you, but this is how you test rings on a motor that is not making compression.
Old 03-29-2007, 03:56 PM
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Thank You Sir
Old 03-29-2007, 04:12 PM
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What the_supra said will work.
Old 03-31-2007, 07:32 PM
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leakdown test is the best way. you can buy a tester for around 60.00 or summit or jegs or you can make your own. do a search on google for homemade leakdown tester. it will be more accurate
Old 04-08-2007, 05:41 PM
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open the oil filler cap and put you hand over it while the engine is running. if you can feel air puffing at you, rings are bad. time for a forged 402!!
Old 04-08-2007, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by 3.4camaro
open the oil filler cap and put you hand over it while the engine is running. if you can feel air puffing at you, rings are bad. time for a forged 402!!
Surely that's just air moving around in the crankcase, lots of engines breath like this.

Boosted.
Old 04-11-2007, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 3.4camaro
open the oil filler cap and put you hand over it while the engine is running. if you can feel air puffing at you, rings are bad. time for a forged 402!!
This man is correct. Air is not going to be moving around inside the crankcase because it is under vacuum if the rings are good. If you have bad rings it will not create vacuum therefor it will allow the air to puff out the crankcase. Try this if you have suction your rings are okay. It won't be a lot of suction but you should feel your hand get some pull on it.
Old 04-11-2007, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by *98Formula*
This man is correct. Air is not going to be moving around inside the crankcase because it is under vacuum if the rings are good. If you have bad rings it will not create vacuum therefor it will allow the air to puff out the crankcase. Try this if you have suction your rings are okay. It won't be a lot of suction but you should feel your hand get some pull on it.
I'll try it tonight. Thanks everyone.
Old 04-13-2007, 04:24 AM
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Hmm, this has got me thinking some more. If air doesn't move around in the crankcase then why did GM add windows to the crank webs to assist bottom end breathing?

Any vacuum would imply no air but there is air being drawn in there albeit in a vacuum state, in the same was as closing/opening the throttle. I'm not sure what to make of an engine that lightly moves air in and out of the filler cap now.

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Old 05-16-2007, 02:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Boosted LS1
Surely that's just air moving around in the crankcase, lots of engines breath like this.

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Mate you are spot on,my new forged motor breathed from the day i picked it up...i get the feeling some people in this thread have not been around forged/boosted engines



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