temmym4:
I have decided to share this with everyone just to help someone out there who might be in the shoe i was once in.
As a lover of Manual Tranny, i missed and wanted to keep one at home to drive so i eventually got a fairly used Nissan Primera p11 (1998) quite clean and ok, but one issue, Revving the engine brings out smoke from the exhaust, not a serious smoke actually but if u are the type that know your onions, it is clearly an indication that Valves and/or Rings and starting to worn out and allowing oil into them little by little.
*Please note that i knew about this before i agree with the deal and the price the vehicle was given out was ok for me to replace the engine if i wish to.
I guess this happened due to the Negligence of the former owner and the type of engine oil he uses.
The thing is, u cant find out yourself except if someone rev the vehicle for you while u watch from the rear.
Some other days, the vehicle brings out smokes for few seconds after parking overnight.
Apart from the smoking part, i took time to check underneath the engine bottom plate or oil pan (not a mechanic so i actually don't know what that is called) and found oil at the bottom, which actually indicates there is a leak. And d way thing look dow there, i can see that the pan hit a hard stuff and i guess there is a little crack
Now there are 3 things involved,
1. My engine oil is leaking from the bottom due to a crack oil pan
2. It sometimes brings out blue smoke after parking a long time, for instance, overnight.. then stops, i.e valve seals are bad.
3. Revving a bit higher brings out blue smokes too, visible only to people behind u.. i.e my Piston rings are beginning to go bad already.
Although the car moves well and the engine still very active, i know i v got to get solution to those stuffs before it kills the engine and probably smoking all day on with no compression later on.
Did i tell u i had to top 1L of oil every 2 weeks since it's shortening and after a long journey?
I decided to visit a trusted mechanic and i explained things to him.
On the issue of engine, i had an option of either buying another one which costs about 130k or rebuild my existing one with new valve seals and rings which costs around 30k.
I have heard a lot of sad stories concerning ringing so i opted that one out. Some even said it doesn't last more than 6 months.
He smiled and explained some things to me.
"A successful Ringing involves an experience mechanic and also using genuine parts, " and that "some of the engines which is even sold to people as tokunbo are the refurbished ones, worked on with new rings by us here and resold as tokunbo"
I wasn't really convinced at first but after some months i made a calculation..
*A new Tokunbo engine costs around 130k (I wasn't ready to spend that on something am not even sure of the quality)
*My mechanic will rebuild my old engine for 30k
*I buy 1Litre oil for top-up every 2weeks at 2k, thats 4k for a month, apart from the regular service i do every 2 months with an oil of 4k.
So for a total of 6 months, l will use about 10Litres (10 cans of 1L) topping oil and 8Litres (2 cans of 4L) for regular servicing which makes a total of N28,000 just for the oil aside workmanship.
Now, why not put this money together and try out the engine ringing, use it for the same 6months. It's iron cast built engine anyway so it shouldn't be very hard for a successful rebuilding afterall, according to what i got online.
Besides, the money is not even up to what some people will give to a lady or buy drinks at a go. Even some people spend more than that to service their cars just one month.
Job started, oil pan was replaced.. New rings and valve seals done. The whole job took 3 days.
Before i went to pick it up, i read about what and what not to do after ringing an engine so i got that covered
Throughout my journey home, i wasn't convenient driving the car as i was busy listening to any sign of somethin breaking in the engine .  .. Infact i go drive small and open the bonnet to check if water has mixed with the engine oil, or maybe coolant is now inside the gear oil
There was even a point where i could smell oil burning when the engine was warm after driving some minutes, i pulled over to see if oil has splashed all over the road
I have never paid attention to all my dashboard gauges like that single moment of driving away from mechanic workshop after the ring was done.
After that day, i began a countdown when that 6 months will come. More like someone who is waiting for a death sentence. Damn, some people can give u fear and discouragement ehn
To cut the long story short. 6 months has come and gone, car is used everyday and travels long journeys too, smoke no gree come o, instead na water vapor dey come out of it's exhaust every morning.. Especially steaming during cold mornings
Not a single drop of oil again either underneath or on oil stick.
The only thing i do now is change the oil and filter every 3 months or 3000KM whichever comes first. Nothin more.
Imagine still letting myself suffer till now and wasting money just because some Kazeems did a bad job for someone else, either an inexperienced one or he purposely bought knock off piston rings.
Also the first 1000KM after ringing matters too. I had to follow instructions online on how to break-in vehicle with new rings properly, i don't just depend on my mechanic advice only.
And yes, a "Kazeem" did the job for me,
My advice.
*Never let anyone push you, listen to advises, make use of the one that favours you, don't just just follow others' footsteps.
*Not everyone has got a lost of cash in the bank and can afford to buy a Tokunbo engine.
*Just because Mr A's job wasn't done successfully doesn't quite mean yours will follow the same pattern
*Don't be too stingy with your mechanic, you will be at the receiving end since they ll keep cheating you and buying you knock off parts, don't act too wise. Especially when rebuilding engine
*Get a competent mechanic with a fear of God who ll tell you the truth, it will help you and your car a lot
*I think Iron cast built engines are better rebuilt compared to the Aluminium ones. Infact i wont advice anyone with aluminium engine to rebuild, my own opinion.
*Personally, i feel getting competent mechanics that specializes on commercial vehicle will do a better job rebuilding an engine. My own opinion and from experience though.
My own story though. I hope it helps someone out there.
Please share your experience too if you ever had an engine rebuilt, maybe someone out there can learn from the perfection and mistakes as well.
***UPDATE**
It's almost 2 years already. Car doesnt smoke, everything is still in perfect condition.
Just servicing as at when due will keep your vehicle healthy and it will serve you for long. I just rebuilt my 2AZ-fe engine, it's aluminum block and I used a mechanic that works on commercial vehicles particularly Toyota. Vehicle was guzzling one liter of oil weekly 😥. Am enjoying the vehicle. Belgium engine is btw 1.2M to 1.5M  , I spent less than 200K for everything 🤷🏿. I bought original rings myself, job is over 10 weeks and thermostat is still inside. |
