Potion query - sticky rings

[dollywobbler]

The Daihatsu's little triple is apparently notorious for sticky oil control rings. Certainly, it eats oil rather briskly, and can be coaxed into producing lovely blue clouds at times. 

 

So, what can I do about it? Naturally, the best solution is to strip the engine (which can be done in-situ apparently) but I must concede that going to this much effort on a worthless car seems a bit OTT. Oil flush treatments are a possibility but are they just a waste of money?

 

It'll be getting an oil service ahead of time fairly soon, and will get a fresh dose of synthetic oil. Like bloody water it is. 5w30. 

 

Engine otherwise performs fine, so 'do nothing' is a very realistic option. I'll just keep a can of oil in the car. 

[skattrd]

No suggestion on remedies, but in my little Daihatsu's I use 5w40.

The consensus I got was that 5w30 is a middle of the road manufacturer spec'd oil, but 5w40 (or 0w40) is better.

 

I don't know what the intervals are on your motor, but on mine they recommend an oil change every 3k. I usually do it more frequently though, depending on how it's been driven and how guilty I'm feeling.

Half a bottle of engine flush and 2.2l of oil is enough for my 713cc motor. Even using quality oil it only works out around £20 per change inc filter, so worth it for peace of mind - which reminds me, I reckon it's due again.

[dollywobbler]

Longer interval on the non-turbos, but given how hard it works, shorter seems sensible. I reckon it has done less than 5000 miles since the last change. It is true that you can get two services out of a 5-litre bottle of oil! Guess I'll just do a straight change and see if that changes anything.

[saucedoctor]

Slick 50? Difficult to know if it works, though, as opinions seem to be evenly split between shit/brilliant.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I recommend caning it from wales to Lowestoft and back or some comparable mission. That oughta free them off.

[Des]

What about some diesel in the plug holes and leave overnight before the oil change, then the caning mentioned above, proper kill or cure stuff.

[chaseracer]

This sort of thing didn't do Trigger's Alto any favours, as I recall.  Fortunately, he'd sold it by then...

[dollywobbler]

I recommend caning it from wales to Lowestoft and back or some comparable mission. That oughta free them off.

 

I've already done Wales to Sussex and back and Wales to Birmingham and back, with Wales to 'a bloody long way north in Scotland' to come. This is why I know it likes a slurp of oil.

 

Kill or cure not ideal given the need to get to Scotland in it. I think 'sod all' is going to be the winning answer here. 

[chaseracer]

Scotland, eh...?

 

 

#justsayin...

 

[dollywobbler]

Nope. I'd far rather be doing it in the Sirion. As far as I remember, the Merc could not top 50mpg and should snow be encountered, it'd be as much use as paper timing chains. Does have a better heater though...

[Barry Cade]

Smart cars suffer badly from sticky rings, which eventually leads to OMGENGINEDEATH. The one I bought suffered from this, with pretty much zero compression in no2 cyl. Old proper redex down the bore for a few days, followed by a Forte engine flush , left idling for a good hour, then a oil change with the proper stuff led to the compressions being near enough equal across all 3. 

 

The Golf I bought for my daughter has been  getting the same treatment- gearbox +clutch going in that this week- sounding a lot less rattly so far so we'll see how that goes on the road test...