alright my 7A has been smoking really bad lately and i have been burning a lot of oil, i was thinking it was my oil ring on my pistons but how can i be sure? and if thats what it is, how hard is it to change the rings out?

the average auto enthusiast should be weary to say the least in replacing piston rings. it involves alot of a work. you can do it with the motor in the bay but the head and all the sensors/vacuum lines going to it need to be taken off.
Also the crossmember, oil pan, and connecting rods.

then you can pop the pistons and rods out the top of the block and replace the rings and plop them back in. if the crosshatching on the cylinders is still good. if not you'll need to re-hone the cylinders. lotta work.

have a leak down test done....checking your valve seals...
its more common to have a valve seal problem than an piston ring problem
also compression test will help

>

where can i have these tests done? just go to my local garage and have them do it?


and thanks for the info itchy, i guess if its burning and its the piston rings ill just keep adding oil

yea your local garage should have whats needed, if not they can tell you were to go

thanks, ill do that ASAP, will using a heavier oil stop it from burning as much?

Maybe, maybe not.
I'll second the valve seals.

Is it me or does there seem to be alot of 7As with oil burning problems?

Just a note.
A compression test [or a leakdown test] won't really show worn/clogged oil control rings.
It will show worn compression rings [# 1 and 2].

I'm not telling you that you shouldn't do a compression test, just be aware a test with good results doesn't mean your oil rings are good.

>
I personally see more 5SFE's burning oil. And running very rich.

my 7a is having the same problem. i also need to have a leak down test done.

My son's was an oil burner 1qt every 250 miles, I changed the valve stem seals-NO HELP- had to buy some special tooling for the job($100), then ended up replacing the motor with a JDM. I heard from my machine shop that TOY 1.8s are famous for burning oil after you over heat the engine. After tearing down the engine for parts I understood why. The oil control rings are paper thin and would warp easily when overheated. So keep that engine cool!!!

This post has been edited by 56willysnut: May 9, 2007 - 11:11 AM