engine break in and oil consumption

[jinx]

hey everyone, I just finished rebuilding my 91 civic (D15B2) yesterday and decided to go for a nice highway cruise, I drove no more then 100kph and avoided any hills.

180k was driven and I checked my dip stick and I was at the low mark, is this normal during and engine break in. I didn't see any leaks this morning so I figured it would be normal but I just want to make sure now.

I used Valvoline 5w-30 with a Wix oil filter.

TIA

Michael

 

[Ignatz]

Hills might actually help seat the rings faster. Top it off and keep notes on your oil consumption.

 

[mechtech2]

That is huge oil consumption.
It is tough to get a factory finish on the cylinder bores - they are very good at it nowadays. It may take a while to seat.
See if she clears up and gets better, at this point.
The rings could be upside down, for one thing.

 

[demarpaint]

Did you stagger the openings in the rings and are certain they are not lined up one under the other? If that's the case you could be using more oil, if you did hopefully they'll rotate so the openings are not lined up. The rings could also be installed upside down as already mentioned, or the wrong size.

Time will tell, hopefully it clears up.

HTH,
Frank D

 

[Lazy JW]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
That is huge oil consumption.....


Yup. I've done much better than that on a hillbilly overhaul (new rings, old pistons, hand honed cylinders).

I think something is fundamentally wrong such as the already mentioned rings improperly installed, etc.
Joe

 

[jinx]

I think the consumption has stopped, I topped it off yesterday morning and put another 215k on it and checked the dipstick this morning and it was still at the full mark but I'm going to keep an eye on it.

the rings on the piston were done right and facing the right direction.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: jinx
I think the consumption has stopped, I topped it off yesterday morning and put another 215k on it and checked the dipstick this morning and it was still at the full mark but I'm going to keep an eye on it.

the rings on the piston were done right and facing the right direction.


Thats some good news! Keep us posted..........

Frank D

 

[mechtech2]

This is how it used to be - a lot of oil use after a rebuild that clears up.
I hope you just misread the original oil level, and it seats in to run well for many miles and years.

 

[Lazy JW]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
....
I hope you just misread the original oil level.....


That's easy enough to do, hope it goes well.
Joe