1988 3SGE (used and don't know miles) Ran out of oil w/ only about 500 miles since last change. No smoke (grey, black, or blue) out tailpipe nor any leaks on garage floor, but I did somehow run out of oil - discovered by start of noise. Some oil coming from PVC outlet on exhaust valve cover, but certainly not 4 quarts (just enough to see it slick-up top of bolt on EGR tube). By the way, when I pulled the exhaust valve cover, it doesn't look like there's much to prevent a lot of oil from going through PCV baffle plate (no PCV valve on 3SGE - just hose from valve cover back to TB). How the hell does that system work? Anyway, back to problem.... Very bad 'tapping' maybe even to 'banging' sound level. Worst at start up. Drops a bit in db level after oil circulates. Haven't drained oil yet to check for metal in oil (will do so tonight). Pulled center and exhaust valve covers. Oil in #1 and #2 spark plugs. Haven't pulled plugs yet. #3 and #4 appear completely dry whenm looking down from top. Tried to better isolate sound w/ mechanic's stethoscope. Couldn't find louder or quieter area (or change in pitch) after trying valve covers, head, block or on oil pan itself. Besides hard to start (assume at least partly because of oil in spark plug holes) it doesn't sound like any cylinder is missing once engine is going - although maybe loud noise is covering up something. Also has very 'dirty' coolant (but no floating oil, bubbles, etc). Compression and leak down tests didn't show any HG problem. Dealership wanted to replace HG, local (very trusted) mechanic figured it was probably just crap that had been sitting in bottom of engine prior to installation and not properly cleaned. Anyone wanna venture a guess as to whether it's a head or block problem, or is this just way too little information? If I had bad rings, busted rod, or spun crank bearing(s), would I have a misfiring cylinder? Would worn out valves (guides, springs, etc) produce this much noise and oil in spark plug holes? Does the PCV blow-by oil have to mean bad rings or could it be from head problems?
Any ideas where 4 quarts of oil went in 500 miles with no signs of leaks or tailpipe smoke? Damned if I can figure that out. Guess it doesn't matter, but hell....
yeah so far i reckon the rod knock to ! mine did it ! got all my bearings replaced they were down to the copper on them or something i wish i grabbed the crap ones off the mechanics!
haha !!!!!! nice try lol ! tho i just wanted a bit more proth of my ones than just a piece of paper : :lol:
If your 3S-GE engine was produced before 8/87, it came w/ the wrong piston rings. 3S-GE engines starting w/ block number 3S-0442302 and up came w/ the correct rings. If your 3S-FE engine was produced before 11/87, it came w/ the wrong piston rings. 3S-FE engines starting w/ block number 3S-0536228 and up came w/ the correct rings.
Undersized, allowing too much oil past them. I'll copy the TSB and post it here if you're interested.
hey would my engine have the shit rings it is a jdm 3sge 1988 , but it looks to be the prefacelift version of the engine , has the more rounder looking exhaust manifold heat shield and the single wire o2 sensor at the top
Depends on the block number, located below the distributor and probably covered w/ crap. If it does pre-date the ring fix, someone else may have already installed the correct rings way back then. If you're not burning a bunch of oil, who cares? If you are, pre-fix rings 'might' be part of the problem.
Shit, I've got one of the oldest 4th. gens I know of (January '86), I definitely got the wrong rings. Thanks for sharing that bit of info, Kiasis!
Don't panic unless you're burning oil. Even then it may or may not be this particular rings issue. Remember, someone may have fixed your engine back in 1988 after the TSB came out. Here's the TSB wording so everyone can see exactly what they're talking about and decide how much it matters in individual cases: Engine - New Piston Ring Reduces Oil Consumption REFERENCE: ENGINE NUMBER: 019 DATE: 05-27-88 MODEL: SV2#, ST6# TITLE OIL CONSUMPTION To reduce oil consumption on 3S-GE and 3S-FE engines the piston ring design has been changed. See details below. 3S-GE Piston Ring Set 1. Oil Ring Side Rail a. End Gap Reduced: Previous, 0.2 - 0.7 mm. New, 0.2 - 0.45 mm b. Sealing Tension Increased: Previous, 4 kg. New, 4.5 kg 2. No. 2 Compression Ring a. End Gap Increased: Previous, 0.23 - 0.35 mm. New, 0.45 - 0.60 mm 3S-FE Piston Ring Set 1. Oil Ring Side Rail a. End Gap Reduced: Previous, 0.2 - 0.7 mm. New 0.2 - 0.45 mm PART NUMBER INFORMATION PRODUCTION EFFECTIVE Engine Starting Engine Number Date 3S-GE 3S-0442302 August, 1987 3S-FE 3S-0536228 November, 1987 FIELD FIX INFORMATION The new piston ring set can be used as a field fix for oil consumption on pre-production changed vehicles.
