2.0 Liter Engine Question: Rings and Pistons

[WNY PAT]

Hello,

Question for those mechanically inclined:

My friend has a Jetta with the 2.0L engine.... it has been burning oil since new... it now has about 30K miles on it. The dealership did a "leakdown" test and now say that it needs new rings and pistons and that the pistons have only been operating at 5%..... could this condition cause engine damage? Should they be fixing anything other than the pistons and rings? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Sun Baked GL]

Just a thought ...

When did this person change the oil for the first time?

How did they break-in the vehicle?

What oil do they use?

 

[WNY PAT]

Sun,

Oil changed (and checked) religiously. It would burn 3-4 quarts of oil between changes (5K intervals) and my friend kept taking it into the dealer for changes and to have it topped off so he could document problem. I'm convinced that his persistence is the only reason they're doing anything... for awhile they said this was a normal operating condition......

 

[tdibugman]

One of the Beetles across the street actually had the engine replaced around 40K due to excessive oil consumption. Basically, the dealer asked that she check the oil on a regular basis (every fill-up) and anytime it was low, bring it to the dealer without adding oil. The dealer kept a record of the consumption long enough to make a case for a new engine, and assumed responsibility for filing it. he was burning a quart every 1,000 miles.

 

[Bookerdog]

Ah, the lovely 2.slow. Little surprised the dealer is gonna rebuild it rather than just put in a new short block. I'd make sure their gonna bore the cylinders, as they have no idea if the fault is in the rings, or a poorly machined cylinder wall. Probably want to have them look at the head while they have it off, and go ahead and replace the valve stem seals. (Another major source of leaks.)

Your friend did a brilliant thing by keeping on the oil consumption tests. So many of the people on the Vortex seem to give up after just one. 3-4 quarts per 5K??? It's amazing this thing runs at all. He's gonna feel like he has a TDI under the hood when their done.

[ December 07, 2001: Message edited by: Bookerdog ]</p>

 

[WNY PAT]

Thanks for the help!

 

[Danny Boy]

I think your question is in reverse. Instead of asking could this damage the engine, you should ask what could have damaged the engine to run like this? I don't know VW's but such problems as detonation, running the engine hot, or severe timing problems could all cause the explosive force of the ignition to work against a piston either still moving upward or at the incorrect time. (Ideally your piston would be neutral ready to go down) As a matter of physics, the rings are the weakest link in this chain, so they are the first to have "blow through". I would be concerned about the valves and head condition, running an engine with this kind of problem is not good for them either (be it detonation or severe timing problems).

I would stomp my feet and DEMAND an entire new longblock. Replacing the pistons and rings may be like fixing the leaking dike with a pump (treat the problem not the symptoms!!!).

 

[AusSalzburg]

The problem is nationwide, and the oil consumtion eventually goes away on its own around 35K. This is only on 99 -00 models. Some engines were accidentally installed with the piston rings installed up-side down. With the piston rings in there up-side down, it causes the oil cunsumtion to occure. The rings are taking longer to seet because of this. Eventually around 30k to 35k, the problem just goes away.
The simple installation of new pistons with rings correctly installed, is the real fix.
See ya, Michael.