My 1993 F150 has a ring either going or sticking. A person, being a mechanic, said that there is a solution that can be used to unstick rings and stop the smoking altogether. Unfortunately he wanted pretty big bucks just for the solution to the problem.
Would anyone here possibly know this mysterious concoction?

Thanks.

 

Haven't used it, don't sell it, but many great reports about this cleaner. http://www.auto-rx.com/ While you are lurking about, check BITOG (Bob is the Oil Guy) for good advice concerning lubrication products.

WDP

 

Sticking ring?? Mysterious Concoction?? Gear oil?

I've never heard of a ring sticking. Worn and getting blow-by maybe.
Does it always smoke, or just when starting up?
If it only smokes when starting it could just be a valve seal. If you are getting excessive blow-by you may have a bad ring or 2-3-4-5-etc.

There are seal conditioners that are supposed to stop valve seal leaks, but most are temporary solutions. Replacing these are really no big deal. The Cylinder head doesn't even have to be removed.

How many miles are on the engine? How long do you plan on keeping it?
I'm just trying to judge if it is cost effective to fix.

 

95,000 miles, and yes i hope to keep it as long as possible.

 

You are going to replace piston rings without removing the head? What are you going to do, drop the oil pan and just pull it ouf from the bottom?

 

Pony,

I think Colorado was referring to the valve seals not the rings. Rings require a tear down, no ifs, ands or buts.

From the rislone site:
http://www.rislone.com/engine.htm

NO ADDITIVE CAN REPAIR WORN ENGINE PARTS.
Because Rislone Engine Treatment effectively cleans out deposits, it will raise and even-out compression in engines where valves and rings are still in good condition. If rings are worn or "cooked," cylinder walls scored and valve seals worn, there is every likelihood that Rislone Engine Treatment will increase the consumption of oil in high mileage engines.

So don't think that some bottle will cure a mechanical problem.

JMC

 

Well I am no fan for snake oils but I do have this story. In 2001 my 93 with 351W started for no reason blowing a ton of smoke. I am talkin about couldn't even see the road behind me. Burned a quart in 7 miles. I got home thinking I was in for a motor rebuild. I also has a tapping/knocking sound, so I said what the heck and put a bottle of marvel mystery oil in (I use it to lube all of my airtools with) and ran it a few minutes and the problem cleared up. So for awhile every time I would change oil I would have to add a quart of mystery oil to get it to quit smoking/knocking. I finally weaned it by waiting for it to smoke before putting the mystery oil in. Now I don't put any in between oil changes. That started with 161,000 miles now I have over 220,000 miles. So I believe that a oil ring was sticking not expanding right in the piston and the marvel mystery oil freed it up.

I do agree with the others for rings you will have to tear down the motor but the valve seals can be replaced.

If you are sure it is rings it might be worth a shot to put marvel mystery oil in. Only a few bucks for a quart. In fact I leave a quart in the truck incase the problem ever comes back.

 

I believe Yamaha has a ring free product. I worked in a bike shop and some of the old guys swore by it. I have no personal experiance with it.

Here is a boat link with some information. http://www.yachtworld.com/ronniesmar...marine_23.html

 

Yes, I was referring to valve seals....

Price out a long block and see if this fits in your budget....but by all means check out any cheaper solution first.
Did it smoke just on start up or all the time??

 

Have to agree with 93f150, Marvels Mystery Oil works great for sticking rings. It also works great for freeing an engine that has set up from setting a long time. I was once a tractor mechanic and have seen quite a few frozen or stuck rings and Marvels works 95% of the time to free them up. It will also loosen up stuck lifters. Liquid Wrench also works but Marvels seems to work much better.

Sled...

 

Ah poop, I misread your post. I apologize. :o

 

We had a Saturn that consumed a lot of oil. We put a quart of Rislone in it, idled it for about 5 minutes, changes the oil. The went from a quart to 300 miles to a quart per 1,800 miles in oil consumption. If sticky rings are your problem, this stuff can work. You may need to do it more than once. but do it when you are ready to change oil. You shouldn't rev the engine or put it under load when the Rislone is in your crankcase.

 

my truck is blowing smoke when i start it and when i punch the gas, it blows a huge cloud out the back. Is it the valve seals? The dealership has no clue and i just spent $500 on work that they did for nothing because the problem didnt go away.