If, despite correct compression, you have noticed smoke rising from the exhaust pipe, it means you may have a problem with the oil control ring. What is this component and what is it responsible for? You will learn everything from this text.
Oil control ring - what is it?
Oil control rings are usually installed in all kinds of cylinder sealing systems. Their main task is to scrape oil off the piston walls during its operation, and to scrape dirt, foreign particles and moisture off the extended piston rods at the moment when they retract back into the cylinders. Thanks to the oil control ring, the oil does not settle into the combustion chamber, and can effectively return through the gaps in the ring and the piston.
The piston oil control ring and smoke
If the oil control ring is damaged and does not perform its task, oil will start to get into the combustion chamber, which may contribute to the formation of carbon deposits. If there is too much of it, the operation of the rings will be blocked, and a characteristic smoke will start to come out of the exhaust pipe. If you notice this type of symptom in your car, you should react quickly, as a replacement with a new set of pistons may be needed and the engine may require an overhaul.
The oil control ring - 4 things worth knowing before replacement
1. Cleaning
Before you set about replacing the oil control ring, first thoroughly clean the used piston of the accumulated dirt. Pay particular attention to removing the carbonized oil and dirt from the ring grooves. A great deal of contamination also occurs in the oil drainage holes, which is why it is also worth cleaning them. You can use a drill bit or another tool of the required shape for this.
2. Watch out for the grooves
Caution is very important when cleaning the piston of carbonized oil. Pay attention to the lower wall of the groove, which constitutes the sealing surface. All kinds of damage and scratches can lead to increased oil consumption.
3. Use pliers
To replace the oil control ring you will need specialist pliers. All sorts of other contraptions such as wire loops and screwdrivers are a straight path to damaging the rings and the piston itself.
4. Do not stretch the rings by hand
If you have undertaken to replace the oil control ring yourself, remember not to stretch it by hand. In this way you can cause it to crack, bend or become overstretched. At the moment when the ring cracks. There is also a high risk of injury.
The oil control ring - get rid of the smoke
The cause of smoke from the exhaust pipe may be a damaged oil control ring - unfortunately, without disassembling the engine it is impossible to unequivocally determine whether we are dealing with smoking caused by a failure of the oil rings. The piston may also have been damaged or the cylinder liners may have become oval. A visit to a qualified mechanic may therefore prove necessary in order to determine the cause of the engine’s malfunction. Replacing the oil control ring requires precision and experience, and it is not a cheap operation either; additionally, it most often involves the need to carry out a major engine overhaul.
