Advice needed
Hi following on from my previous low oil pressure threads, it appears that a piston ring has failed so its rebuild time, after a whole 9 ½ days of ownership.

Would a piston ring failure cause enough engine noise to look like a big spike in the knock level?

When the CEL light flashed on and the FC Commander showed a knock level of 52 I immediately pulled over and turned off the engine for fear of causing further damage. With that in mind could anyone, especially mechanics answer the following questions?

If you paid £150 to have your car taken to a garage on a flatbed, you then tell the garage you believe it’s a problem with a piston ring and that the car has no oil, then when you call later you are told that one of the mechanics has taken it out for a test drive what would you do?
The mechanic who test drove the car also claimed it was “running sweet” WTF

If after having your car for 24 hours, including that little test drive the garage then told you they couldn’t work on the car because they do not understand the aftermarket parts what would you do?

So how much extra damage could this “Joy ride” by one of the mechanics have done? Especially if he was running on boost with no oil in the engine/turbo.

Really I’m looking for opinions as maybe I’m overreacting? Luckily I can prove the car has been driven as I called the RAC for the recovery and they noted the mileage down.

Thanks and Happy Christmas to everyone.

PS it took me 5 phone calls before they said they couldn’t do anything with it. Also I told them it was modified before arranging to have the car taken there.

PPS
Sorry about the long post.

 

I'm a bit confused as to your post mate..

Are you saying the garage have it now? Or have you diagnosed the ring faliure?

or is it just a case of you saw this knock level warning and pulled over then took it to the garage to find out what's wrong?

It appears you may be worried that the knock level recorded was mechanical damage? It may have just been quite severe knock.

what model and year do you have and what mods does it have? also what fuel are you using?

 

Sorry about any confusion,

It has been diagnosed and confirmed. pressure check e.t.c.
I suppose my biggest question is when it appeared to be a piston ring gone, and I told the garage this, and the car had low oil pressure should someone at the garage really have taken it for a drive?
And why did they take 24 hours to tell me they couldnt work on it, as they didnt know what to do?

what model and year do you have and what mods does it have? also what fuel are you using?
94 UK Turbo
Long list I'll have to get back to you on that.
BP Ultimate

 

I see..

As far as the garage goes, you need to use a decent specialist mate. The garage in question should have done a compression check (if you told them suspect piston) and gone from there, sounds like they don't have a clue.

If you post up where in the country you are then I'm sure someone can advise on a well regarded place to go.

 

It's possible (depending on your mods) that the car has suffered ring land damage from det, ie ring lands can break and cause the loss of compression. So you need to find why this happened (hence my asking about your mods, boost level etc)

 

Thanks
I will name the garage once I get my car back, just for others to know.

Planning to take it to API as soon as possible.

 

Good idea, they seem to get decent feedback, good luck

 

API = Accomplished
Practical
Informed
Graham
(I've been a customer)

 

How long you been thinkin' that one up G?

Looks like you're after the 2006 ' Pseudosalesman of the Year' award from
Ns 04. Gonna be a fun year - looking forward to it!!

David APi Engines / APi Impreza
www.apiengines.com

 

A broken piston ring is a separate fault to low oil pressure.
Best let API open it up and assess the damage.
Did/does it have low oil level and why?