Engine problems - Noisy pistons and using oil
 

See my other thread https://www.scoobynet.com/drivetrain...lp-please.html before reading..

I've had the car back from the engine builder, this time he suggested dodgy gudgeon pins were at fault, and had charged me for one new head, and a second hand inlet manifold as well... another £450, so now were over £5k for the build and still, I am not happy...

He warned me the forged pistons would be noisy until warmed up and expanded, which I kinda believed, but they dont quiet down at all..

The car appears to be using half a litre of oil every 50 miles, is this normal for running in?

I have smoke pouring from the bonnet after light driving and they told me they spilled some oil on my heat wrap around the headers, but after 150 miles it is no better and in fact points to a possible oil leak.

I have spoken to a guy at Interpro, who suggest this shouldn't be the case and indeed they have replaced EVERY set of JE pistons (12 total) due to problems and out of goodwill to their customers.

I was also given the car back and told to drive it at less than 3k for a thousand miles, but from what i gather, whilst treating it gently goes without saying, it should be mapped instead of being returned to me with the PFC base map (actually this is only because i reset it, as the engine builder doesn't know much about mapping or ECUs) I would have thought a little boost, say 0.7 bar and a bit of right foot up to a limit of, say 4500rpm?

I am now considering putting the car in somewhere else and getting it put right, as I am really not happy with the company I paid over £5k to for an unfinished and possibly faulty engine.

Please could someone suggest if any of the above is right / wrong and where i should take it to be rectified (I am thinking Interpro as they're local to me and gave good advice on the subject for nothing).

wouldnt be piston rings ?i had astra what was burning lot of oil and ended up piston rings had gone.my mate (mechanic) took the oil filler cap off when it was running and smoke poured out of the filler cap.just wonderd if yours hadnt had enough oil in etc when they put back togehter and started

Dunno mate, but thanks for the pointer... I am *really* fed up with it now and wish I never got rid of my EVO.. :(

i can imagine it a pain and gets ya down when you spend that kinda cash,.perhaps you should get second opinion from somewhere reputable and get a report of work waht was done.perhaps you could go down the trading standards route and claim if you have paid and you havent been satisfied with it.i should imagine trying drive below 3ooo revs for thousands miles is bloody hard too...they not using that as an excuse and say you over revved oir summit daft...lot places always blame driver error..hope you get sorted

trouble is, they had it back once because it fell apart due to a crap repair... if you see my other thread i went to them being specific about closed deck, forged pistons, uprated crank, cossie gaskets and pump etc, and the bill has spiralled outa control... i am really deeply unhappy as i've owned the car only 4 months and spent 3 months and £££s in garage bills, towing charges etc. I am really in the mood to sue over this, as I have no confidence they will fix it and really dont see why i should give them a third chance... if anyone can recommend anywhere local I'd welcome your advice.

defo think an idependent report should be done and possibly legal advice.last thing u want is it bodging and lasting a few months they going down again.my garage i have used since i was 17....erm 21 years ago are called SEVERN VALLEY MOTORSPORT they did loads of work modding cossies in the 80s and 90s....they did the fastest escort cossie in country and also transit powered cossie...they branced onto jap cars last few years..great bunch of guys and very honest.there based in telford tho and dont know where you are....i would defo seek advice on it mate

Severn valley... Guy called Andy with white escort cossie with enormous AP's ???

If so, really nice chap and met him many a cruise in cheltenham

kevin the main man there and nigel his number 2....nigel a top bloke and andy is sound too...i live 30 miles away but still use them for mots etc cos trust em and it worth the mileage..plus they do bit discount for me too lol

1992 NISSAN PULSAR GTIR on eBay (end time 21-Dec-09 22:55:31 GMT)

I am getting tempted by the dark side... my fourth pulsar possibly???

Yeah Severn Valley sound like a good safe bet for an independent evaluation, I'll give them a call in the AM..

Thanks for your help matey

no probs...there listed in phone book as madeey road testing station. the number is 01952 588005....ask for nigel or martin...hope they can be of help...drop me a line and let me know.good luck

Really hope you get your engine sorted as I know what a nightmare this sort of thing can be. I don't know where your from or if anyone else has mentioned this yet but I'd give David a ring at API Impreza as he is a top guy and they do Impreza full re-builds & more. I had my engine done there and 12000 miles odd later it is still running sweet. I recommended them to my friend who has just had a 2.1 closed deck build done by them which is probably going to be around the area of the bhp level you where after once it's installed and running. Eitherway you could give David a ring and bend his ear just to see what he thinks (can't hurt :D )
API Engines

this sounds identical to the first forged build i had done,heavy piston slap even when warm,using lots of oil,oil leaks and everything that could be wrong with an engine was wrong.i kept taking mine back and back again but all he was doing was bodging it up even more.i would get some legal advice staight away before you end up like i did,with an engine that was nackered and really out of pocket.

Cheers for all the replies guys, I am in a real quandry here as I owned a UK wagon for years and did 180k miles trouble free (well three gearboxes, but we know the 5 speeds are cack!) at 270bhp with only an exhaust, filter and a dawes device... Is it me or do the imports end up more trouble due to the 105ron fuel in Japan and only 99 here?

Arf, could you PM me where you took your car and had trouble in case its the same guy ? (Just so I know now I am on a hiding to nothing, or not.)

Regards to API, are they the Brum guys who sell recon and second hand engines? I've heard OK reports about them is all, and was considering them for a second opinion...

I am located in Cheltenham, but won't be using the guys in Tewkesbury I'm afraid...

Definately worth giving David at API a ring IMO. They do all sorts there and if you search on here you will find lots of threads thanking API for great work done on there Imprezas.:thumb:

Christ, you're up late, thanks for the plug, I actually rand API a while ago for a quote on a used STI lump, but didnt realise they did builds too?

I have listed car on ebay, and attracted an annoying idiot who has spent the last hour attacking me on SMS and email regarding my claims that with the right turbo, front mount IC and injectors, a remap, the block "should" be capable of 500hp!

The only reason I recommend them is because they rebuilt my engine+extras, and have done lots of other smaller jobs on my96 JDM WRX and everytime I've been pleased with there fantastic work. If I wasn't satisfied I wouldn't make the trip from Wales. If only I had more money the car would be there now :lol1: :D

I've looked them up on threads, and words speak volumes, I'll be calling them again in the morning! Thanks for your help!

No problem:thumb: Try and speak to David if you can (he can be a very busy man:lol1:).