Cheap piston ring replacement

2003 NISSAN ALMERA
88,000 MILES • 1.5L • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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Car burns oil badly, compression is low, nothing else is causing the issue so I am looking to replace the rings. Now I have a very limited budget and cannot afford a full re-machining job or anything fancy, just wondering if it is possible to replace the rings without taking the head off. If I can just go in through the sump. Means I do not have to redo the timing on the car.

Any help would be great.
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Jun 29, 2017 at 4:43 AM
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HMAC300
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nope, head has to come off cylinder should be honed as well. check to see if there are blocked drains in the head and for valve seals being bad. if compression is way low then the rings probably will not fix It anyhow. maybe a burnt valve?
Jun 29, 2017 at 5:45 AM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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Thanks for the info, i was hoping i wouldnt have to take the head off as i didnt want to mess with the timing but if it needs to be done then ive not got much choice, im going to check the valves and stem guides while i there.
Jul 2, 2017 at 11:46 AM
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MAXIMILIAM
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Please get back to us and let us know what happened or if you need more assistance.
Jul 3, 2017 at 2:50 AM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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will do, ive done a bit poking around today, calculated the psi from the compression ratio, checked that every vent is clear and redid a compression test since the info id gotten from someone else saying how to convert the ratio was wrong. turns out my compression is spot on actually slighty up on the 9.9-1 at 145psi that its meant to have and the test gave me about 155-170 so compression is good makes me think its had rings at some point as its an 88k car with original engine. im now really thinking its badly worn valve guides. what do you think?
Jul 3, 2017 at 2:46 PM
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HMAC300
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try valve seals first they wear out due to material and heat.
Jul 3, 2017 at 3:17 PM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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Noted, I'm probably gonna take the valve cover off tomorrow if I've got time, got most of the afternoons light before I'm on nightshift so it shouldn't take too long to figure out what's knackered inside it
Jul 3, 2017 at 3:21 PM
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STRAILER
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Please let us know what happens, we are interested to see what it is.

Nice work Hmac300

Cheers, Ken
Jul 5, 2017 at 1:48 PM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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So I've got the valve cover off and realised that the valve springs and stems are completely enclosed in the head, without taking the camshafts off I'm not sure how to check the seals. Unless you know any different?
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Jul 6, 2017 at 7:48 AM
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HMAC300
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yes cams have to come out then there is a special tool that removes and installs the new seals.
Jul 6, 2017 at 8:09 AM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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Aaah crap, so I'll have to do the timing on the engine if I do that, but I don't need to remove the head?
Jul 6, 2017 at 8:59 AM
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HMAC300
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no the head doesn't need to come off, you will need to put air to cylinders to keep valves closed while replacing the seals otherwise valves may drop into cylinder which would require you to pull head then.
Jul 6, 2017 at 9:30 AM
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NICHOLAS WRIGHT
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Right, time to look at buying seals and how to redo the timing then I guess, thanks for the help, I'll keep you updated
Jul 6, 2017 at 10:15 AM