Mustang 2.3 liter 88 rebuild

[SmashingPunkFan]

Okay,  got an issue... totally rebuilt my foxbody mustang last year,  and started driving it this year. Followed all instructions, friends, Chilton, YouTube, etc.. made it past the 2000 mile recommended break in period,  and it's burning oil. Excessively. No leaks, just oil disappearing. About 1qt per 100 miles.

1988 lx 2.3 liter 4-cylinder non-turbo 5 speed manual.

The shop ground down the crank. Got 10/10 bearings (I'll be honest,  I don't understand that part) purchased black rings for it, he said he bored it for black rings.  But, had to use the molly rings that were included in the kit.

New cam.
Cam bearings.
Crank bearings.
Piston rod connecting bearings.
Rings.
Timing belt.
All gaskets.
Head bolts.
EGR delete kit.

And it's burning like mad... spark plugs have white carbon build up.
Someone said maybe pre-detonation? Maybe needed to be bored over?

Anything,  any idea would be so helpful. Thank you all

[crj1968]

purchased black rings for it, he said he bored it for black rings.  But, had to use the molly rings that were included in the kit.

Well from what you wrote this jumped out at me. He bored it for black rings (whatever that is) but used the other rings for some reason.   

[Troy]

"Keith Black" rings?

The "bore" should be the same (I'd think) but maybe the "hone" used is different?

Troy

[fizz]

cast iron rings, not chrome. Theory was would wear out rings faster, bores slower, if you were at your last overbore.

[SmashingPunkFan]

He had just said the black rings, cast iron would seat better,  and faster. He did say he honed it for black rings, but the kit I bought came with Molly rings.  A good friend said they'd be fine, and work just the same. I honestly don't know the difference, or if they'd be okay.  I trusted him. He's a mechanic.

[skip68]

Sounds like the rings aren't seating.   Have a look in your tailpipe.  It's probably oily.   

[67tbird]

You might try The Ranger station forum they have a huge 2.3 section and some Ford tech's that know their stuff therangerstation.com you might not see oil coming out of tailpipe if you have a good catalytic converter hooked up. Dave

[Baldwinvette77]

Any info on the valve seals?

[SmashingPunkFan]

Machine shop says they replaced valve seals. Said springs still in clearance range.
I have a stock manifold,  and about 3 ft of pipe coming off of that... no cat, it broke off years ago, and I just haven't replaced any of those parts yet.

I wondered about the rings, I tried "loading them" like Chilton suggested. Accelerate from 15mph to about 45mph full throttle 10-15 times.  This should insure proper seating of piston rings.  That's what it said... I'm so dang confused by this...

[Baldwinvette77]

Well if youre 100% sure its burning it, and the seals are good, i guess rings are the only possibility, but i heard the cam bolt on the cam gear holds oil back since the cam gets filled with oil, if the cam bolt doesnt have sealer on it, its possible it can leak, but i'd guess it would be a very slow leak.

[crj1968]

I agree it's gotta be the rings.

[polywideblock]

have you done a compression/ leak down test it might be just one cylinder (broken ring) 

[rt green]

I remember  years ago some chevy pickups had bad oil problem like that. the fix was replacing faulty pvc valves. probably not it, but would be a simple try.

[SmashingPunkFan]

Has new pcv valve.  And the compression test showed all cylinders ran 150+ psi by 2-3 revolutions of the engine... I'm thinking maybe an oil seal ring on the pistons? Thoughts?

[SmashingPunkFan]

Bump.  I'm really at a loss here guys

[A383Wing]

possible oil control rings collapsed or installed wrong....or the 1st or second compression rings installed upside down.....

[Baldwinvette77]

possible oil control rings collapsed or installed wrong....or the 1st or second compression rings installed upside down.....

maybe even a piston is backwards? im not sure if that would cause oil consumption on this engine, but if your assuming that they screwed up the rebuild, it could be possible, depends on how they mark the pistons i guess..