am i being ripped off? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

icer · 04-25-2002, 12:23 PM

Hey I been burning oil lately so I took it to the dealership and they said my piston rings and valve seals are shot and they recommended me getting a new engine or selling the car. I think their just trying to get me for $7,000 for a new engine. Anyone ever replace piston rings or valve seals, how much should it cost. They told me it wasn't worth replacing them.
I have a '91 hatchback, 95,000 miles, and I've been using Mobil 1 5w-30.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
John

*sykikchimp* · 04-25-2002, 12:28 PM

If you don't trust them, take it to someone else, and have them perform a leak-down test on it.  That will tell you if your rings are bad, etc.  and whether or not they are right.  When performing a leak-down test you can actually hear where the air is comming out, so you know what is leaking.

If your rings and valve seals ARE bad, then it's time for a performance rebuild, or SR <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

prInce · 04-25-2002, 12:29 PM

$7000 for a new engine??? time for SR SWAP! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>
piston rings and vavle seals can be replaced and shouldn't cost more than $500...  i paid $80 to replace the vavle seals in my car.
just take it to a local repair shop (the famous ones like firestone, midas, NISSAN, etc. over-charge&#33<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

*sykikchimp* · 04-25-2002, 01:53 PM

yeah 7k is outrageous.  Valve seals are easier than piston rings too.  to replace rings to have to disassemple pretty much the whole engine.  So since your there, just buy some good forged pistons, and new rings, and take care of it all at once.

icer · 04-25-2002, 01:58 PM

anyone here ever replace valve seals and piston rings? about how much did it cost you. Because Nissan told me that its not worth it and to get a new engine.

prInce · 04-25-2002, 02:13 PM

what are the key components of rebuilding an engine?

misnomer · 04-26-2002, 12:54 AM

Basically rebuilding an engine consists of replacing pretty much all bearings, rings, and seals. Potentially replacing rods, pistons, and valves. Hollar with what I missed, 'cause I'm sure it was a lot. Parts for this aren't really that spendy, but it is insanely labor intensive.

If your car is burning oil, there aren't too many places for it to come through. Bad rings allow oil to come up from beneath the pistons. Rings usually scrape the oil back down into the pan here, bad rings let it stay in the combustion chamber. Basically, if you are going to go this far you may as well replace your bearings while the engine is apart. Will be costly. Bad valve seals let oil drip down from the valve cover. A hell of a lot easier to get to for repair, though you still have to remove the camshafts. Rebuild vs new engine is a tough call. If you can rebuild it yourself, you are still looking at several hundred for the parts. You don't want to pay somebody to rebuild it, you can get a replacement KA from an SR swap for under a grand. Or just get the SR as everybody seems so happy to do. . .

9591 · 04-26-2002, 03:11 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (icer @ April 25 2002,2:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">anyone here ever replace valve seals and piston rings? about how much did it cost you. Because Nissan told me that its not worth it and to get a new engine.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Your Nissan dealer (or the representative you spoke with) doesn't sound very trustworthy.

A rebuilt engine is, essentially, a "new" engine. All the items that can wear are replaced or refurbished, and it could be done for a whole heckuva lot less than $7000. $7K for Nissan to install a new engine sounds pretty cheap, my bet is that it's actually a rebuilt motor.

I'd just recommend that you buy a used motor, and have an independant shop swap it in. Or sell your car to me, cheap <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

*sykikchimp* · 04-26-2002, 08:53 AM

there was someone in the For sale forum sulling a KADE for $350 with 35K miles.  Thats an amazing deal.  If I were you, I'd take it while I had the chance

04-25-2002, 12:28 PM	#2
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 44 Posts: 6,525 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you don't trust them, take it to someone else, and have them perform a leak-down test on it.  That will tell you if your rings are bad, etc.  and whether or not they are right.  When performing a leak-down test you can actually hear where the air is comming out, so you know what is leaking. If your rings and valve seals ARE bad, then it's time for a performance rebuild, or SR <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________

04-25-2002, 01:53 PM	#4
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 44 Posts: 6,525 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah 7k is outrageous.  Valve seals are easier than piston rings too.  to replace rings to have to disassemple pretty much the whole engine.  So since your there, just buy some good forged pistons, and new rings, and take care of it all at once. __________________

04-25-2002, 02:13 PM	#6
prInce Leaky Injector Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Age: 44 Posts: 131 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	what are the key components of rebuilding an engine? __________________ '95 240sx LE KA24DE D2 Coilovers - 7/5 Spring Rate 2.5" pipe w/ractive muffler & magnaglow hi-flow cat Injen Intake Juran Front Upper Strut Bar

04-26-2002, 12:54 AM	#7
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Basically rebuilding an engine consists of replacing pretty much all bearings, rings, and seals. Potentially replacing rods, pistons, and valves. Hollar with what I missed, 'cause I'm sure it was a lot. Parts for this aren't really that spendy, but it is insanely labor intensive. If your car is burning oil, there aren't too many places for it to come through. Bad rings allow oil to come up from beneath the pistons. Rings usually scrape the oil back down into the pan here, bad rings let it stay in the combustion chamber. Basically, if you are going to go this far you may as well replace your bearings while the engine is apart. Will be costly. Bad valve seals let oil drip down from the valve cover. A hell of a lot easier to get to for repair, though you still have to remove the camshafts. Rebuild vs new engine is a tough call. If you can rebuild it yourself, you are still looking at several hundred for the parts. You don't want to pay somebody to rebuild it, you can get a replacement KA from an SR swap for under a grand. Or just get the SR as everybody seems so happy to do. . . __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

04-26-2002, 03:11 AM	#8
9591 Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (icer @ April 25 2002,2:58)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">anyone here ever replace valve seals and piston rings? about how much did it cost you. Because Nissan told me that its not worth it and to get a new engine.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> Your Nissan dealer (or the representative you spoke with) doesn't sound very trustworthy. A rebuilt engine is, essentially, a "new" engine. All the items that can wear are replaced or refurbished, and it could be done for a whole heckuva lot less than $7000. $7K for Nissan to install a new engine sounds pretty cheap, my bet is that it's actually a rebuilt motor. I'd just recommend that you buy a used motor, and have an independant shop swap it in. Or sell your car to me, cheap <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

04-25-2002, 12:23 PM	#1
icer Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 171 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey I been burning oil lately so I took it to the dealership and they said my piston rings and valve seals are shot and they recommended me getting a new engine or selling the car. I think their just trying to get me for $7,000 for a new engine. Anyone ever replace piston rings or valve seals, how much should it cost. They told me it wasn't worth replacing them. I have a '91 hatchback, 95,000 miles, and I've been using Mobil 1 5w-30. Any suggestions? Thanks, John

04-25-2002, 12:29 PM	#3
prInce Leaky Injector Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Age: 44 Posts: 131 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	$7000 for a new engine??? time for SR SWAP! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> piston rings and vavle seals can be replaced and shouldn't cost more than $500...  i paid $80 to replace the vavle seals in my car. just take it to a local repair shop (the famous ones like firestone, midas, NISSAN, etc. over-charge&#33<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ '95 240sx LE KA24DE D2 Coilovers - 7/5 Spring Rate 2.5" pipe w/ractive muffler & magnaglow hi-flow cat Injen Intake Juran Front Upper Strut Bar

04-25-2002, 01:58 PM	#5
icer Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 171 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	anyone here ever replace valve seals and piston rings? about how much did it cost you. Because Nissan told me that its not worth it and to get a new engine.

04-26-2002, 08:53 AM	#9
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 44 Posts: 6,525 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	there was someone in the For sale forum sulling a KADE for $350 with 35K miles.  Thats an amazing deal.  If I were you, I'd take it while I had the chance __________________