New Pistons? Or Second Hand Bottom End?

[Gareth-WilliamsR33]

Hey people im hoping for some help here, i took my skyline r33gtst to get minor work done and just its regular check up.. The mechanic told me he noticed the car was miss- firing, ( bare with me as im not all that knowledge based with cars) he put my hand up to a small pipe that was blowing out air in small bursts, then put my hand up to the exhaust.. I couldnt quite understand what he was on about, but basicaly told me one of my piston rings is cracked or broked meaning my car is running on 5 cylinders, not 6. He told me the engine has to be pulled out and needs new pistons... Im just wondering if theres an alternate explanation for what hes telling me is wrong, or is there a way i can test my car to get a 100% notibility with what the problem actualy is or if theres a problem at all, i personaly didnt know anything was wrong with my car before he told me it needs major work done, it runs beautifuly. So any feed back would be greatly appreciated, cheers

[DAN00H]

LOL - go to a different mechanic. if it doesn't misfire under boost or load, then it's unlikely there is an issue (especially if you haveen't noticed anytihng as the driver). too hard to diagnose anything like this over a keyboard...

does it blow smoke out of the oil filler if you remove while idling?

[EeLeYe]

Does your car sound like a WRX? If so, then yes, you are running on 5 cyl. Otherwise it seems as though the mechanic may have misdiagnosed the problem; a problem that you never noticed beforehand - especially if you mentioned the car runs beautifully.

The small bursts of air have been associated with piston ring failure but as I mentioned above, the dead giveaway is the WRX sound (going from my experiences). I would take it to another mechanic (don't say anything about piston rings) or a friend who knows engines.

[Gareth-WilliamsR33]

Whats the best way to notice if my car is miss firing? i dont exactly hoon around in the car all that much im a fairly casual driver, so if i put my foot down what sort of reaction should i be looking for? I havnt noticed any smoke coming out of it, ive parked it up somewhere secure and safe until i figure out whats wrong with it. Mechanic said if i continue to drive it around it will eventualy start spitting oil and cause more damage... Kinda annoying coz ive just had the head reconditioned due to the timing belt snapping which was a 3 grand operation, now he tells me the bottom needs doing with new pistons... I just wana make sure hes not pulling my leg coz i dont know a whole lot about cars.

[Lazy-Bastard]

LOL - go to a different mechanic. if it doesn't misfire under boost or load, then it's unlikely there is an issue (especially if you haveen't noticed anytihng as the driver). too hard to diagnose anything like this over a keyboard...

does it blow smoke out of the oil filler if you remove while idling?

Remove the OIL filter while idling?!?!?!?

Did you mean the air filter?

[Gareth-WilliamsR33]

Yeah just thinking about it, it does have a slight wrx idle to it

[chopperkid]

@Lazy-Bastard He said oil FILLER lol. Not FILTER

Edited June 22, 2011 by chopperkid

[Lazy-Bastard]

@Lazy-Bastard He said oil FILLER lol. Not FILTER

LOL, I'm old and blind

Lucky coz that was going on my "best advice ever" list