Stuck Piston Rings

[bjk2dr]

Engine smokes on my '40. Car was sitting for a while. Was told possible stuck piston rings. Is there any quick fix I could try.
Ken

[barnfind]

You might try a penetrating oil or Marvel Mystery oil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs

[leon bee]

I wonder whatever happened to Rislone? I remember that stuff, you could pour it in the engine oil and hear the thing quiet down and run better. Or at least I always thought I could.

[supereal]

When you say "engine smokes", I assume you mean through the tailpipe rather than the crankcase vent. To confirm if the piston rings are at fault, dry/wet compression test will provide answers. Run the test, then inject oil into the cylinders thru the spark plug holes. If the compression reading between the tests shows an increase, the rings are likely just worn. If the tests are about the sale, your suspicion is likely true. In all. either outcome points to an engine overhaul. Additives claiming to "cure" the problem are also "blowing smoke". Any change would be temporary as shown in the wet/dry test.

[G.M.]

I would remove the spark plugs and fill all the cylinders with MMO.
Let sit over night and just jog the engine a little and refill and let
it sit another day or two. Fill again, put plugs in and spin with 12
volts to the starter. This should force the MMO into the ring grooves.
Take your time and don't rush. G.M.

[Ggmac]

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As previous suggested . Do the MMO and a wet / dry compression check . If the smoke is from the crankcase and exhaust I would not give up till you've had many hot /cold cycles , maybe even with MMO in between.
I would suggest removing the intake and see how much sludge is in valley . If it's substantial, 3/4"or more I would say it could be at the end of its useful ring life . This is assuming you don't know the history or mileage on the motor .

[bobH]

Originally Posted by leon bee

I wonder whatever happened to Rislone? I remember that stuff, you could pour it in the engine oil and hear the thing quiet down and run better. Or at least I always thought I could.

That was the 'magic stuff' back in the 50's. Or, at least it was in the little shop I worked in. And, IT WORKED. Temporary downside was, it smoked the neighborhood for awhile. It sure freed up sticky hydraulic lifters.
MOC was another one that worked.

[leon bee]

What was MOC?

[Tinker]

quick might not be the solution. Try a few mmo smoke outs and run it hard for a bit, works well on valves too. Then look at leak down test. As mentioned not sure if this is a quick flip/sale.


On a hit/miss engine you can remove the piston and knock it on some wood to free up the rings. But that's a one lung and low compression.

[bobH]

MOC.... that was the name on the can. I think it stood for Motor Oil Conditioner, but I'm not sure of that. It's been a long time. I was introduced to it in the late 50's, when there were several (new) ohv engines, and oil at that time was much different than today (detergent, what's that?). My take, I think it was a very aggressive solvent. When I first saw it used, the service manager at the dealership where I worked, identified a noisy rocker on a engine, and directly squirted the MOC on the pushrod, letting it run down to the lifter (engine running). That sucker quieted down, almost instantly. I was impressed. And, I had a few opportunities to repeat that 'fix'.
I went looking for this stuff, both MOC and Rislone, more recently, 3 or 4 years ago. I came up empty.

[grumppyoldman]

I had some luck using ATF on a smoking car by trickling it through the carb. keeping the throttle opened to keep it running. You want to see smoke, that will do it. Get the engine hot first then use the ATF or MMO, after it runs for a little while pouring the fluid, pour enough fluid in to chock it down. Let it sit overnight then it may run ok after all the fluid is burnt out of the muffler and tailpipe. If you have close neighbors, do it when they are not at home, it will smoke them out. Al

[1931 flamingo]

Used RISLONE in the 55 Olds in my 32 5W back in 61. Quieted it right down.
Paul in CT

[rotorwrench]

It also could have broken rings, a burned piston due to same, or extremely worn valve guides. Do a compression check as previously mentioned. Flatheads are pretty resilient but they don't keep going forever.

[Fortunateson]

Originally Posted by G.M.

I would remove the spark plugs and fill all the cylinders with MMO.
Let sit over night and just jog the engine a little and refill and let
it sit another day or two. Fill again, put plugs in and spin with 12
volts to the starter. This should force the MMO into the ring grooves.
Take your time and don't rush. G.M.

Wow! You might want to Google "Hydolock".... Gaseous mixtures can compress and liquids can't. If anyone tries this your problem will be solved with a replacement engine.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

I had some luck using ATF on a smoking car by trickling it through the carb. keeping the throttle opened to keep it running. You want to see smoke, that will do it. Get the engine hot first then use the ATF or MMO, after it runs for a little while pouring the fluid, pour enough fluid in to chock it down. Let it sit overnight then it may run ok after all the fluid is burnt out of the muffler and tailpipe. If you have close neighbors, do it when they are not at home, it will smoke them out. Al

I remember my dad using diesel fuel like that. It smoked like all hell, but would loosen carbon, free gummy or stuck valves, & stuck rings. It seemed to work. It would smoke up the neighborhood so bad that one time the fire department showed up.

[chap52]

Wal Mart has Rislone...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rislone-E...islone&veh=sem

[STEVE O]

The thing I wondered is the amount of blowby the engine has, as a compression test may show good if only the oil rings are stuck?

[Mart]

I wouldn't fill the cylinders with oil, put the plugs in and crank it. You could bend a rod like that.

A little squirt, maybe, but not "fill the cylinders".

Mart. I found that regular usage and some of the methods shown above will help a lot, but regular usage being the main thing.

This is assuming it was in good running order before being laid up, and not worn out.

Mart.

[flatford8]

I had good luck with”Sea Foam” on a later model vehicle. Kept it at a high idle and poured it in the vacuum hose for the brakes. About half the can and then dumped it in to stall it. Let set over nite..... Mark

[Hyvolt]

Have to add a comment here.
I never believed any additive would help much on issues like stuck rings, but I tested it for my self on a 2010 Honda.

Due to lack of maintenance from previous owner, my car was using right at 1 quart per 1000 miles. So, after allot of pondering, I decided to try some additives, what do I have to lose?
Could it get worse?

I added 1 quart to the crankcase when the car was low, then drove the car all kinds of hard for 500 miles, ( one week in my commute). Dropped the oil out and went back to normal oil.

Now I'm at 1/2 quart use in 4200.

I don't believe it myself. But I am a meticulous record keeper, and the numbers are there.
Good luck

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