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Should a rebuilt F4R engine (RS200) eating oil after run-in?



Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
Talk about the brake lines they also fitted that turned out were rubbing on the tyres...
Brake lines should be fitted with the bracket:
IMG_5101.PNG


where mine was fitted, the photo was taken on the second day collecting the car with new line and rear brake calipers fitted. Luckily the rim didn't rub through the line

IMG_5107.JPG
IMG_5114.JPG
 

Louis

I Love Ed Sheeran
ClioSport Club Member

npt

  BMW 320d- 172 cup
Just take it back, it needs to be tested, likely a ring issue if it's down on power, if it is and you keep driving it it'll soon if not already be a liner issue also 🫣
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
That's shocking and potentially incredibly dangerous.

You need to go back to the specialist and allow them to resolve these issues satisfactorily. Don't get mugged off.
I definitely will, just need to arrange my schedule. Kinda busy at the mo
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
Just take it back, it needs to be tested, likely a ring issue if it's down on power, if it is and you keep driving it it'll soon if not already be a liner issue also 🫣
Hope the engine issue could still be rectified at the mo, not going to pay anymore for the build / parts
 

Flob

ClioSport Club Member
Also, bit cheeky to charge that much for the timing belt kit (unless it includes water pump, dephaser and aux belt guff) given the engine would have been out the car and the belt kit is £130 from Renault Parts Direct.
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
Also, bit cheeky to charge that much for the timing belt kit (unless it includes water pump, dephaser and aux belt guff) given the engine would have been out the car and the belt kit is £130 from Renault Parts Direct.
tbh, it is what it is now, won't hang up with the cost. Would like to get the engine fixed and enjoy the spirit of Renault Sport
 

Martin_172

ClioSport Club Member
"using oil while running in" is basically saying, f**k off for 6 months so when you come back we can claim the engine hasnt been treated properly for the last 6 months, not our issue.

The F4R does not use oil, i must have had almost 20 of them and the only one i had that used oil is sitting on the floor in the corner of my garage after my "smokey" 197 went bang.

Car straight back to wherever the work was done, as mentioned above, cars are a lot more complicated than a faulty kettle going back to Tesco. Don't use it, get it back to them, concerns in an email so there is history. agree straight away what the plan of action is. Don't be fobbed off with "we will change the oil and see how it goes"

Ive no idea who it is that you had the work done, but the chances are if they aint the best as has been hinted at, they will be more likely to refund you the cash and send you quietly on your way in which case you can have someone else put it right and you shouldnt be too much out of pocket.
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
"using oil while running in" is basically saying, f**k off for 6 months so when you come back we can claim the engine hasnt been treated properly for the last 6 months, not our issue.

The F4R does not use oil, i must have had almost 20 of them and the only one i had that used oil is sitting on the floor in the corner of my garage after my "smokey" 197 went bang.

Car straight back to wherever the work was done, as mentioned above, cars are a lot more complicated than a faulty kettle going back to Tesco. Don't use it, get it back to them, concerns in an email so there is history. agree straight away what the plan of action is. Don't be fobbed off with "we will change the oil and see how it goes"

Ive no idea who it is that you had the work done, but the chances are if they aint the best as has been hinted at, they will be more likely to refund you the cash and send you quietly on your way in which case you can have someone else put it right and you shouldnt be too much out of pocket.
Bring the car back to them is the only plan but pretty certain refund is not going to happen. With all the comments above, I am 100% sure F4R engines won’t eat that much oil and mine got issues
 

Krarl

ClioSport Club Member
This specialist sounds special alright

I've just had an engine rebuild capable of 600bhp for my 5 series. It hasn't used a drop of oil over the past 650 miles. Any rebuilt engine that burns or uses oil is fucked, no ifs buts or maybes, its f**king fucked big time m8

Tell them to sort it, then again they sound hopeless so you might just be pissing in the wind
 

R3k1355

ClioSport Club Member
Don't get too hung up on things like oil pumps not being changed - thats not your issue.

Just get the engine to a garage who will leak down and compression test it and go from there.

Don't get too hung up on tests, they're more testing the quality of the compression ring and not the oil control rings.

If the bores are out of spec it will certainly show, but there is a possibility the engine builder slapped used or shite oil control rings onto this engine and they're just not doing their job.
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
This specialist sounds special alright

I've just had an engine rebuild capable of 600bhp for my 5 series. It hasn't used a drop of oil over the past 650 miles. Any rebuilt engine that burns or uses oil is fucked, no ifs buts or maybes, its f**king fucked big time m8

Tell them to sort it, then again they sound hopeless so you might just be pissing in the wind
Really thought I could enjoy the car after the rebuilt, reality is problems after problems, haven't had a good sleep recently
 

Krarl

ClioSport Club Member
Really thought I could enjoy the car after the rebuilt, reality is problems after problems, haven't had a good sleep recently
I know the feeling mate. I spent thousands on a Megane that just had issue after issue

You need to be firm with them and tell them they're a bunch of useless f*****s, they should be fixing
 

Tony_HH

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio RS200 FF
Don't get too hung up on tests, they're more testing the quality of the compression ring and not the oil control rings.

If the bores are out of spec it will certainly show, but there is a possibility the engine builder slapped used or shite oil control rings onto this engine and they're just not doing their job.
It is very limited of what I can do, can't stay in the garage monitoring them. Does it look like the engine needed to be strip down and rebuild again by them?
 

SharpyClio

ClioSport Club Member
It is very limited of what I can do, can't stay in the garage monitoring them. Does it look like the engine needed to be strip down and rebuild again by them?
I think they need to do some work to unerstand why a freshly built engine is drinking oil, there is a few reasons for this some are simple enough like the rings on the pistons being aligned others may require more work. Either way you have dropped a decent wedge of money and have not got what you expected. The car is simply not fit for purpose.

If this was normal all new cars off the production line would drink oil, they don't.

Speak to the garage explain the fact you know its not right, if they refuse to do anything then speak to citizens advice, your bank and if needed start looking at small claims court.

If this was my garage id be concerned with an unhappy customer and be keen to do something about it.
 

Matt Cup

ClioSport Club Member
  Leon Cupra
Was any of it paid by credit card? I’m sure they have some consumer protection you can potentially lean on too if things get complicated.
 

Brigsy

ClioSport Club Member
  T.Turbo
100% strip down and rectify issues to sort this, no other option.

Your next step needs to be an independent inspection by another specialist with a report. I would personally use diamond motors renault specialist ltd if your close to nottingham.

I would decline any offer of trying an oil change/different grade of oil. Ive seen people suggest trying to use a running in oil briefly and italian tuneup to reseat the rings. Rarely works imo.
 

Flob

ClioSport Club Member
Don't get too hung up on tests, they're more testing the quality of the compression ring and not the oil control rings.

If the bores are out of spec it will certainly show, but there is a possibility the engine builder slapped used or shite oil control rings onto this engine and they're just not doing their job.
I completely (nearly) disagree.

Do get hung up on having another reputable garage do both compression and leak down tests and to write you a report. Its very easy for a company to fob off someone who is unable to fully explain themselves right there and then, but very difficult for them to fob off someone holding a factual report which shows without argument that there is a problem.

Its true that a leak down test will not conclusively tell you if an oil control ring isn't sealing however it will still in most cases prove that a cylinder has an issue. I've personally never had just oil rings fail - its always been compression rings and oil control rings.

The reason I mentioned earlier about not getting hung up on oil pumps was that clearly in this instance the oil pump isn't to blame for high oil consumption, some companies would also rather refit a used (inspected) oil pump than a brand new one.
 

NorthloopCup

ClioSport Moderator
The issue realistically can only be down to:

Cylinder bores out of spec
Piston rings incorrect gaps/faulty
Worn valve guides

I’ve listed them in what I would suspect as the most likely to the less likely. If it’s all 3, then you got sold a proper lemon.

Have a look in the breather pipe that attaches to the inlet manifold. You’re looking for oil in that pipe.

Now this is an unlikely potential fault, but the 197/200 has a valve on that pipe. I’m can’t say 100% that the valve is a one way valve, but it’ll almost certainly have a diaphragm in it. If that was knackered, it could be allowing oil to pass through all the time.

But I’m only basing this theory on my experience of bmw cam covers that have a breather in them. If they’re knackered, they drink oil, so you never know, it could be a simple fix.

I’ve got one of those valves in the garage so I’ll have a look when I’m home. 👍🏻
 

Flob

ClioSport Club Member
Pull the dipstick out with the engine running.

The issue realistically can only be down to:

Cylinder bores out of spec
Piston rings incorrect gaps/faulty
Worn valve guides

I’ve listed them in what I would suspect as the most likely to the less likely. If it’s all 3, then you got sold a proper lemon.

Have a look in the breather pipe that attaches to the inlet manifold. You’re looking for oil in that pipe.

Now this is an unlikely potential fault, but the 197/200 has a valve on that pipe. I’m can’t say 100% that the valve is a one way valve, but it’ll almost certainly have a diaphragm in it. If that was knackered, it could be allowing oil to pass through all the time.

But I’m only basing this theory on my experience of bmw cam covers that have a breather in them. If they’re knackered, they drink oil, so you never know, it could be a simple fix.

I’ve got one of those valves in the garage so I’ll have a look when I’m home. 👍🏻
I've had an M52 with a fucked PCV valve that had high oil consumption that was fixed by just replacing that (y)
 

R3k1355

ClioSport Club Member
If it’s all 3, then you got sold a proper lemon.

I suppose that does open up a rather unpleasant option.

The company took the cash, bought a cheap engine from a scrapper, slapped some paint on it and handed it over as freshly rebuilt.
We all know there's been several 'specialists' in the past that would happily do just that.
 
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NorthloopCup

ClioSport Moderator
I suppose that does open up a rather unpleasant option.

The company took the cash, bought a cheap engine from a scrapper, slapped some paint on it and handed it over as freshly rebuilt.
We all know there's been several 'specialists' in the past that would happily do just that.
Well it’s not looking favourable is it. And knowing who one of the members of staff who works at the so called specialist is, he was already known as a prick.
 

helpimonfire

ClioSport Club Member
  '06 197
Well it’s not looking favourable is it. And knowing who one of the members of staff who works at the so called specialist is, he was already known as a prick.
I have a feeling I know which one you mean and I agree... I know that business used to build gearboxes for another specialist that was too busy to do them and they stopped using said specialist because of the failure rate.

To the OP. I'd make a trip somewhere else to get it looked at. AW Motorworks (has his moments but IME he's very good) or one place that gets a lot of love on here is Diamond Motors.
 


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