hi fellas i need some advice my father in law done up my sons motor and my own we have a reconditioned head placed on each motor had it honed but when we each travell around 200 kms or a bit more it uses about a pint of oil i was wanting to know is it possible he has put the rings the wrong way (upside down)or could it be another problem?

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland

You say the engine was honed but was it bored out to the next size and then honed? Or did you just hone the existing bore and put new rings on the pistons?

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

The oil can only escape to a few places:-

Past the rings into the combustion chamber - will blow smoke on acceleration

Past the valve guides - will blow smoke after a period of idling

Into the coolant - via head gasket leak - coolant will froth up

Out of the engine via a leaking gasket - should be obvious

Older engines always used a bit of oil unlike modern engines. A pint in 200km sounds a bit excessive, maybe others could comment on their usage.

Pete

Back in the 60s my mate bought a brand new Morris 1100, it used to get through a pint in 400 miles... and BMC said it was `normal'.

I have found that most A series when just honed out and fitted with new rings and bearings invariably use oil. It's poor practice, considering that new pistons are so cheap now.
Often the crank is worn too, even with new bearings fitted they throw lots more oil up the bores and the new rings can't cope.

Do it once, do it right- rebore it, fit new pistons and grind the crank- it doesn't cost that much more.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

ok i am his son we have 2 motors which have been rebuilt buy my pop and both are burning oil or losing it somew were. They were just honed cause my pop said they didnt need a bore so yer

sorry boys one of my other son jumped in as he loves his pop lol seems ive to many sons to have my own private sight lol your right maybe i shouild hav gone the whole hogwith new pistons with 9 sons and 3 daugters all who want mini s i will be dragging more home to do up all the best fallas
carter kids dad

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1964 smooth roof panel van
1967 Mk 1 X-Police cooper s
1970 mini k
1975 leyland

In the 60's parts were expensive and labour was cheap so it was common to hone/re-ring to save a bit of dough. These days parts are relatively cheap and labour expensive so most will replace the parts.

There's nothing wrong with doing it the most cost-effective way though. It may mean that your engine will use a bit more oil and will need re-doing a bit earlier. It'll still last many years, get you where you want to go and put that smile on your face.

Pete

My first Mk 1 S drank like a lizard (oil). I got the same run from BMC - "400m pp, and?".
So I switched to Castrol R so i could at least enjoy the aroma. That motor would spin to 8,000 so easy and was smooth as glass, so I was reluctant to disturb anything. But when the 1st motion shaft bearing went, all the chickens came home to roost.

The moral is if everything else is OK, just live with the consumption & let sleeping dogs lie.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.