Just curious to see what are the symptoms that the cylinder walls have been scored.

It's a 2001 model and the oil jet bolts have not been replaced. The car still runs; however, there is a lot of pressure coming out of the valve cover breather.

If it's because of oil starvation, would there still be the pressure out the top? I was under the impression that this was a sign of broken rings/ringlands.

 

how much is a lot of pressure? my car always pushed some air out of the breather you could feel it if you put your finger by the nipple (i didnt have a filter on the nipple, just open to the atmosphere)

 

You could do a leak down and or compression check

I'm not sure how bad the scoring has to be to have symptoms. I found out about mine because we pulled the head off when the head gasket blew. But to be honest there wasn't any symptoms other then the head gasket issues it ran fine and still made power. But if I had kept driving it engine failure was only a matter of time.

 

Well...enough that you can feel it puffing out and once you rev it a bit, it increases.

I'd love to do a compression test, but I need to pick up a gauge for that.

If it's already scored or a ring is broken and it still runs, is it just a matter of time until it completely fails? I have an engine coming in so I'm just wondering if I should drive it to the shop.

 

My cylinder #4 was scored, it sounded like a loud 80s Mercedes diesel

 

Was it still running and drivable though? Was this due to the oil jet bolts?

 

yes, it was still running and drivable, i don't know how long it would've lasted in that condition, though.

I drove it less than 150 miles after that, then had a new (to me) engine put in.

Things that would've prevented or greatly reduced the chances of that happening: newer oil jet bolts, more oil.

If I would've had more oil in the car (I was about a half qt low?), it may have been fine.

 

Funny you mention that because I was a tad low on the dipstick too!

I was revving it pretty high and for a long run too so I guess all of that adds up to a big bend over for me!

In any case, I'm not sure but could this lead to broken rings too? I'm just wondering because the bottom end is supposed to handle quite a bit and I was only pushing about 350 whp and I'm pretty sure my tune was good so...

 

Are you 100% positive about that?

 

Sounds like it was a combination of low oil and older bolts, of you would've had more oil or the newer jet bolts, you probably would've been fine. I consider them cheap insurance.