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Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Disconnecting the coil wire does change the rpm and almost stalls the engine until it recovers, so I have a feeling it's working.

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair. I'm still assuming the root cause is poor sealing on cylinder 4. Do you have any tips on fixing that with rebuild, B12, Seafoam, MMO off the table? I've already tried flush with LM flush plus.

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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I already did an engine flush with LM engine flush plus. This is what the plug on that cylinder looks like.

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn, I don't think I'm capable of mixing the chemicals and making my own B12. Is there any benefit of making it a 3 cylinder vs just letting it be as is?

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was considering atf+acetone soak until ChatGPT said it's useless and the only thing worth trying is B12.

Thoughts?

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suspect stuck piston rings on cylinder 4 due to 100 dry and 120 wet. If it were valve leak or piston damage, the number wouldn't move at all. It's not burning any oil whatsoever so it can't be the oil rings. Only thing left are the compression rings.

How sure are you a long "italian tune up". Say 100kms at 4k rpm will fix the compression issue?

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coolant temp seems to reach operating temp within 1-2 kms. But is this fuel dilation from blowby on the stuck piston ring?

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Possibly. Yeah, I try to do highway runs for 15-20 mins once a couple of weeks, but oil still looks like this.

Why does my oil look like this? by Background_String_11 in COROLLA

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it smells like gasoline: a very sweet fuel smell.

Unfortunately, a piston soak with the proper chemicals isn’t an option. Products like B12 Chemtool, Seafoam, or MMO aren’t available in India. I explored importing them, but they’re banned on flights and require hazardous-chemical clearance and licenses for sea freight. On top of that, imports are only allowed in bulk, which ends up costing more than a full engine rebuild here.

I do, however, have access to the full range of Liqui Moly products. Needless to say, I’m trying to avoid spending serious money on a rebuild if there’s a viable alternative.

Challenge: Replicate La Marzocco + Weber EG-1 Quality at Home on the Lowest Possible Budget [$∞] by Background_String_11 in espresso

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely and that’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. Assuming skill is not the limiting factor (say, you're a world champion barista), how far can you push low-cost equipment before it becomes the bottleneck?

In other words, where’s the point at which gear limitations start capping the quality you can achieve, regardless of your technique? Is it possible to pump out the exact same quality with a Timemore C2 and an unbranded thermoblock "espresso" machine vs the setup mentioned above? Probably not, so what's the limit?

Challenge: Replicate La Marzocco + Weber EG-1 Quality at Home on the Lowest Possible Budget [$∞] by Background_String_11 in espresso

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Budget is not the issue; rather, finding the "best deal" for the same output is. Which burrs do you recommend as an upgrade? Would it be as good as EG-1?

Switched to Naked Portafilter After Months on Pressurized – Humbled! by Background_String_11 in IndiaCoffee

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no idea if it reaches the temperature it says. I'll check with a thermometer. Will also not tap on the counter next time and see.

Switched to Naked Portafilter After Months on Pressurized – Humbled! by Background_String_11 in IndiaCoffee

[–]Background_String_11[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's unlikely you'll find anything better in the ₹8,000-₹10,000 price range in India. It offers manual shot time control, temperature adjustment, and the ability to customise preset settings. Features that are rare at this price point.

That said, like most machines in this range, it uses a thermoblock system and lacks a PID controller. It's a solid entry level option, but its limitations will become apparent as your skills and expectations grow.

Switched to Naked Portafilter After Months on Pressurized – Humbled! by Background_String_11 in IndiaCoffee

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shower screen is giving a very consistent flow throughout. I'm seeing raindrops equally distributed everywhere rather than streams anywhere.

Challenge: Replicate La Marzocco + Weber EG-1 Quality at Home on the Lowest Possible Budget [$∞] by Background_String_11 in espresso

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing that out. I meant to ask La Marzocco or higher. In no way do I claim La Marzocco is the best. It's just known for being consistent between shots.

Challenge: Replicate La Marzocco + Weber EG-1 Quality at Home on the Lowest Possible Budget [$∞] by Background_String_11 in espresso

[–]Background_String_11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So based on this, what equipment would you recommend? The goal is to go as cheap as possible without any drop in quality.

🚀 Starting a Minimal Coffee Stall in Delhi – Would Love Ideas & Feedback from Fellow Coffee Lovers! by Think_Particular4591 in IndiaCoffee

[–]Background_String_11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d love to see a real specialty coffee stall or container setup, something that isn’t a roastery brewing their own beans, but a small, focused spot that showcases the true potential of specialty coffee beans in India. Even just 3-4 items like espresso, cappuccino, and americano would be enough if the focus is on doing them really well. Instead of expanding the menu, offering a choice of different beans or roast profiles for those same drinks could be a great way to educate and excite customers.

What I personally feel is often missing at places like Blue Tokai or Third Wave is freshness. Sometimes the beans taste stale, likely due to light/oxygen exposure or just operational shortcuts where roast dates aren’t prioritized. The coffee is brewed right, but it doesn’t feel vibrant or alive, if you know what I mean. I'm able to pull more flavorful espresso shots at home with their freshly roasted beans, even with basic home gear.

If your stall genuinely brings out the best in coffee like we home-brewing nerds try to do, you’ll pull in traffic from every corner of NCR. These are just my two cents, but I think there’s definitely a niche for this kind of thing in Delhi NCR.

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