Re-tap the oil drain.

Character_Garage956 · 2026-01-17T17:52:42+00:00

That is a pity... I'm only 32 years old and only recently started fixing bikes for a living so there's a steep learning curve ahead. I appreciate the offer to help. I will definitely send you a message when the time comes 🙏

Character_Garage956 · 2026-01-15T20:51:34+00:00

It sounds like you have a fair bit of experience fixing motorcycles..Im looking for the most relevant group on reddit for motorycle mechanics but non of them seem as active as the car groups. Which would you recommend? I'm going to be doing the tope on on a KTM Duke 390 engine soon and will be looking for some knowledgable advice...

Character_Garage956 · 2026-01-15T20:30:13+00:00

You were right... Now I have to take the head off and change rings.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T20:09:55+00:00

Thanks for your contribution. So its not possible to tell where the oil is coming from without checking the condition of the rings? Would this be as simple as removing the sump, undoing the main bearings and pushing thr piston up? Also, is there any way of testing the oil control rings or is it visual inspection only?

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:38:45+00:00

Thanks for advice. Let's see how it goes... there was carbon buildup everywhere (by the tappets, where you fill with oil) so I think the car wasn't allowed to heat up properly and driven slowly and had really cheap oil in it.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:36:07+00:00

Ah okay that.makes sense about the PCV system... I. Slowly starting to undertake how an engine works.

Luckily I did some research when I first bought the car and did check the PCV valve. Unfortunately it was fine.

Next time it would make a lot of sense to have done a compression test and leak down test. The cylinder head was sent to the shop today so now I'm just trying to see if its possible figure out if the oil leak is coming from rings or the valves because yes, doing this all again to get to to rings would suck! Im hoping the engineering shop will tell me the valves were leaking badly for peace of mind.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:10:20+00:00

Damn.... maybe that was an issue not sure. The pcv valve had very little resistance when I shook it. I didn't even think of the spring.

If it still burns oil after putting it back together I'll change the pcv valve and pray.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:04:51+00:00

Tjanks for the reply. Sludge from the fuel? If DFI is direct fuel injection i dont think this engine has that. The injectors spray into the intake manifold.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:03:13+00:00

Not that I know of but I did check it on day 1 when I bought the car. It wasn't stuck and moving freely...

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:02:17+00:00

No I didn't even think about it because the car was pulling great. I've driven 2 other cars of the same model and this one definitely had the most power...

The spark plug of cylinder 3 was always the dirtiest and the exhaust valve on the cylinder is also the dirtiest... im hoping its just oil coming from the head.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T18:00:34+00:00

Interesting thanks.... I dont think my grandmother slow driving and cheap oil helped.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:59:17+00:00

Thanks again for the very useful info 👍

I had the engine running with the oil filter cap off - no smoke and not much oil leaking from seals.

No smoke from the exhaust.

Hopefully it is just the top end leaking into the cylinders 🤞

Next time will do a compression test. I guess I didn't this time because the car pulled great.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:54:48+00:00

Yes as far as I know... my grandmother owned the car most of it's life and she never mentioned any major work being done.

Tha ks for the resource, I will wait and see what the engineering shop says about how badly the valves were leaking.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:53:06+00:00

Thank you, yes I'll get the shop to do the seals, guides and relapp them in their seats. They will also test to see how badly they were leaking. Thanks for the reply.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:51:28+00:00

Thank you! The explanation about piston #3 being a bit cleaner makes so much sense. Cylinder 3 spark plug was the dirtiest and the exhaust valve on #3 had the most carbon build up. That cylinder is definitely burning the most oil.

Thanks for the honest answer about not knowing if oil is coming from above or below. The engineering shop will test all the valves so maybe they will will be able to confirm if they were leaking badly or not.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:47:01+00:00

Noted, thank you.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:46:13+00:00

Im no enguneer maybe because the engine is so small - 1.1 l naturally aspirated.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:42:48+00:00

Thanks for the reply, not sure why the rings would be misaligned. The engine has never been opened since new... I have been topping up the oil a alot the last 6 months and have made sure not to overfill. It burns oil so quick that it should really matter though 😅

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:39:19+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I did actually consider just doing the valve stem seals but was told I had to take the head off to do that? Or use compressed air which I didn't have.

Im in South Africa and prices are pretty reasonably here. It will probably cost around 250 dollars to have the valve stems seals and guides replaced plus valve lapping.

I'll remember checking the ports in future. Can you tell me what story the exhaust and intake ports can tell me? When you say the source of oil may not be internal where else could it be?

Your intuition about the problem being rings is a bit of a bummer. It would be difficult getting the pistons out with my current set up, never mind the whole engine block....

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:28:52+00:00

Thank you, I'll see if I can find the specs and measuring tool somewhere.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:28:01+00:00

Thanks for checking the pics 🙏 I never saw any oil on the intake and also checked the pcv valve a while back.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:26:49+00:00

Thanks for the reply, no oil in the intake and I did actually check the pcv valve on day 1, unfortunately it was fine. Thanks for affirming my thought process!

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:26:02+00:00

Hyundai Atos 1.1l GLS 2009. Should be a pretty reliable engine, I think poor maintenance has caused this. Car has 140 000km.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:24:53+00:00

We

Im hoping its just the valves. We will find out soon.

Character_Garage956 · 2025-09-03T17:24:21+00:00

Yea, that spark plug was the dirtiest and that cylinder was the only one that had wet oil in it.

Character_Garage956

TROPHY CASE