Cost to replace piston rings?

eliteboi · 02-20-2012, 09:42 AM

Ok so this isn't for my car, but one i'm looking into buying at a steal.

The owner says "The engine runs strong but blue-white smoke is coming out of the exhaust. I was told it is more than likely a gasket or something to do with the piston rings..."

What would new piston and rings cost? Any ideas? What would you guys pay for this?

1995 Saab 9000 CSE

VI009DZ · 02-20-2012, 09:55 AM

Head gasket or turbo.

I'd put $1,000 on it that its NOT the rings. Someone find me the last B234 that needed rings.

sona · 02-20-2012, 09:56 AM

I'd pay $500 for that... maybe. Head gaskets are pricey if you don't do them yourself. I've heard as high as $700.(or the cost of a head gasket, new head bolts, and a case of beer if you do it yourself) Piston rings are more labor intensive and therefore would cost more. I'd bet on a head gasket. if the rings are shot, you're looking at tearing the whole engine down. Not worth it in my opinion unless you want to do a full rebuild ($2000 +). And that color is too ugly for a full rebuild.

If you have the spare cash, buy it and tear it apart for the learning experience. You're gonna need it if you plan on having a love affair with Saabs for any length of time without going broke.

eliteboi · 02-20-2012, 10:03 AM

Ya, I just got off the phone with one of my favorite Indy repair shops. He thinks it's a headgasket. I have a guy who could put one in for a few hundred for me. I'm going to see how far down I can get the guy on the price. I don't know if I would want to drive it home from where it's located.

dantinne · 02-20-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eliteboi

What would you guys pay for this?

1995 Saab 9000 CSE

$500 max

eliteboi · 02-20-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dantinne

$500 max

that's what i'm thinking. I'll probably fix it if I can get it down in price, have it checked out, and if it's just a head gasket or turbo i'll keep the rims from it put my old 9k wheels on it and sell the thing.... Or give it to my parents

spanknut · 02-20-2012, 11:39 AM

Do a leak down test

WSW · 02-20-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spanknut

Do a leak down test

X2 your never going to know for sure what it is.. Might as well do a leakdown test and find out what the issue is exactly as opposed to guessing g and throwing parts at it

eliteboi · 02-20-2012, 09:54 PM

Stay tuned for what happens

mike d · 02-21-2012, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VI009DZ

Head gasket or turbo.

I'd put $1,000 on it that its NOT the rings. Someone find me the last B234 that needed rings.

agreed, the rings are the last thing to fail, the only time ive ever seen ring issues is on a motor that sat had rusty bores because. If it runs good its probably not the HG either HGs are easy to diag, look for milky oil, bubbles in the coolent system when revving, and uneven exhaust pulses at idle.... I Suspect the turbo

OR you could luck out, and some PCV lines/check valves are screwed up.

If the price is right, and it looks good, you could have a very good purchase on your hands

eliteboi · 02-23-2012, 08:05 AM

Well someone beat me to Boulder and bought t quicker then I could get there

02-20-2012, 09:42 AM	#1
eliteboi SAAB Road Master Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 319	Cost to replace piston rings? Ok so this isn't for my car, but one i'm looking into buying at a steal. The owner says "The engine runs strong but blue-white smoke is coming out of the exhaust. I was told it is more than likely a gasket or something to do with the piston rings..." What would new piston and rings cost? Any ideas? What would you guys pay for this? 1995 Saab 9000 CSE __________________ SAAB Swedish Automobiles Always Break

02-20-2012, 09:55 AM	#2
VI009DZ Elder Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,421	Head gasket or turbo. I'd put $1,000 on it that its NOT the rings. Someone find me the last B234 that needed rings. __________________ -adam

02-20-2012, 09:56 AM	#3
sona SAAB Road Master Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 371	I'd pay $500 for that... maybe. Head gaskets are pricey if you don't do them yourself. I've heard as high as $700.(or the cost of a head gasket, new head bolts, and a case of beer if you do it yourself) Piston rings are more labor intensive and therefore would cost more. I'd bet on a head gasket. if the rings are shot, you're looking at tearing the whole engine down. Not worth it in my opinion unless you want to do a full rebuild ($2000 +). And that color is too ugly for a full rebuild. If you have the spare cash, buy it and tear it apart for the learning experience. You're gonna need it if you plan on having a love affair with Saabs for any length of time without going broke. __________________ -1991 9000 Turbo -1994 9000 Aero -2006 Explorer Eddie Bauer Last edited by sona; 02-20-2012 at 09:59 AM.

02-20-2012, 10:03 AM	#4
eliteboi SAAB Road Master Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 319	Ya, I just got off the phone with one of my favorite Indy repair shops. He thinks it's a headgasket. I have a guy who could put one in for a few hundred for me. I'm going to see how far down I can get the guy on the price. I don't know if I would want to drive it home from where it's located. __________________ SAAB Swedish Automobiles Always Break

02-20-2012, 09:54 PM	#9
eliteboi SAAB Road Master Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 319	Stay tuned for what happens __________________ SAAB Swedish Automobiles Always Break

02-20-2012, 11:39 AM	#7
spanknut SAAB Road Master Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: VT Posts: 321	Do a leak down test

02-23-2012, 08:05 AM	#11
eliteboi SAAB Road Master Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 319	Well someone beat me to Boulder and bought t quicker then I could get there __________________ SAAB Swedish Automobiles Always Break

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