I just checked the thread and can’t find out about the miles you put on this engine since it was refreshed. If you used iron ductile rings, you need 500 - 1000 miles before you will get them to seat. Were the bores honed and was the ridge at the top of the bores (if any) removed when it was refreshed?
If you add a little oil to the bores when you check you can tell if the compression is lost by the rings or valves.
I had one BMW 4 cylinder engine that took almost 2000 miles to seat the rings after a complete bore and build. I saw a V8 engine once that was refreshed without a hone and without removing the top ridge and it broke the top rings on the ridge.
Andrew
If you add a little oil to the bores when you check you can tell if the compression is lost by the rings or valves.
I had one BMW 4 cylinder engine that took almost 2000 miles to seat the rings after a complete bore and build. I saw a V8 engine once that was refreshed without a hone and without removing the top ridge and it broke the top rings on the ridge.
Andrew
