Is it absolutely necessary to replace the oil control ring springs?
 

1987 rx7 fc 13b N/A 6-port

Iv'e only driven 1500 miles after my previous rebuild before I decided to tear it down because I goofed on using too much gasket sealant and it coated my rotors and lowered my compression. Housings, endplates, and rotors are all fine.

I'm going to buy new apex and side, and corner seal springs obviously, but is it absolutely necessary to replace the oil control ring springs since I have only driven 1500 miles on them?

The reason I ask is because they are extremely brittle, and in the past I have chipped a ring or two trying to remove them (and they are expensive). If I can avoid taking them out, I would be happy.

Thoughts?

Thank you!

It's not all that difficult to take them out
Which you should do any ways to clean everything if you're rebuilding again
Check springs per FSM and replace/ reuse if needed

Oh and get hylomar, you don't have to use that much

Not "necessary" by any means. You should inspect them, but they are probably fine...especially if they were purchased NEW 1500 miles ago.


I have honestly never heard of excessive use of sealant lowering compression, what makes you think that's the case here?

I had originally gotten my injectors serviced, and after I threw the upper intake back on, the compression readings were halved in both housings and the car would not hold an idle after warming up.

When I tore it apart, I had found that the rotors had been coated in gasket sealant that I had used on the intake manifold. Oh well, at least I learned my lesson.

Alright fair enough, I may as well clean them, ill just be careful.

Thanks everyone.

Shouldn't even use sealant on the intake manafolds. The factory never did anyways
Just use the FSM, it says where to use it proper

I can't even imagine how that might have happened.

In a situation such as yours I would not even remove the rings/springs from the rotors unless I found a reason to.