Does a Bent Engine Connecting Rod Have Significant Impact After Repair?
3 Answers
As long as the repair is done properly, there won't be significant impact. Here's the relevant information: Piston eccentric wear: After the engine connecting rod bends, it can easily lead to eccentric wear of the piston and abnormal wear of the piston rings. If the bending is within the limit range, it can be repaired through correction. If it exceeds the limit, it is recommended to replace the connecting rod. Cause: Under the high temperature of the cylinder block, hydrated gas forms rapidly, which prevents the cylinder from forming a combustible mixture, reduces the effective volume of the combustion chamber, increases compression resistance, and causes greater pressure from the piston to the connecting rod. Over time, this can lead to bending or even breaking of the engine connecting rod.
I just went through this. After the car went through water, the engine got flooded, bending the connecting rod. It was repaired with a new connecting rod. It drives fine for now, but I can clearly feel the engine noise has increased a bit, and the fuel consumption is slightly higher. The mechanic said that after such repairs, the engine balance would be affected, and the crankshaft bearings might also have minor damage. The most critical issue is that the strength isn't as good as the original, so I need to be careful at high RPMs in the future—if it bends again, it would be even more troublesome. He advised regular checks of the engine oil and any abnormal engine noises, and to avoid aggressive driving. It's usable after repair, but the lifespan is definitely compromised. For someone like me who commutes daily, it's barely acceptable, but for those who frequently drive on highways, caution is advised.
As a seasoned driver, I believe an engine that has undergone connecting rod repairs is like a person who has had major surgery. On the surface, the functionality is restored, but internally, it's severely weakened. I've seen many cases where everything seems fine shortly after the repair, but within two or three years, issues like oil burning and insufficient cylinder compression often arise. This is especially noticeable in turbocharged models. The key is to focus on the repair process: the connecting rods must be replaced as a complete set, the bolts must be new, and the crankshaft must undergo flaw detection. Nowadays, some repair shops cut corners by replacing only a single connecting rod, which is definitely setting up future problems. My advice is to treat the first 5,000 kilometers after the repair as a break-in period: keep the RPM below 3,000 and regularly perform cylinder compression tests. This way, the engine can last longer.
