blowing smoke

[larry emrick]

Hi All:

What does it mean when I get a cloud of blue exhaust smoke on startup in our series 3 gas. Just on startup and not when running, and the oil level stays up reasonably well. Starts, runs and idles beautifully. Rings? Valves?

Larry and Pippa

[HeadDamage]

Likely valve guides, not a problem if it is not using much oil or hurting performance.

[Dave_F]

If it bothers you, they're not that hard to do...or get done :D

[island dormy]

Hi Larry

It is most likely the little rubber seals on the valve stems are perished from old age. If the motor has a lot of miles on it the valve guides them selves could also be getting worn.
Supposedly you can use compressed air to hold the valves shut, remove the collets and the valve springs and change the rubber seals with out removing the head. But I think it is probably easier to pull the head off. Or just live with it. I had a motor that did this for 10,000 miles and counting and never got any worse the plugs stayed clean it did not use oil, just a puff of blue on start up.

Victor 1962 Dormobile

[larry emrick]

Hi All:

Thanks for your responses. That's about what I expected and so long as it starts and runs as well as it does I can live with it.
Larry