5 replies to this topic

[Clubber Lang]

Hi after taking the engine out to replace the half moon seal between gearbox/engine we decided to remove the head also as we have been getting a bit of mayo in the rocker cover and also a bit of blue smoke from the exhaust, bearing in mind the engine was still being run in.
The head gasket seems o.k. and i am going to get the head tested tommorow as it has been heavily ported so i want to eliminate this as well.
I have however noticed the valve stem seals are only fitted to the inlet valves? There are double springs on the head.
Would the lack of stem seals cause my blue smoke?
Would you fit stem seals whilst the head is off? Is there a reason for them not to be fitted? I can see oil inside the exhaust ports on the valve stem which looks like it could cause a problem but i thought you only got smoke on start up and then it would clear but mine seems to be there all the time sometimes and less at others? Should i take the pistons out and check the rings? bearing in mind it is still being run in.
I had noticed quite a bit of oil splashing from the dipstick hole if you take it out whilst the engine is running, is this normal? kind regards Steve

[Ethel]

Originally there weren't any. The pressure in the exhaust should be enough to stop much oil going down the stems and the stems won't hurt for a little lube. Later A's got exhaust seals when emissions became more of a concern. There will very likely be some evidence if oil has been going down the stems. Whip the valves out to see.

[The_Mistro]

*APPARANTLY* you dont need them fitted to the exhaust valves as they will only go hard quickly, but you can put them on their if you wish too! or so i have been told, hece the apparantly

[Clubber Lang]

But there wouldn't be enough oil going down them to cause blue smoke when driving? regards Steve

[The_Mistro]

is it injection or carb?

mines injection, and i replaced my valve stem seals as it was drinking fuel and blue smoke came out when i started it up, and it stopped it!

edit: after reading ethels post, it must of been the exhaust stem seals causing it on mine, i wasnt told that the injections had them as standard for emissions reasons!

Edited by The_Mistro, 06 May 2009 - 11:16 PM.

[Clubber Lang]

Its carb. There is evidence its burning oil from somewhere as the exhaust pots are well wet and oily for the 150 or so miles it has done. could be from running in but i doubt it. I was also getting a small amount of water in my oil too. There was a lot of oil splashing about in this engine, far more than usual i would say but the oil presuure when warm was about 45? If you took the oil filler cap you could see the oil pouring back down the pushrods. If you lifted the dipstick slightly oil would be spitting out more than it should be i would say any ideas? regards Steve

Edited by Clubber Lang, 06 May 2009 - 11:29 PM.