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Smokey engine

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by neptco19, Feb 28, 2006.

  1. Feb 28, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    The 'ol L head in goldmember is smoking more and more. Its a bluesish white smoke and it starts right at start up and dies off at idle, under any kind of load its puffing away out the back. I thought (hoped) it was just a stuck ring or two and tried flooding the cylinders with MMO but 3 of the 4 cylinders emptied within 20 sec of filling it. So it would appear that the cylinders are just wore out (guessing here). I really dont feel like pulling it right now to do a rebuild. I would do a compression test but dont have the tool to do it. My question is, is that stuff at the FLAPS on the fluid aisle called engine restorer even worth a shot or has anyone had any luck with it??
     
  2. Feb 28, 2006
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    AFAIK those are only viscosity increasers. Well, you'll get different opinions abut this, but back in the days when I worked parts counter, we sold lots of 70wt single grade Valvoline to limit oil burning. If you're using a lot of oil, in addition to smoke I'd also expect it to show up on the plugs. You may need to go to a hotter plug or anti-foulers as well as the heavier oil.
     
  3. Feb 28, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Well I dont drive it enough to notice it burning alot of oil. Just go out and start it up and go to the store for a snack every other weekend or so. I replaced the plugs after doing the MMO and 3 of the 4 (the ones that MMO drained out quickly in) had a good bit of oil on them. The 4th looked alright.
     
  4. Feb 28, 2006
    coby61

    coby61 Stupidiotic Member

    Prunedale CA
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    Jason have you thought about just pulling the head off and just doing a quick look see? Head gasket is cheap and easy on the old L head. You can check the bore see if anything is wrong. My .02
     
  5. Feb 28, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Yeah I had thought about it.....but thats about as far as I got :oops: Plus was kinda afraid of knocking loose the 60 yr old crud holding it together, tried doing that on the carb and I instantly had vacume leaks all over it :rofl:
     
  6. Feb 28, 2006
    gte636p

    gte636p Member

    smyrna, Ga
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    coby's got the idea... we had a nasty problem that seemed like timing after getting an l-head rebuilt and founda bent valve on a whim when the head was removed. it's quick and easy to see what you've got, unless you start breaking studs.
     
  7. Feb 28, 2006
    coby61

    coby61 Stupidiotic Member

    Prunedale CA
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    Ok pressure wash first...........uh scratch that thought......might cause more problems :D
     
  8. Mar 3, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Update...I borrowed a compression tester from a friend and here are the readings.... 150/145/140/150. What should I check next?? If it is the valves just not seating what can I do to fix that? Im thinking I may just need to run a heavier oil in it.
     
  9. Mar 3, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Those compression readings sound pretty good, so I doubt that the valves are bad. More likely the oil rings are either giving out, stuck, or broken. Either that or the valve guides are shot, or both.

    What I would do Jason, is to pull that head off and check the cylinder bores for any scoring that would indicate a broken oil ring. Finding none, I'd pull the side cover and undo a couple of valve springs and see if there is a lot of slop in the valve guides. If they are (more likely than not, you can pull them and replace them with the engine in the Jeep according to the FSM. There are no valve stem seals on an L-head, so just replacing them is out.
     
  10. Mar 3, 2006
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Clean combustion chambers to make valves seat tighter. Cleaning will remove excess carbon buildup. Restore does work, 1st hand experience. It will get you buy but is not a long term fix though. Restore fills in the micro scratchs with polymers. It will however not stay there but for short periods of time like maybe 1200 miles or so.
     
  11. Mar 3, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    I went ahead and ordered a head gasket today, so hopefully sunday I'll pull the head off and have a looksy in there to see what is wrong. Plus now is as good a time as any to put that supersonic head on :D
     
  12. Mar 3, 2006
    coby61

    coby61 Stupidiotic Member

    Prunedale CA
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    What oil you got in it??
     
  13. Mar 3, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    I think its got 10/30 in it.
     
  14. Mar 6, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Ok got the head pulled and the cylinder walls look great, no scoring in any of the cylinders. I havnt gotten as far as pulling the side cover yet, but the the valves look great and there is no slop in them(trying to wiggle from side to side). Is there anything else I should check while its apart like this?
     
  15. Mar 6, 2006
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    Wanna put an F head in it? :D
     
  16. Mar 6, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    I dont know if Goldmember can handle all that extra HP :D
     
  17. Mar 6, 2006
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    R) You can detune a little. R)
     
  18. Mar 6, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    with your hand, try and move the piston side to side in the bore
    it could still have stuck rings
    I'd try straight 30wt myself
     
  19. Mar 6, 2006
    neptco19

    neptco19 That guy....

    Athens, GA
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    Tried that earlier and there was no slop, does that mean stuck rings or not :? I wish I would have asked the PO when I got what weight oil they ran in it, I've changed it twice since I've had it and the smoking is getting progresivly worse. :(
     
  20. Mar 6, 2006
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    F head Jason. ;)
    I can bring it to Windrock. R)
     
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