My car smokes when ever I start it and when ever I get on the gas real hard. Is this probably my valve seals or could it be the valve guides(I hope not)? I contacted my mech. and he said that he would not replace the seals unless he removed the head and checked the guides(And there is no way I am paying for that) So I was wondering if it was my seals then how hard are they to replace and if there were any tricks to it. I also do not know how to adjust valves so....

Thank you

 

Theres about a 99% chance the oil on startup is seals and not guides. You dont have to remove the heads but its much easier if you do. Its not that difficult of a job even with the heads on. What color is the smoke when you get on it hard? If its blue my guess would be rings. Black smoke would indicate a fuel problem.

 

It is greyish blue. When you say rings do you mean piston rings?

 

Piston rings is exactly what i mean. I wet/dry compression test would verify if my diagnosis is correct.

 

Well there is no way I am replacing those. LOL

So how do you do a compression test. I am sure I know somebody who has a guage.

 

The compression tester screws into the spark plug holes and gives you a pressure reading. First you do it with the engine cranking over normally. Then you squirt a couple drops of oil in the cylinder and do it again. If the presure increases with oil(wet test) thats just about a dead givaway that the rings are bad.

 

So could some be bad and others be good? I am assuming yes but I just wanted to ask anyways.

I was also planning to clean my engine with water this weekend, would this help any?

 

Thats correct. Some can be good while otheres can be bad, but they all go up and down the same number of times with the same oil soo...

There really is no quick fix for piston rings. Sometimes a heavier oil helps but its not good for your engine. I dont see how using water to clean the intake would help the rings but it shouldnt hurt anything.