first i wanted to know how bad you guys think my valve seals are. if i let me car idle and give it gas to like 2000 rpms blue smoke will come out. it is kinda embarassing.

What are so good alternatives instead of changeing the seals. i seen the valvoline max life stuff that gives ur seals new life does that work? or should i try synethic oil?
btw it is a L98 carbed.

 

When I put synthetic in mine it blew even more smoke at startup, ditto for an '86 Blazer I switched over. If it blows smoke at startup it's most likely seals. Is it a high mileage engine?

I would just do it right and replace them, it's not expensive. Then switch to Mobil 1 .

------------------
1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley module, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Streetdampr, Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, !cats, !TBC, !AIR.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

alternatives to changing valve seals... SMOKE. You pretty much need to change them. You can change them with out removing the heads. It just takes a bit of luck...

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird 350/Six Speed
1987 Toyota Pickup 383/500+ HP

 

Valve job.

Replace heads.

Aforementioned smoke.

 

You sure that's the valve seals and not the piston rings?

------------------
89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

Your problems sounds more serious than valve seals--smoke only at start up or during a shift.


.

------------------
350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

Do put in some 20w-50 mobil 1 synthetic, do not try valvoline max life!!! It will smoke worse!

 

Is there an article somewhere on how to change valve seals? Cuz my car just smokes when you bang the next gear out. Also, how tough of a job is this an will it clear this problem up and give it some more juice? Thnx

Patrick DeGrosse Jr.

 

Alternative: STP or equivalent. Blue tinted sunglasses. Remove rear view mirrors.

 

Yeah that sounds worse than valve seals and more like rings to me as well. I plan to remove my heads soon(a month or so) to do some porting as well as valve seals. The seals are edelbrock #9725 they look like a little rubber cup about the dia. of a dime and have one thin wire ring and a thicker ring at the bottom. I was also wondering how these go on. thanks

 

Basically all you need is an air hold adapter and a spring compresser and a magnet (to catch the keepers)

Slide the plastic sleeve to protect the new seal over the stem, put the new seal on. The wire ring to to hold it on the guide. Use the vitons, not teflons.

I usually also put the simple o-ring seal on the stem along with the posi seal on the intakes for a little added protection.

 

Those oils that promise to restore your engine are mostly gimicks. There's nothing like doing the job right, or at least trying to do it right.

If you're nervous, don't be afraid to befriend someone who likes to work on cars for a hobby or something. Never a bad idea to have someone around that you can bounce ideas off of.

It does sound more like rings to me. Does it smoke more when after it is warm when you shift? In another words, when you shift and the car is cold, is there less smoke than after you have been driving for a while and shift?

 

Changing to synthetic will NOT stop the oil from burning, it just burns clear not blue. But I would do a compression check if I were you 'cause it sounds like you may have some bad rings. Normally bad valve guide seals will only cause smoke at startup.
peace

 

the engine is a L98 with like 120k miles. it only smokes when it was run then shut off and start it back up in like 5 min it smokes. also when i bang out the gears it smokes to. It doesn't smoke though if i start it up in the morning after a night of sitting.

 

Mike,

I hate to break it to you, but it does NOT sound like valve seals.

If you have faulty valve seals, the engine will smoke upon start up and after idling for a while (like at a stop light). What happens is the oil seeps through the valve seals into the cylinders and then when you accelerate the oil is burned off. Sitting is the key.

Faulty rings are much more serious. Oil seeps past them under pressure. Rings are supposed to do basically two things. IT is supposed to keep the cylinder walls clean by scraping the oil off and keeping it out of the combustion chamber. It also keeps the air fuel mixture between the piston and the head (combustion chamber). When they are worn, you'll at first have burning oil, then you'll start loosing compression. It is a deadly problem.

The rings are kind of like a dam between the oil and the air/fuel mixture. If you've got a leak in a dam, it only gets worse.

Engine rebuild may be needed soon. I had a car that needed new rings, I neglected it and was stranded.

Although if you are very gentle with the engine, it can last for a very long time still.

 

yea it does smoke alittle bit when i start it up and when it idles for a while to. also it only smokes when i get on it at like 4k rpms or more. it still pulls hard and i can smoke the tires. but i guess ill just wait and see what happens?

 

let throw this into the coverstation. i might have worded some stuff wrong i meant to say when i tach my car at idle it will smoke. but if i get on it to like 4k some stuff comes out the exhaust like oil. so how bad is that? also my friend has an 86 mustang and it doesn't smoke but if he gets on it to like 5k rpms then he has oil thats comes out the exhaust to just like mine the only difference his doesn't smoke when u start it up. any ideas why his smokes??

 

Any thoughts on my question? Any articles on doing these valve seals? As i said mine only smokes when i bang the next gear. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Patrick DeGrosse Jr.

 

An engine with bad valve seals doesn't normally smoke while it is idling. It usually smokes when you take off after idling for a little while.

You've got bad rings. Take it easy on your engine, check the oil frequently and keep a close eye on the temp gage.

I know what it is like to hope against hope that the way it is is NOT the way it is. You've got some serious engine trouble. Take it easy on the car or else it's not going to last for 2 more months.

 

Sorry but was that directed toward me? Cuz i'm sure my car has another 20 thousand miles left, even if the rings are staring to get thing. Maybe I should have said that it only smokes when i really BANG the next gear. Otherwise the car is perfect mechanically. Dont be telling me my car is on its death bed. LOL. That would be horrible.

Patrick DeGrosse Jr.

 

Do a compression check. Then shoot some oil into each cylinder and repeat the test.

If the PSI increases the bad news.....

 

Patrick...All cars are on their eventual death bed. They will all need major work sooner or later. I have a Grand Prix that has over 170,000 miles on it, and has nothing wrong, but it's like waiting for the other foot to drop. Then I had another car, just dropped in a new motor and got about 3000 miles on it before I spun a bearing and threw the dowel pin all around the inside of the engine.

My point is, if you're easy on your engine, especially when it is showing some wrinkles (AGE), then you'll get a lot more time out of it. So, yes, you are right. You very possibly may get 20,000 miles on an engine that is blowing smoke...but I'd be saving some money on the side for the inevitable.

 

I honestly didn't think blowing a little oil on the shift was that big of a deal. I mean sure rings wear out but what are we talking in terms of miles left here? I mean I dont beat the living $hit out of it but i've been known on occation to leave a couple strips here and there. All for the better i guess. I know its crying for that 396. hehe. Thanks guys for the bad news.

Patrick DeGrosse Jr.

 

Synthetic oil does not burn clear! It burns blue. It does take a higher temperature to burn it.