Valve Seals or Piston Rings Leaking?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 842
Likes: 1
From: Oxnard, CALI
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 5.0 L (Carbed)
Transmission: 5-Speed
Axle/Gears: Lazy 2 check
Valve Seals or Piston Rings Leaking?
Alright guys so every morning when i start up my car i get heavy white smoke but once i start driving it goes away, and this happens every time i let the car sit for a while i get white smoke and once again when i start driving the smoke goes away. Also I took out all of the plugs and all of them where covered in carbon and had oil around the threads..I went to a mechanic and he said that I the piston rings where done and where passing oil but I wanted to get a second opinion.
The car is running rough right now and said that its the plugs and he said that even if I switch the plugs itll start driving the sae way "rough" due to the leaky piston rings in which my case are covering/damaging the plugs.
The car is running rough right now and said that its the plugs and he said that even if I switch the plugs itll start driving the sae way "rough" due to the leaky piston rings in which my case are covering/damaging the plugs.
Moderator

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 17,262
Likes: 168
From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Valve Seals or Piston Rings Leaking?
Need to do some diagnostics first. A compression and leakdown test can tell you a lot about the inside of the engine before you go ripping it down.
White smoke is usually coolant. Burning oil produces blueish smoke. Changing valve seals is a lot easier than re-ringing an engine. Leaking valve seals are seen mainly when the engine is first started. Worn rings should produce smoke all the time while driving.
My old daily driver used to foul up the passenger plugs regularly. Had to replace them every 6 months. Changed the valve seals on that head and never fouled the plugs up again.
White smoke is usually coolant. Burning oil produces blueish smoke. Changing valve seals is a lot easier than re-ringing an engine. Leaking valve seals are seen mainly when the engine is first started. Worn rings should produce smoke all the time while driving.
My old daily driver used to foul up the passenger plugs regularly. Had to replace them every 6 months. Changed the valve seals on that head and never fouled the plugs up again.
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
From: SLC, UT
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Re: Valve Seals or Piston Rings Leaking?
Just seconding what AlkylROC posted.
Do a compression and leakdown test to get a better idea of what is wrong.
With that said, bad valve seals on the SBC is a very common issue. We have 5 chevy trucks ranging from 78 to 87 that have some degree of valve seal issues.
Do a compression and leakdown test to get a better idea of what is wrong.
With that said, bad valve seals on the SBC is a very common issue. We have 5 chevy trucks ranging from 78 to 87 that have some degree of valve seal issues.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 842
Likes: 1
From: Oxnard, CALI
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 5.0 L (Carbed)
Transmission: 5-Speed
Axle/Gears: Lazy 2 check
Re: Valve Seals or Piston Rings Leaking?
thanks you guys it gave me some breathing room for a minute i really taught i was goign to have bad rings....but i still need to double check to make forsure...ima try and see about doing a compression test and ima go from there thanks a lot guys.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gixxer92
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
5
Sep 1, 2015 04:32 PM
Dialed_In
Firebirds for Sale
2
Aug 20, 2015 01:45 PM





