Grey exhaust smoke

[rusty ol ranger]

Working on this old 2n...

Got the head gasket on and the whitish/bluish smoke is gone...now its smoking dark grey in somewhat less amounts (but still alot).

I figured it was fuel, or possibly the atf i used down the cylinders when it was sitting....but i didnt use that much and it was still smoking after 20 min or so of run time.

But then i read online that grey can be oil burning? Thats the first time ive heard that. It doesnt smell like oil, and when i held a paper towel to the tailpipe it just was sooty...not greasy.

I always thought that blue=oil white=coolant and grey/black=fuel.

Any input?

 

[MT_PLS]

I can tell you from current experience with my 89 Ranger, grey exhaust smoke is oil burning. I'm running through a quart every 250 miles., and there are no external engine leaks. Yes, the PCV system has been replaced.
I get grey smoke on deacceleration, which I have been told means the valve seals are gone.
I have another 2.3 Lima at the engine shop getting refreshed, so I should not have to deal with this too much longer.

Anyway, long story short, grey smoke = burning oil.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I can tell you from current experience with my 89 Ranger, grey exhaust smoke is oil burning. I'm running through a quart every 250 miles., and there are no external engine leaks. Yes, the PCV system has been replaced.
I get grey smoke on deacceleration, which I have been told means the valve seals are gone.
I have another 2.3 Lima at the engine shop getting refreshed, so I should not have to deal with this too much longer.

Anyway, long story short, grey smoke = burning oil.

Well i guess rings and sleeves are in my future

 

[Uncle Gump]

If it was oil... you could smell it.

I'm more of the opinion... it's fuel related.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If it was oil... you could smell it.

I'm more of the opinion... it's fuel related.

I stuck my nose right in the tailpipe (basically) as dad revved it....health be damned.

It didnt smell like oil. Didnt smell like fuel really though either.

Im gonna clean the plugs up and check the points and cap...it does have a slight/random miss at high rpm.

I put it in 3rd, dropped the rpm to barely above idle and it took off with zero drama...so if it is oil burnoff its bad scraper rings...it doesnt seem to hurt for power

 

[pjtoledo]

Well i guess rings and sleeves are in my future

yep, roll up your sleeves and get those rings replaced

 

[gaz]

@rusty ol ranger
I always suspect valve guides and seals before piston rings; may even make some money with a deserved lifter preload adjustment (try adjusting the valve train... rockers, since it's an 1987-2.9l). Hopefully it's not your valve seats

 

[rusty ol ranger]

@rusty ol ranger
I always suspect valve guides and seals before piston rings; may even make some money with a deserved lifter preload adjustment (try adjusting the valve train... rockers, since it's an 1987-2.9l). Hopefully it's not your valve seats

Its actually a 1945 2.0L lol

I know valve seals are known to go on these. But it seems to smoke worse when revving which would indicate rings if it is indeed oil.

 

[gaz]

RIGHT,
Since unnamed, I went by your signature , not valve seals, valve guides.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thought id give an update to this....

I went out today and ran it for about an hour. Had my 7ft backblade on it.

Damn thing didnt miss a lick, buts its definantly burning oil.

BUT...

i think it might be stuck scraper rings. It seemed to get better the more i ran it. It doesnt run like dads did when it was wore out, his was a bitch to start and way down on power. This thing pulls like a freight train.

Any tricks to unstick them?

I havent changed the oil yet (i know i know)....i dont usually buy into mechanic in a can but im willing to try it.

As long as it keeps power ill just keep an eye on the dipstick.

 

[97RangerXLT]

try some marvel mystery oil in the cylinders, maybe a tsp each and let it sit for a few days and a third can of seafoam in the actual oil. Run the oil with seafoam in it for several hours of run time.

AJ