Smokin' Engine...question...eventually...

[Mark_88]

This is a bit long winded, as per my usual...lol

I've been trying to find a replacement block or complete engine due to the smoke issue. My truck must pass the emissions again next year and I've recently been pulled over for "excessive smoke" which could result in the vehicle being taken off the road.

Not having any luck so far with the scrap yards since they all disposed of anything over 98 a while ago...but there is one that can do a parts watch for me if I ask.

Anyway, here is something interesting. A mechanic friend told me a while ago to unplug the PCV and see if the engine still smoked...so, finally, today I did just that...took it for a long test run and it did not smoke at all. I did not test it under the most extreme conditions where I actually noticed the smoke and that was to take it on a long highway drive.

Apparently, deceleration is a "high vacuum" condition where the PCV or the engine can and will draw oil. If the condition happens with the pcv disconnected I can pretty much call it a day and set to rebuild the engine. If, however, this does NOT happen with the PCV disconnected then what is most likely happening is the PCV being open and a high vacuum condition being present, the vacuum will suck oil up through the bottom end and result in the cloud of smoke on deceleration...

This can also result in oil being drawn through the valve seals and give the same result.

Now, my question is, does this make sense?

And, if it does appear that my PCV is allowing too much vacuum leading to oil or oil particles to be drawn into the intake and then burned causing the smoke is there a way to actually reduce the vacuum on the PCV and limit the amount of oil being drawn into the intake?

I've been reading several different forums and going through numerous pages of information to try to determine if I need to rebuild the head, maybe re-ring or rebuild the block or both.

I will say that I am not in a position to do either currently...and that otherwise, the motor runs fine...uses too much oil...but otherwise has (or had) good compression and is strong (for a 4 banger)...

 

[shane96ranger]

You sure you're not running around with Tommy Chong?



But serious though.... does your PCV hose have a low point where the oil can collect? A guy at work had a "custom" supercharger install on his Mustang, and this was one of the issues with his car blowing smoke when he gunned it. The oil built up in the hose, and would suck it all in at WOT.

If that's not the case, an idea I've seen done is to put an inline oil separator like this. Only problem is, you have to empty it. You're still going to need to rebuild the thing, this will just prolong it. It's probably coming from blow by (worn rings) from the extra crankcase pressure. I assume the PCV is functioning properly, right?

 

[Mark_88]

Well, Tommy and I go way back...but then we get lost and have to spend a few days trying to find our way home...

That oil separator is something that might work in my case...I've been playing with the idea myself and trying to figure out what would work in there...and, without any idea what I'm doing, this kind of thing actually helps me to piece it together...

Yes, I know it will have to be rebuilt...and I'm looking forward to it not blowing my hard earned oil out the door...sorta like lottery tickets...but the rebuild may take some time...I have a friend who used to rebuild engines and I'm sure he will try his hand at mine...but he dosen't have a honer and I think the piston sleeves will need at least that much work...maybe an over bore...

I drove my Tempo for 14 years and never, EVER, used this much oil between changes...but my previous 2.0 was a blower...it would blow oil and not even think about it...if engines can actually think...

 

[Mark_88]

Update...took it for a longer run...no gray smoke...but I had to route the PCV to an open hose that is down by the passenger side...it belches a bit of oily smoke...OK, more than just a bit, but it isn't the burning oil smoke...

I could not find an oil separator yet...found a few that might work...but...no cigar...

Anyway, I went to a local parts store and asked about the separator...in the process I told him what I needed it for and he suggested a rebuilt head...which I was thinking about doing...except I can't find one...so he contacted a local guy who rebuilds and I ended up calling him and telling him what I needed...he's on the case...

Also called a couple of yards about letting me know when they got one in...they don't do house calls...freakin' doctors or what????

So if I don't find one this week I have to repeat the dose until I'm cured...but it looks like it's going to run me about $450 to replace the head...plus gaskets...so close to $500...

I think my head is cracked...that's why the valves are wonky...only seems to be #2 piston that is getting the gunk...had to clean the #2 plug of crud again...

 

[shane96ranger]

Based on all you've said, I think it's the rings. When the valve seals took a dump in my 85 Mustang, it smoked only under WOT or high RPM's.

 

[Mark_88]

Could be rings too...I want to get the entire engine rebuilt but not in a position to do so...

I put a can of Rislone rear seal in it today at the suggestion of the parts guy (who usually try to peddle this stuff anyway) and it may have actually helped...it had little bubbles in it that looked like they may get lodged in the rings and protect me forever...then I woke up...

Waiting on the head could prove to be lengthy and costly in the big picture...I actually ran into a woman I met in the library who just scrapped her 2.3 Mazda with 145,000 miles on the clock...I wanted to cry...she made me feel better by telling me that the engine ran beautifully but the body was shot...

I was wondering how she would look in a body cast, but then I remembered that I'm not supposed to think those thoughts...

 

[shane96ranger]

not in a position to do so...

Uh huh uh huhuhuuh huhuhuhu........ you said position.

 

[Mark_88]

Haha...don't follow the Beavis/Butt Head cartoon so I had to look it up...

Anyway...an interesting result of disconnecting my PCV...the oil level has remained at the level I put in yesterday...normally it would blow it all out and burn up what made it through the intake...

Now I'm trying to build a better oil trap canister...the first one I put on had 3/4 inch going in but only 1/4 inch coming out...so the pressure was very high resulting in the oil blowing out everywhere it could...

Just working on the modification now and hopefully be able to suck back cleaner air through the breather...but...still no oil separator...

 

[shane96ranger]

Haha...don't follow the Beavis/Butt Head cartoon so I had to look it up...

Anyway...an interesting result of disconnecting my PCV...the oil level has remained at the level I put in yesterday...normally it would blow it all out and burn up what made it through the intake...

Now I'm trying to build a better oil trap canister...the first one I put on had 3/4 inch going in but only 1/4 inch coming out...so the pressure was very high resulting in the oil blowing out everywhere it could...

Just working on the modification now and hopefully be able to suck back cleaner air through the breather...but...still no oil separator...

If it works, roll with it!

 

[Mark_88]

It woiked! I was getting smoke coming out of the lower and upper outlets and thought "crap"...but then I realized I put the Rislone in there and it was probably seeping into the combustion causing the smoke (it wasn't smoking like that before the Rislone)...I remembered the instructions saying "after 150 to 300 KM the sealant will stop the smoke"...

Anyway, I modified the canister by putting a bigger inlet on the side, stuffed it with steel wool, and put the PCV on top of the canister...then ran a line to the intake...will have to check it for smoke over the coming miles and keep an eye on the oil level...if this solves even just the oil blowing problem I may be able to keep driving it until I can come up with enough to have a rebuilt engine put in...

<Roy Orbson voice> Saving nickels, saving dimes...workin' till the sun don't shine...looking forward to happier times...

 

[shane96ranger]

Please tell me you didn't source the steel wool from one of your meece plugs on your house.....

 

[Mark_88]

Oh, of course not...I bought some new sheers and went out and found a steel sheep...fawker is naked now but my canister is full...still got a bit left over that I can stuff some more weep holes...

 

[shane96ranger]

Good! I knew you were (a) smart..... ass.

 

[Mark_88]

The oil level has not gone down much since I did the mod. I took it out for a short run today after topping it up a bit with some 5W30 and it started smoking again. If I run 20w50 I don't get nearly as much smoke.

Rebuild...rebuild...rebuild...

That truck that I went to look at (see my other post) turned out to be in pretty good shape...but it is a regular cab so it won't be a simple thing to replace the old girl...I could just barely get in to take it for a short run down the farmers lane...and I actually drove a standard cab for about a year and a half before cutting out the back wall...lol

 

[shane96ranger]

No more F150 thoughts?



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