427 fe side oiler puff of blue smoke

[BAsque1]

My car is releasing a puff of blue smoke in between shifts, especially 1st to 2nd gear. Thinking that the car was not used much by the previous owner that the valve seals were dried out.

I just changed the valve seals, the sparkplugs did not show evidence of fowling due to oil burning, nor we could hear any air hizzing when the pistons were filled with compressed air while changing the seals.

After a brief test drive, it is still showing the puff of blue smoke. Any thoughts what could be causing this annoying thing?
Thanks.
Basque 1
PS
I use Castrol 40 grade oil the car has 8581 miles I must assume that the engine has this mileage too, don't know from the previous owner, he bought it with this engine. The engine feels very strong not as if it has been abused.

[blykins]

Valve seals would have been my first guess. Which seals did you put back on?

My next guess would be an intake manifold gasket sucking oil...

[jayscobras]

check the intake manifold gaskets for leaks. Just a thought

Jay

[BAsque1]

Tks Blykins:
I replaced them with COMP Cams stock #515-16 (JEGS). Intake manifold sucking oil? Humm this is a first for me.
Tks
Lou

[BAsque1]

Tks Jay:
That's two people telling me this I guess it is a viable option. Love your wish list line LOL

[BAsque1]

How do I test for the intake manifold bad gasket whicj might be sucking oil up?

[xlr8or]

Not much of a test you can do for that. Just pull it and replace the gaskets.

[jhv48]

Valve guide wear would be my next choice.

Take the car up a long hill then turn around and have someone follw you while you head back down. Put the car in fourth gear, around 65 mph should do it and let off the gas and let the compression slow you down. Did your buddy see any smoke coming out of the side pipes? If so, valve guides and seals would be the place to begin.

[RACER X #99]

I once had a leak in the push rod holes in the manifold. There was a porous spot in the casting and it was sucking oil right into the intake passage. I put a sleeve in there and the smoking went away. This was an original Sidewinder manifold.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by BAsque1

How do I test for the intake manifold bad gasket whicj might be sucking oil up?

If you have a single plane intake, you should be able to pull the carb and see all the way to the gasket (at least the center four cylinders). Well, you can with a SB. Maybe not with an FE. Brent would know for sure.

If not or if you have a dual plane, there are small cameras that can be slid in to see. You may find a mechanic that doesn't charge too much to take a look. You might be able to fish a clean white rag in and pull it out to look for evidence of oil getting into the port.

Otherwise pull the intake. Kind of a big job on an FE, so finding evidence before pulling it sure would be nice.

PS
If it puffs blue, when you start it after setting overnight, that is typically a sign of valve seals. If you are seeing this, then maybe the new seals do not fit correctly or are of poor quality. Again a camera would show oil laying on an open intake valve.

[BAsque1]

Hummm all viable suggestions, the seals have been done not the valva guides. I will do the downhill test and and another friend suggested a vaccum test as well. Will keep you fellows posted of the outcome. I hate to think I have to repair this engine$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Cobranut]

Poor ring seal will also cause smoke under decel. Under high vacuum any path for oil to leak into the cylinder or intake will cause smoking.

Originally Posted by jhv48

Valve guide wear would be my next choice.

Take the car up a long hill then turn around and have someone follw you while you head back down. Put the car in fourth gear, around 65 mph should do it and let off the gas and let the compression slow you down. Did your buddy see any smoke coming out of the side pipes? If so, valve guides and seals would be the place to begin.

[Barry_R]

Pressure check the intake. It's a little work - but very do-able in your home garage.

You'll need to remove the rocker arm assemblies so that the valves are all closed. You'll need to remove the carb & make up a block off plate for that flange - with an 1/8NPT threaded hole in it. You'll need to plug/block off all the vacuum hoses.

Now take a common pump type radiator pressure tester and pump 10 pounds or so into the intake through the threaded port in the carb flange plate. If it leaks down some careful listening and soapy water solution will often pinpoint the location.

If the valves are leaking you'll hear it in the exhaust or crankcase & the test won't work. But if thats the case you'll be taking it apart anyways....

[tboneheller]

If you sucked a Smurf down the carb, it will cause blue smoke. LOL!!

[BAsque1]

That is do freaking true!!! LOL Why I did not think about that geesh.

[Dingocooke]

You can buy an awful lot of oil for the cost of new guides, gaskets etc etc if it's just a tiny puff of smoke on start up and gear change, and not smoking at idle like an old poker player, then I would just enjoy driving the car as you say it drives really well??

[undy]

Originally Posted by Barry_R

Pressure check the intake. It's a little work - but very do-able in your home garage.

You'll need to remove the rocker arm assemblies so that the valves are all closed. You'll need to remove the carb & make up a block off plate for that flange - with an 1/8NPT threaded hole in it. You'll need to plug/block off all the vacuum hoses.

Now take a common pump type radiator pressure tester and pump 10 pounds or so into the intake through the threaded port in the carb flange plate. If it leaks down some careful listening and soapy water solution will often pinpoint the location.

If the valves are leaking you'll hear it in the exhaust or crankcase & the test won't work. But if thats the case you'll be taking it apart anyways....

I've got all the blank-off plates to pressure check the intake (and engine) and will loan them out. I've done this for other forum members. You just have to pay shipping there and back.

I've got a Dove intake so pressure testing is a prerequisite...

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by undy

I've got all the blank-off plates to pressure check the intake (and engine) and will loan them out. I've done this for other forum members. You just have to pay shipping there and back.

After all the hell you went through you probably outta be charging a hefty rental and consulting fee for those tools.

Jim

[undy]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

After all the hell you went through you probably outta be charging a hefty rental and consulting fee for those tools.

Jim

Knocking on wood... The KC 482 has been rock solid since. Barry_R was champs in helping me through the whole process.

[Danr55]

Hey you guys.. be advised that Smurfs are no longer EPA approved additives.