Touch Of Blue Smoke On Revving

[Jon Bradbury]

My DOHC engine suffers from blue smoke when you rev it. At normal running speed its fine, just the blue puff on a rev.

 

I thought it might be valve seals (I have a new set which came with an unfitted head gasket kit... don't ask...). Is there any reasonable way to fit these to the valve stems without removing the head? Problem I see is compressing the springs with the head in situ..

 

Any ideas?

[Mitch]

Hi Jon

Check out the write up on NW hoods website about changing the seals in situ (in Build tips), I kow your's is the dohc but the principle is the same.

Mitch

 

 

Article about changing the Pinto valve seals

[Les Welsher]

Jon,

I had the same with mine.

Engine fine in the sierra but once I started it in the kit I had lots of smoke when revin. I hoped it would go away with a bit of running but no such luck. Head back off to replace the valve seals ( I think they had dryed up and gone hard waiting for me to get it going again ) with new valve seals in all my smokin disappeared. Should have changed them when I had the engine apart the first time, we live and learn.

It don't take that long to remove the head, after a few times I'm getting good at it now. It's just the problem of resetting the hydraulic chain tensioner instead of forking out for a new one again.

See my web site on how to do it.

 

Les

[Jon Bradbury]

Mitch -

 

Ah-ha! Thought it was possible but wasn't sure. The valves are a bit harder to get at on a DOHC engine but I reckon I might be able to manage it. Good idea using rope - I thought you might be able to clamp the valve stem through the inlet / outlet ports.

 

Les -

 

Didn't realise yours was on the road - nice one! I definitely don't want to take the head off mine as it has been skimmed and it looks as if a thicker head gasket has been fitted. However, having done 100k miles it ought to have a new chain (and tensioner, I'm not worried about the cost, it can't be that expensive surely?) but I have always thought I'd like to drop the DOHC engine and go Vx powered soon after SVA. That's why I didn't do this whilst I had the engine on a stand.

 

I like your interior - are those the Recaro seats? And did you make those inner side panels yourself? What is the car like to drive?

[Les Welsher]

Jon,

If you have had your engine rebuilt or just your head skimmed you will certainly have to have had a new tensioner fitted as they are not reusable ( as per Mr ford )

I have taken my head off three times, that would have meant 3 new tensioners at £30 a time (ouch), that's why I worked out how they were assembled so I could reuse the new one I fitted the first time.

I think the chain cost just over £20.

 

The seats in my car are the sierra ones with leather look seat covers fitted ( £30 from Big W )

 

The inner side panels are grained sheets of board I got from a kit car show, I bought 4 to be on the safe side and still have 2 left

 

I have driven over 1000 smiles in it so far and it's going great, I'm thinking of some way to get a bit more power now.

 

Les