Loads Of Blue Smoke, Then None 2 Mins Later.

[Longun 1]

Right strange thing happened this afternoon. I'd been out on a call about 40 miles or so and was sitting in traffic in town. Went to pull off and got loads and I mean loads of blue smoke out the exhaust and it dropped a cylinder (engine at norm running temp). First though crap a ring or piston anyway two mins/ 1 mile later it cleared and seemed to be fine for the next 30 miles home.

 

When home I did a quick compression test and the results were 150 140 150 155. To me that seems ok. Anyone shed any light why it came and went? Thinking a ring got stuck but not sure. Hoping this isn't a sign of an impending ring failure.

[Longun 1]

Can anyone help?

 

This is not a startup problem so I'm not thinking valve steam seals it was running at normal temp and had been for about 20mins.

[Guest Michael MRK]

from what i see that u got some oil got burnt, compression seems ok except for the 2nd one, kinda lower than the other cylinders, so what i'm thinkin of is that might be something went wrong in the valve train, so check for it, check for the valve guides, valve seals, valve springs, might got stuck or something which caused an oil leak, there might be some other possibilites but lets not rush it out and check the valve train first...!!

[richard 0]

just a thought..if it happened when you were driving and not idiling, you could have got some oil on the manifold.

 

Otherwise im a bit stumped too.

[hman205 1]

Not a Breather unblocking it self? thus dumping a heap of crap into the engine?

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

I thought this pointed towards valve stem seals; if it was the rings it would smoke all the time.

[Butler 0]

Yeah, the oil leaks into the bores while on idle and clears in a cloud of blue smoke when you pull away.

[Longun 1]

This was when moving as well as sitting in traffic/pulling off which is why first thought was rings. Michael thanks for the info I'll get it checked.

 

I hope Hman is right tho would be nice and simple

[geoffmslater 0]

This has happened to me when my engine had high miles on it, suspect oil got pumped down guide, it didn't do it again.

 

This has happened to me once (when my engine had high miles on it), suspect oil got pumped down guide, it didn't do it again.

[Longun 1]

Well I've covered about 200 miles since Monday and its been fine so I hoping it was as above or as hamn suggested.

 

Thanks all

[Longun 1]

Update.

 

It came back today, this time however it did it when sitting in traffic then cleared by the time I'm in third so, it also did the exact same thing at the next set of lights. You need to have been sitting in traffic at idle for a few mins before it starts but its seems to be staying this time. I'm thinking its steam seals now altho I change my mind more than than the wind changes direction.

 

So instead of messing around I'm getting a new cam and head fitted

 

So if my wife ever asks you how much valve steam seals cost its the same price as a nice cam and big valve head from hi flow Should be done a week monday Emininates the whole head that way too