Hey guys,

Yesterday afternoon I started the Z after she had sat for ~24hr. To my surprise a large white cloud of smoke (bluish hue, smelled like oil) came from the exhaust. I drove the Z to work and parked her. There was no smoke when driving (none) and none I could see at idle either. I checked both the oil and the coolant both which looked exactly as they should. (The oil is new so it still looks like honey, the coolant is nice and green, smells like coolant).

So I believe that my valve seals are getting old. My question is, I've seen some place (maybe on this site) that there is a way to do these without removing the head, is this true?

It didn't do it this morning at all, (no smoking at all) so its rather interesting to me. I did slightly over fill the car when I did the oil change (5 quarts instead of the 4....

Thanks

Jan

Yes Jan, The valve seals can be replaced withought removing the head. I have done it, and it's not too difficult.

However, i would not be rushing to do this for no reason.

My car was using around a litre every 1000 miles.

It would smoke occasionally, but moreso after coasting down hill, and then accelerating away at the bottom. This would result in a good puff of smoke.

I did this many times to try to pinpoint the problem.

After I did the seals the oil consumption has reduced to almost nill.

If you need info it is available somewhere here, or we can help you. It involves either a compressor blowing into the cylinder, or stuffing the cylinder with nylon cord. All these are for is to hold the valves closed.

Also needed is a lever device to compress the valve springs. I made mine.

I used the compressor method, but I had to make a fitting to screw into the plug hole to attach the air hose.

Yes Jan, The valve seals can be replaced withought removing the head. I have done it, and it's not too difficult.

However, i would not be rushing to do this for no reason.

My car was using around a litre every 1000 miles.

It would smoke occasionally, but moreso after coasting down hill, and then accelerating away at the bottom. This would result in a good puff of smoke.

I did this many times to try to pinpoint the problem.

After I did the seals the oil consumption has reduced to almost nill.

If you need info it is available somewhere here, or we can help you. It involves either a compressor blowing into the cylinder, or stuffing the cylinder with nylon cord. All these are for is to hold the valves closed.

Also needed is a lever device to compress the valve springs. I made mine.

I used the compressor method, but I had to make a fitting to screw into the plug hole to attach the air hose.

Olzed,

I actually had this thought this afternoon. My actualy oil consumption is pathetically low at the moment (last time I did an oil change I lost ~.5 quart). I know if I coast and give it gas I can smell burning oil so I know the consumption is there but I don't drive nearly as much as I use to (the last oil change I did was three months and 1100 miles.). I over reacted since I had a rather large white cloud behind me yesterday afternoon. If anyone could provide me with the images (links) for future reference that would be amazing, I'm also just curious as how one accomplishes this.

Thanks all

Jan

This is it Jan. If you do this, it is not too difficult, and no removing cam shaft as I read somewhere. If you are using virtually no oil, don't touch anything.

http://www.geocities.com/inlinestroker/seals.html

Cheers, Brian.

Edited September 14, 201212 yr by olzed

Thank you