tailpipe smoke, oil consumption
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Marshalls Creek PA
tailpipe smoke, oil consumption
I have a 2000 coupe that I just did heads and cam.Prior to this mod I didn't use a drop of oil. Since then I use about a quart of oil in less than 1000 miles and on occasion I get exhaust smoke on startup. I redid the valve seals and still has smoke sometimes.
I know there was a problem with oil consumption from the factory due to bad rings and I didn't have any problems until the head swap. My heads have 60 cc combustion chambers and I'm using .051 cometic head gaskets. I ran a compression test and it was kinda high, 225 psi and less than 5% leak down.
Anybody have an idea or should I just tear it down and put in new rings?
I know there was a problem with oil consumption from the factory due to bad rings and I didn't have any problems until the head swap. My heads have 60 cc combustion chambers and I'm using .051 cometic head gaskets. I ran a compression test and it was kinda high, 225 psi and less than 5% leak down.
Anybody have an idea or should I just tear it down and put in new rings?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville NC
Start with simple things first before going to the rings! 
Bet a catch can would fix your problem. I put a cam in my LS1, new valve seals, etc. Car never smoked before then. Put it on the dyno and it just poured blue smoke out of the rear, I was so embarassed. Put a catch can on, no more smoking, no more oil consumption.
I made mine for less than $25 with an air/water seperator from Lowe's.
Bet a catch can would fix your problem. I put a cam in my LS1, new valve seals, etc. Car never smoked before then. Put it on the dyno and it just poured blue smoke out of the rear, I was so embarassed. Put a catch can on, no more smoking, no more oil consumption.
I made mine for less than $25 with an air/water seperator from Lowe's.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Rapid City SD
It's been my experience that smoke on startup as you described is classic oil leaking past the seats. I'm not sure why you want to tear the engine apart to replace the rings when you didn't use a drop of oil before you replaced the heads. Seems to me, the common denominator with your oil consumption is you and the new heads. Perhaps you should take the heads in to have them looked at.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I'm in with the catch can idea. My '04 smoked when starting after a spirited drive the day (or days) before. Only lasted a few seconds, but as said, embarrassing. Thought I had a bum motor. I installed a catch can and was surprised at the amount of oil routing back into the intake - no wonder the car smoked. Since the install, not so much as a puff - but a can full of oil. Here's a pic after the first time I drove the car after installation. You can see the oil coming into the can, but not going out...
