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smokes and fouls plugs after head job
Topic Started: Jan 28 2010, 07:12 PM (1,620 Views)
dnantha
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Ive got a 97 3 cyl stick hatchback. I just rebuilt the head from a good machine shop. I didnt do the rings or bearings. The car wasn,t dependabe before. Sometimes it would do the hard to start thing. (lifters). I had all new lifters put in. Car starts easy now and Idles pretty good. Its timed perfect and Im sure of the valve timing as well. I took out the o2 sensor to see if that made a difference (maybe the cat was plugged) but there was no change. It smokes like a banshee, and fouls plugs in just a few miles. The only thing I can see thats not working is the EGR valve. I dont see how that could cause this though. Im frustrated as hell . The compression is 195 all the way across. I didnt do the bottom end and there is 4 thou. taper in the bores and they are out of round by .0015. The bores are scratch free but all the cross hatching is gone. I wanted to wait til summer to do the bottom end as Im retired on a very small pension and couldnt afford the whole thing right now. It didnt smoke this bad before I did this head job, nor did it foul plugs. and I was very careful to do it right. There are no vacume leaks...Im ready to eat my gun. Any help appreciated....Dan out.
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Memphis metro


What color smoke? Sounds like valve seals.
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dnantha
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the smoke is whiteish blue out the back of the tailpipe but blue when it comes out of the O2 sensor hole. The plugs are fouled with oil. There are no combustion gasses in the coolant. Thanks for answering so Quickly...Dan out.
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billy508
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billy508

First guess there is a problem with your valve seals. Others will chime in later . Welcome :thumb Hang in there. You found the right place for help. :banana :banana :banana ................looks like enginedoc beat me to it.
Edited by billy508, Jan 28 2010, 07:33 PM.
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dnantha
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The smoke happens the most while Im Idleing it to time or adjust things, then I burp the throttle. And when Im driving it it smokes the worse after Ive decelerated like down a hill, then press on the gas to continue. Also pretty bad accelerating up hill. When it smokes in the shop its so bad It blocks the sun.( If we had any sun out here in the rain forest). It gets worse and worse. Clears out a little if I drive it 5 miles or so.....Dan out
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dnantha
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I just spoke with the machinist and he confirmed that new valve seals were installed with the head job.....Dan out.
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Memphis metro


Considering you had the right head gasket and it is installed correctly I would say your machinist has failed.
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dnantha
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my geo is a 97. What is the way to tell if I have the right head gasket?.... I had to open the oil return holes like everyone seems to need to do....Dan out.
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billy508
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billy508

When a car smoke on deceleration it is a very good indicator that the valve seals/guides are bad. I all ways hate to get in a pissing match with a machine shop. 99% of the time they will not own up to a mistake. It is the old song "I am a machinist not a mechanic." You might take it by to show them. Pull your PVC valve and see what happens. If you are getting tons of blow by your rings may have let go. I have had that happen when I did just a valve job. The rings were ok till I increased the compression with a new head. But first lets be sure the valve seals are not the problem. :banana :banana :banana
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mwebb
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FOG

intake vacuum gauge "Teed" into the MAP sensor vacuum before the restriction orifice
should show about 20"
at hot idle , but more important , the needle must have zero flutter .
if there is any flutter at all
there is a problem with the "valve job / machine shop work"

make sure the oil is NOT over filled
make sure the PCV is NOT stuck open ...
is the air filter filling up with oil ?

when it is smoking
remove the oil cap to see if the oil is draining to the block or filling the cylinder head above the cam .

vacuum pressure gauge adapted to fit on the oil stick ....
will show crankcase pressure if there is any , if pressure is above 0 at wide open throttle snap
WOT snap
, the only source is blow by from the piston rings , possibly added to by a stuck closed PCV valve

stop running the car / engine until you find the problem or you are going to kill the cat converter.
Edited by mwebb, Jan 28 2010, 08:54 PM.
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billy508
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billy508

Thanks mweb.......... I keep forgetting about checking crankcase pressure with the dip stick tube. :banana :banana :banana
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Yes, a clogged or wide open PCV valve could be the issue. You do have a blowby issue by your description.
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dnantha
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Thanks for the help, This forum is something else. What is that parts house you talk about so much. Looks like I need to start saving for a bottom end rebuild. !st oversize pistons and such. Who has the best prices?..Sure appreciate everyones help....Dan out.
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undgsx-R
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Self Certified Garage Mechanic

partsdinosaur.com
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

:+1
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