Another plume of random blue smoke

[CademiaX]

So, I had this issue a bit ago, I would get a plume of blue smoke at the first start of every morning. I changed out the oil for something different and it went away.

Now, I took about a 1hr 1/2 drive, let her sit for about 45min, and when I started it up I got a nice plume of blue smoke.

It hasn't happened since then.

Valve stem seals on their way out?

 

[elarm1]

you got it valve seals!

 

[RonPorter]

Yep. Either go with high-mileage oil (which is getting too expensive IMO) or add a can of seal sweller to your oil. Not worth changing the seals unless you have the heads torn down for another reason.

 

[CademiaX]

What seal sweller would you recommend?

Will it affect the oil viscosity?

 

[elarm1]

I'd vote to change them. Once the rubber turns to plastic, they're done!

 

[RonPorter]

What seal sweller would you recommend?

Will it affect the oil viscosity?

I looked at various brands at Auto Zone. None seemed familiar, so I bought the cheapest one (about $1.75 IIRC). It was on my truck, and I am running 10w-30 instead of the original 5w-30 because of the mileage (185K).

I had run high-mileage oil on two previous SHOs. One with leaky F&R seals, the other with leaky valve seals, and it helped on both. A few years ago, it was only about $.50 more per quart, not like the $2 or so today.

 

[SHO_ROLLER_2]

I vote to burn it.










but that's just me.



Seriously though, I have a question. What makes them go bad? I have about 200K+ miles on my car and it doesn't burn any oil at all. Is it just dumb luck?

 

[elarm1]

^ I'm sure not being driven much, sitting in the heat, dry rot

 

[SHO_ROLLER_2]

^ I'm sure not being driven much, sitting in the heat, dry rot

I didn't think about that. Yeah, if a car sits, the oil drains from the head and then the seals turn to crap.

I give Mobil 1 most of the credit for my car still running so well. That and I've always kept up with maintaining it.

 

[RonPorter]

My original '89, which was daily driven for 10 years and 182K miles, never had the problem either.