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My 2001 R/T has begun to puff blue smoke when I start it after its been sitting a few hours. I don't remember it doing this when I bought it...this seems to be something new. It clears up, and doesn't do it again once it's running.

However, I did notice when I had my car idling for about 30 minutes yesterday while I was charging my A/C system...when I was done, I went to step on the gas to back up, and it puffed again.

What could be the cause of this? What should I begin looking for / at?

I thought it may be valve seals. What are your thoughts?


Justin

If I am correct and others can correct me if I'm wrong. I believe blue smoke means that you have an oil leak somewhere.

I know blue smoke means oil consumption. I'm asking where would it be coming from? Head Gasket? Rings? Valve seals? Fairy dust?

@ fairy dust.

I would think valve guides or piston rings.

probably valve stem seals and or valve guides wearing out. same thing happened with me (head is being redone at a machine shop now)

Thanks Justin.

Does anybody know if the valve seals are replaceable, with the head still in the car? I know there's a tool you can screw into the spark plug hole, hook it up to an air compressor pressurizing the cylinder, keeping the valve shut, and you can then remove the valve spring and pop on a new seal.

Wasn't sure if a SOHC head is designed this way or not. I know DOHC springs are a PITA to get to.

Piston rings make me want to believe it would do it full time, while driving, ect. With valve seals...theoretically, the oil would lay in the head when shut off, and the oil would drip down the seals onto the valves, into the combustion chamber, creating the puff when started, then clears up.

Yea it can be done on the sohc but it is a PITA. I tried to use the tool that you load keepers onto and hit with a hammer but the triple groove keepers made it impossible. The only way is to take all the rockers off the shaft and pry off that with a modified 9/16th wrench

i've never tried the compressed air trick myself, but i've taken valves out with the head off, and let me tell you, you would think those retainers come right loose, they dont, sometimes they need a good "pop" to make them come loose from the keepers. i'm not so sure compressed air will hold that valve closed when you hit on it

It won't, but it helps jar the retainer/keepers loose. The valve will not fall in. Just hit the retainer on the outer edge to rock it loose from the keepers. It is still a PITA with the head on the car, not as easy as the V8's.

A magnet helps to retrieve them, and pair of small needle nose pliers also helps to install them.

Good luck man! I thought my problem was valve seals or valve guides...but now it just smokes all the time so I dunno. :/

Hmm. Sounds like I've got a little project ahead of me.

I may be going to Newburgh, NY then onto Duryea, PA (Wilkes-Barre area) with the car next weekend. I'm sure it'll be fine on the trip since it's all highway driving. I'll definitely keep an eye on the oil level though, whenever I stop.