Chasing leaks and smoke.

[m3x1c0]

Got some light blue smoke coming from the exhaust. Mixed with leaking valve covers leaking oil right on the downpipe I've got a lot of oil smell coming out of the car. What should I be looking for? Havent pulled plugs yet but will soon to check them. Car just completed a trip from VA to NY and back. Other then blowing out an MC the car handled the trip like a champ! Not sure when the smoke started but probably has been there for quite a while.

 

[earlbrown]

Could be a number of things. Pull the plugs, fix the leaks, and go from there. Are you running the correct PCV or a Vatozone special?

 

[MeanBuicks]

May not be relevant but I'll share my recent experience with my L05 5.7L Olds Custom Cruiser. It went from doing fine to crop dusting during deceleration and leaking oil from the PCV grommet and oil fill cap all at once. After speculating everything from PCV issues, to valve seal issues to possible broken oil ring, it was none of the above.

#7 plug was oily and the rest were fine. I prepared to pull the valve springs from #7 and when I put compressed air in that cylinder, it started blowing oil bubbles around the rear head bolt there. I reached in and plucked it right out. Broken through the threads.

An uncommon occurrence I'm sure but they are TTY bolts like the Buicks and the symptoms are similar to yours.

 

[m3x1c0]

#7 plug was oily and the rest were fine. I prepared to pull the valve springs from #7 and when I put compressed air in that cylinder, it started blowing oil bubbles around the rear head bolt there. I reached in and plucked it right out. Broken through the threads.

Wait. so the bolt broke? did you have to extract it? that sucks! If that happens you must not have been running ARP. Been using those in my mustang and they are solid.

 

[MeanBuicks]

I just discovered the broken bolt but haven't torn into the engine yet. I will be pulling that head. It's completely stock with 271,000 miles.

 

[m3x1c0]

Okay after a couple weeks of downtime and some major headaches installing a new chip burned for my setup (SWITCHING FROM E85 TO 93)

Had a bit of time to check up on things. Installed a new water pump, emptied my catch can, snugged the one bolt on my valve cover I could reach (ugh), and pulled the number 1 plug (all i had time for today.) Noticed that the little alley that the plugs are set in had a film of oil all over. So when I pulled the plug I couldn't tell if the oil surrounding the threads were from that or from bad sealing in the engine. Plug looked pretty black but then again they have been under a lot while tuning. Cleaned up a little and put it back in. Took a log file which ill attache for grins. You'll see she's actually running a little lean so i doubt its from a rich condition. I'm going to change the oil and throw some fresh plugs in it tomorrow.

So Im attaching a log file, some pics of the plug and alley, and here is a video of the smoke: GN Smoking.

 

[m3x1c0]

the pics: keep in mind that i had already wiped the plug

 

[imjoesnuffy]

UV dye and a UV light will tell you where the leaks are coming from. Been there, still doing that.

 

[bison]

Pull the pipe off after the turbo and see if you can see some wet carbonized oil behind the turbine. If no pull the valve covers and take a look at the intake valve stem seals


BPE2013@hotmail.com

 

[m3x1c0]

Pull the pipe off after the turbo and see if you can see some wet carbonized oil behind the turbine. If no pull the valve covers and take a look at the intake valve stem seals


BPE2013@hotmail.com

Is there a possibility the gasket on that pipe is blown out? I'd hate to take that pipe off and be down another two weeks waiting on a gasket lol!

 

[earlbrown]

there's no gasket there (or shouldn't be)

 

[bison]

there's no gasket there (or shouldn't be)

This


BPE2013@hotmail.com

 

[Steve V]

Good to see another Buick in VA! I am between Richmond and Va Beach. My guess is turbo seals.

 

[m3x1c0]

Good to see another Buick in VA! I am between Richmond and Va Beach. My guess is turbo seals.

Yea man! I feel lonely out here. Seems like you want to either live in Chicago or NC to be around other TR owners. Hopefully not the turbo seals, its a very nice Precision unit. If it is that hopefully they will cover it under warranty.

 

[BARRACUDA1968]

I didn't see where you verified the PCV system in this thread? My old set up had a check valve in the PCV system that used to function. Car sat for 6 months and I just got the stroker fired last night. Set up the PCV the same way and 10 miles out of town I started to smell oil. It had been run long enough to burn off any residual from install so I knew something was up. Stopped by a friends shop this morning because he one of those guy's that finds the issues instantly and my PCV wasn't working. The check valve went south.

Eliminated the check valve and no more oil smell. If you PCV isn't working right you'll be chasing leaks on a regular basis.

 

[m3x1c0]

I didn't see where you verified the PCV system in this thread? My old set up had a check valve in the PCV system that used to function. Car sat for 6 months and I just got the stroker fired last night. Set up the PCV the same way and 10 miles out of town I started to smell oil. It had been run long enough to burn off any residual from install so I knew something was up. Stopped by a friends shop this morning because he one of those guy's that finds the issues instantly and my PCV wasn't working. The check valve went south.

Eliminated the check valve and no more oil smell. If you PCV isn't working right you'll be chasing leaks on a regular basis.

Huh, Sounds like I need a friend like yours in my life! No there is no PCV in my car. Just breathers on both valve covers and a catch can.

 

[BARRACUDA1968]

I've read that people eliminate the PCV valve on these cars but don't understand why. Crankcase pressure and oil leaks go hand in hand. PCV only works when you have manifold vacuum which is most of the time on a street car. WOT there is none so on my carbed engines I run a tube from a breather to the air cleaner so I can get the crankcase pressure out under WOT. Do you have oil vapor coming out your breathers and oil dipstick tube?

Sent from my XT901 using TurboBuick Mobile mobile app

 

[m3x1c0]

I've read that people eliminate the PCV valve on these cars but don't understand why. Crankcase pressure and oil leaks go hand in hand. PCV only works when you have manifold vacuum which is most of the time on a street car. WOT there is none so on my carbed engines I run a tube from a breather to the air cleaner so I can get the crankcase pressure out under WOT. Do you have oil vapor coming out your breathers and oil dipstick tube?

Sent from my XT901 using TurboBuick Mobile mobile app

That is exactly how I have my carbed car setup. The po had the car set up without the pcv. Doesn't a catch can accomplish the same thing though? (Never run one before this car)

 

[m3x1c0]

Checked the dp from the turbine housing. No oil on that end or on the other end of the turbine from what I could see. Couldn't separate the o2 sensor from the dp without a lot of work. Was planning on going back and pulling the dp all the way to check the end that plugs into the cat, but the threads going into the turbo are in rough shape. Had to use an extra long bolt on one of the holes since it had stripped out when I pulled the old bolt. Going to come back to that when I eliminate other issues. Since I didn't see any oil in the turbine I'm going to assume the seals are good at the turbo (plus from what I've seen a bad turbo seal smokes like a chimney. Mine just whisps at idle.) good lord how do you guys line up the dp to your turbo? I cursed at for a couple hours before miraculously getting all four bolts at once!

My next move is to check valve seals. What's the best way to do that?

 

[TurboBuRick]

I'm willing to bet that car has pcv valve. It's in the intake valley. Trace the lines off the catch can. You'll find it. And you want to keep the catch can empty.

Most your oil leaks are prolly your vc breathers puking oil under boost. Catch cans off the valve covers is the fix for that.


Rick