J&JsTA

There have been many posts about our cars starting to smoke or consume oil directly after a MAC install and there seems to be no apparent reason at this point. Lets start a simple 2 question poll to see if there is a correlation between ORP or CATs to start. Perhaps if we get some telling data we can elaborate with another more defined poll <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: J&JsTA ]</small>

LS1 JAY

I think you know how I voted... <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

SSTYCOON

iTrader: (2)

after my MAC & ORP install, my 98 started to smoke @ WOT like crazy, i also think i had ring flutter, (highRPM part throttle). <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" />

J&JsTA

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by SSRIDAZ:
<strong> after my MAC & ORP install, my 98 started to smoke @ WOT like crazy, i also think i had ring flutter, (highRPM part throttle). <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Would that happen to sound a lot like KR (ping) but without any being detected while scanning the PCM?? I have a weird sound that is NOT the air check valves(removed them for a test) and doesn't show up as KR but sounds like it on the drivers side at high RPMs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

<small>[ January 29, 2003, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: J&JsTA ]</small>

GMRACIN

iTrader: (11)

Valve seals did not correct the problem on my friends car.

annil8r

In my honest opinion I think it is good for an engine to consume a moderated amount of oil, it keeps the rings and upper cylinder walls better lubricated.

LS1 JAY

Anyone else? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

J&JsTA

Here's what Mike at MACperformance had to say when I asked him if they had any asnwers:

--------------------------------------------------
Mike " <Mike@macperformance.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 09:49:31 -0800
To: "Joe" <jandjsta@sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: LS1s that smoke and consume oil after MAC install


the reason a small number of the LS1 cars use alittle oil after installing tong tube headers, is because of poor factory valve seals. the increase velosity in the primary tubes creates a slight vacume, and will draw oil if the seals are weak. this is not due to MAC headers, but will happen with any brand. ford cobras are notorius for this problem. the fix is to get a good set of seals.
------------------------------------------------
...if Mike is correct I wonder if the CATs are helping dissipate some of the vacuum that is being created???

<small>[ January 30, 2003, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: J&JsTA ]</small>

Lane2

I've got 27,000+ miles with my MAC's on a daily driver that's been run hard at the track - as my sig will tell. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

I use about 6(maybe a little more at times) qt.s per 3,000 miles oil change. That's total - not six extra quarts.. And have NEVER noticed any unusual smoke at wot...

Best header on the market for the buck IMHO.

<small>[ February 01, 2003, 11:18 PM: Message edited by: Lane2 ]</small>

LS1 JAY

I'm using about 1 quart per 1,000 miles now.

Qtrhrse23

Dang, I'd be POed if mine started smoking. I've had mine on for 3years or almost 40K miles.

<small>[ February 03, 2003, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Qtrhrse23 ]</small>

Z06PSI

iTrader: (33)

You guys would love to have mine.. 2 quarts every 500 miles.. no <img border="0" alt="[bullshit]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bs.gif" /> ... Running the exhaust in my sig. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

Mobil 1 15w50 too. The x-pipe might be helping that vacuum also. The MAC's are also ported.

<small>[ February 03, 2003, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: redrumss ]</small>

LS1 JAY

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MUSTANG HAT'R:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GMRACIN:
<strong> Valve seals did not correct the problem on my friends car. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Mine either but the catch can did!! Theres only a few places were you can get oil from, PVC, Valve seal, and Blow by/Ring flutter, or you valve train is out of spec. Most will happen over time but the PVC system will start right after a WOT run. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think the catch can is finally starting to work in my case as far as smoking goes and it seems to have helped with the consumption but I don't see how? I have a good bit in the can after 1 week (about 3 tablespoons) and the smoking is much less now so maybe it needed to blow out the remaining oil that was in there? it has helped anyway, time will tell!

LS1 JAY

Any ideas what to try next? the catch can is collecting a good deal of oil, but it's still smoking in the high RPM's and burning some oil, the smoke is blueish and starts in the 5,000+ RPM range and then goes away after the shift and doesn't start again till it gets back in the high 5,000+ RPM range, car runs fine but the smoke and 1 qt every 1,000 miles is really pi$$ing me off!

42NightZ28

i have a 01 Z28 with SLP LT headers and ORPS
and i have a Friend with a 00 TA with FLP LT headers and ORPS and neither of our cars smoke

Spydum

Perhaps there is a correlation between the different years. My 1999 T/A smokes after the header installs, about same results as LS1Jay (~1qt every 1000mi). Perhaps the '99 and below valve seals are the only ones succeptable to this problem?

LS1 JAY

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Spydum:
<strong> Perhaps there is a correlation between the different years. My 1999 T/A smokes after the header installs, about same results as LS1Jay (~1qt every 1000mi). Perhaps the '99 and below valve seals are the only ones succeptable to this problem? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm thinking about taking the car up to Norris and letting him see what he thinks, I'll let you know if and when I do so.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Uhh....Huh?

I have installed probably 10 sets of Mac headers, neither of those cars had any problems. I ran Mac headers for 2 1/2 yrs without any of the problems described above....


Josh

SlowLS1

I've dealt with this problem for a long time... Matter of fact, if you search on some past history, you will see that i am one of the original people to have this problem. I installed a hotcam and macs at the same time....Wizkid knows the whole situation and can vouch for my problems

it was consuming 1 qt for around every 500 miles

things i did to correct the condition...or rather try to correct it....

completely redid PCV system
installed catch can <it never did catch anything>
re installed cam.... at this time i thought the cam was the problem not the headers...
install new valve seals
did top engine cleaner

nothing had any effect on it, however 20/50 weight oil seemed to help


gave up rebuilt the engine.....with same headers and different cam....installed cam into friends car...his was fine <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> no smoke

mine was back on the street....running great...but guess what...still smoking and using oil....however no where near as bad....now i only use a qt for every 1k-1500 miles <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" />

I believe that i did everything possible and that the headers are the cause of my problems....

my car is a 98 had 72k at the time of rebuild

I know of 2 other individuals that have the exact problem....even after taking headers back off, seems as tho it did permanet damage...they still smoke

LS1 JAY

How can a rebuid not correct the problem? were the cylinder walls scored? the guys with Cobras say that the Macs when new have small beads and gunk in them and when they go on and the car is started up in the first few minutes it gets sucked up into thew block via EGR or whatever and scores the walls thus causing the oil consumption and smoking, is this possible or is this grasping at an answer? I just want a fix but if I go through the trouble to rebuild it, it better fix the problem! there has to be someone who has some answers??? If you bored the engine a bit it should work I would think <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> how much can you bore a '99 ? maybe a new block would work for me?

<small>[ February 09, 2003, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: LS1JAY ]</small>