ShovelMan

After some months of starting my car up, the oil tends to kinda sorta go down a quart each month and blue smoke escapes the exhaust at start-up. Is there a grave problem with my engine?

AgFormula02

iTrader: (13)

Valve seals. Oil leaking through the valve seals while the car sits. Not a big issue.
How many miles?
next time you change springs, drop new seals in.

ShovelMan

160K.

Also, what is the origin of your username AgFormula02?

LilJayV10

iTrader: (39)

valve seals and/or valve guides.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Yes, it is a good idea if you redo your seals to meausre the play in your guides. If there is excessive play the seals will wear out in no time.

thetransamkid

Yep, had the same issue and it was valve seals.

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

It's the Valve seals. It's a fairly involved project. Not super difficult just time consuming. I would set aside a weekend to do it if you have never done it before.

thetransamkid

I couldn't agree more.^ It's definitely possible with everything in the car, I finished mine in a day start to finish. I had to change mine because I ended up shredding a set of cheapo dual valve springs and that in turn destroyed my seals. Not only did it destroy my seals, but a piece of the shredded springs got sucked up into the oil pump(pick up had fallen off) and locked it up.

Follow the walk through on http://shbox.com/ci/valve_spring_swap.html

To make it easier to turn the motor via crank pulley I pulled the spark plugs.

ShovelMan

Can you "see" what valves are ready to be worked on by turning the crank with the valve covers off?

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

Yes, that's the only way to know.

You have to watch what the rockers are doing as you spin it by hand. Once the intake rocker opens fully then closes give the crank another 1/4 turn and the piston should be at the top of travel allowing you to remove the spring and do the work you need to and then set the lash. Don't waste your time with compressed air or rope to hold the valve up. Your not going to drop the valve or anything. Get the piston close to top dead center and you will be good enough to perform the work.

Follow the shoebox link above and you will be set.

thetransamkid

The shbox link above has a diagram that shows the crank pulley positions(12,3,6,9 o'clock) and what valves you are able to take springs off of. For example, cylinder 1 and 6 are TDC at 12 o'clock.