GM / General Motors: 4.3L V6, Emissions failure, 1986 Caprice, Parissiene

OIL LEAKS DOWN THE VALVES? Is it normal to bleed from the mouth?
"no one" <net> wrote in message
news:net... 

Do some of you make this up to get a rise from us or has it occurred to you
all that valves are for gasoline intake and exhaust removal and unless you
have (nope) a diesel they don't DEAL with oil much? Have you got a nasty
case of blow-by? When was the last time you checked your rings? Did your
mechanic even look?

I'm mildly flabbergasted. HUH...whatever.

"Steven Dinius" <com> wrote in message
news:supernews.com... 

The engine is old and with mobile one oil, it puffs on start up only
occasionally. It depends on how long it's been parked, weather its on a hill
and that sort of thing. It's done this for ten years and is no different
lately.

Yes, it is normal for this engine with this milage. It's no different now
than when it passed emissions with flying colors.

I could use some help here instead of sarcasm. Thanks.

Steven Dinius wrote:
 

I don't think it's normal or you wouldn't ask? We have scads of FI 4.3
Blazer 4X4's in the area and they get beaten up far worse than yours. Don't
accept that it's the status quo. If you've got oil leaking into your valves,
it still sounds to me like your rings are worn out. ESPECIALLY at 200K.
Sarcastic, sure, but I'm only flabbergasted bcuz this seems like common
sense to me--it has to be looked after even more after 100-120K. Not to
mention it's seventeen years old. I have a 1986 2.5 four and don't I know
that (I have only 114K).

"no one" <"no one"@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:net... 
hill 
plugs, 
The 
down 

no one wrote: 

Could you post the numbers?
That would greatly help in diagnosis.

Perhaps you could inlcude the test results with this posting so everyone can
see then specific question such as HC is out of limit at idle or at certain
rpm. It is diff to offer suggestion.

Cheers,
Mnn
"no one" <"no one"@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:net... 
hill 
plugs, 
The 
down 

A 4.3 V6 is effectively a 350 small block missing two middle cylinders. Small blocks
are notorious for puffing a bit on startup after sitting; it's not a
catastrophic situation, and, assuming the smoking desists after a few
moments, is not an indication of piston ring/bore wear. Rather, it
typically indicates worn valve guides/seals. Worn rings would cause oil
smoke emissions continuously and to a more severe degree with the hammer
down. Posting the ppm and %
numbers from the emissions fail report would indeed be helpful.

As for Mr. Dinius and his 'common-sense'-induced flabbergastedness,
methinks his muffler bearings are binding and causing his Johnson rods to
bang into his lugnuts, so to speak. Let's all sing to the tune of RawHide:
"Trollin', trollin', trollin'
keep them trolls trollin'..."

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 22:40:08 -0700, Steven Dinius wrote:
 

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 22:40:08 -0700, Steven Dinius wrote:
 


Not much on the common sence then are you MR. Dinius. Lets see, oil leaking
onto the valves. Sure, it does happen. Now Rings worn out. Yep, that will
happen too. BUT, the rings worn out CAUSING the oil to leak onto the
valves? Well, lets just say it COULD cause a little bit of that IF the
rings were worn out enough to be letting enough back pressure into the crank
case to push oil through the valve guides and seals, AND the pvc valve is
completely stopped up AND ALL of the gaskets sealed pressure 100%. So
basically, that is NOT the problem.

So basically, the little bit of smoke at startup is more that likely caused
by worn valve seals, assuming that there is only a small amount of smoke
that goes away really fast.

Joel