Blue Smoke On Pickup Only

[rawkyjnr]

Tooling on a friend's Triumph Vitesse, we got it going but when you blip the throttle it will give you a good burst of blue smoke, and then settle clear if it idles for a few seconds.

I'm hoping the damage is likely in the head and not further down! I know a compression test is the way forward, but what would you bet on?

[Caulkhead]

It's an OHV engine I believe, so my money would be on worn valve stem oil seals. Does it also give a puff of blue smoke on startup?

[rawkyjnr]

We only started it once so I couldn't comment. But I just hope the damage is accessible it would be a pain to pull the engine!!

[Caulkhead]

Valve stem seals are usually easy to replace in situ - I've done them on a similarly aged Land Rover with an OHV and it was straightforward with the engine left in place.

[rawkyjnr]

Is that right?! Interesting.. You wouldn't mind giving me a quick talk through that would you?

Rocker Cover off, Rockers off, then cams out, then the guides are there?

[matchmaker]

rawkyjnr said:

Is that right?! Interesting.. You wouldn't mind giving me a quick talk through that would you?

Rocker Cover off, Rockers off, then cams out, then the guides are there?

It's a pushrod engine so the cam is in the block! Vitesses are not fitted with valve stem seals. Replacing the valve guides would be a head off job. Not a difficult job on a Vitesse (I could get the head off in less than 15 minutes on mine), but probably not worth the hassle (and expense).

Might be better in the Triumph section?

[jjones]

blue smoke when under load could be worn compression rings, or sticking oil control rings.

[rawkyjnr]

Really? Are they worth much these days?

My friends is a reasonable example. No rust I can see, but the interior needs a tidy up (re-veneering and stuff) and the electrics need a rewire ideally. He's had the gearbox rebuilt a few years ago too...

[Caulkhead]

Here's roughly how I did it (partially cribbed from elsewhere on the internets to save some typing!), but this was with a LR, can't be 100% sure it's the same for a Vitesse:

Off comes the valve cover, off comes the rocker shaft and push rods. You need an air compressor and a special fitting to thread into the spark plug hole after you remove the appropriate spark plug, I used a diesel glowplug that fitted. Turn the engine so the cylinder you are working on is at top dead centre. Put it in fourth gear with the handbrake on and wheels chocked. Apply air to your special fitting to pressurise the cylinder, 15psi is enough I seem to recall. Remove the valve spring retainers FOR THAT INTAKE VALVE ONLY. Remove the spring, change or install the new oil seal. Replace the spring and retainers (You didn't drop the retainers did you?)

Repeat the proceedure with the next cylinder. The piston is at TDC so the valve doesn't drop to the bottom if something goes wrong in the process. A magnet might work to pick up the spring retainers that you drop and might be able to be used to retrieve a valve if it drops.

It's really pretty simple except if something goes wrong and you drop a valve or retainer and then you've got to take the head off.

ETA - better listen to Matchmaker, he seems to know more about Vitesses than me!

[matchmaker]

rawkyjnr said:

Really? Are they worth much these days?

My friends is a reasonable example. No rust I can see, but the interior needs a tidy up (re-veneering and stuff) and the electrics need a rewire ideally. He's had the gearbox rebuilt a few years ago too...

A good Vitesse isn't cheap nowadays! But to change the valve guides you'd need to take the head off (easy job, as I said). You'd need to have the valve guides pressed out of the head and new ones pressed in. That could work out expensive. If it's not using too much oil, I'd not bother!

[rawkyjnr]

Ah I follow, many thanks.

I guess as my friend runs it over the summer we'll see how much it is using.