Craps! Valve Stem Oil Seal gone?
Discussion
Hi all,
Worried I might have a problem and not sure what it is!
Symptoms as follows:
On starting the car I get (what i am pretty sure is) a little oil smoke coming out from under passenger side rocker cover for about 30 seconds.
Also when driving I get a very noticeable muffled pinking/puffing noise from the same place - very definitely the left bank rear (cylinder 7)
Oily smell from exhausts now where there never used to be any and oil consumption has gone up somewhat. Engine generally feels imbalanced and lumpy on revving.
Can anyone advise what it might be or good tests to perform?
Pretty sure it's not exhaust manifold gasket - have heard one before and sounds different to this.
Many thanks
Ryan
debaron said:
On starting the car I get (what i am pretty sure is) a little oil smoke coming out from under passenger side rocker cover for about 30 seconds.
That just sounds like some oil has leaked out (from rocker cover?) and is getting burned off when things start to heat up.debaron said:
Also when driving I get a very noticeable muffled pinking/puffing noise from the same place - very definitely the left bank rear (cylinder 7)
Oily smell from exhausts now where there never used to be any and oil consumption has gone up somewhat. Engine generally feels imbalanced and lumpy on revving.
I would take the plugs out and look for further clues/odd one out etc and go from there.Oily smell from exhausts now where there never used to be any and oil consumption has gone up somewhat. Engine generally feels imbalanced and lumpy on revving.
All the valve stem seals do really is stop oil from the valve guide area being sucked down the inlet. All the early cars would have spent a lot of time running without any seal, the umbrella style seals probably aren't even in contact very often 
A different oil brand or the PCV system getting fouled up is just as likely to burn more oil in the engine.
Take the plugs out and have a look at them if you suspect some cylinders are running differently from others. If you want to delve further checking manifold temps and pulling off the rocker boxes may aid your diagnostics.
A different oil brand or the PCV system getting fouled up is just as likely to burn more oil in the engine.
Take the plugs out and have a look at them if you suspect some cylinders are running differently from others. If you want to delve further checking manifold temps and pulling off the rocker boxes may aid your diagnostics.
Hmm, good call on the PCV Spendy. There is a bit of oily residue on the rocker cover around where it is attached.
PS - The PCV is on the drivers side rocker with the big black rubber hose attached right?
ETA - It's not is it - it's the one right at the back on the passenger side rocker!
PS - The PCV is on the drivers side rocker with the big black rubber hose attached right?
ETA - It's not is it - it's the one right at the back on the passenger side rocker!
Edited by debaron on Tuesday 23 November 14:46
You have to clean the inlet & filter (on top of rocker box pot 7) and the flame trap + pipework on the front. Flushing it all out with paraffin off the car is the quickest way. It'll only be a problem if it's really cacked up (imagine those horror pictures of black oily sludged up LR lumps).
Don't discount trumpets making a bid for freedom being the cause of rattles and uneven running
I will never be convinced that binning the troublesome buggers isn't the way to go
Don't discount trumpets making a bid for freedom being the cause of rattles and uneven running
I will never be convinced that binning the troublesome buggers isn't the way to go Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff