Smokin' in the boys room (garage)

[zachmac]

So I finally got up the nerve to start the 78 Spider I bought that hadn't run in four years. Engine turned freely and I changed the oil (and pan) and flushed the gas tank and all lines. Duel webers that I didn't disassemble or clean, yet.

Car started up and ran but there are no longer any mosquitoes within about a hundred miles. Clearly the rings are frozen up, blowing lots of white / black smoke and pressurizing the crankcase pretty good. No coolant smell, pretty sure just oil and gas being burned. Much worse at idle then revving. Goes down the road fine, again with a noxious cloud behind. So far only a few miles driven.

So, pulled all four plugs, all four VERY oil fouled. Put about 10 ml of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder, spun the engine and it's been sitting for two days. Poured the remaining mystery oil in the crankcase. Most likely clean plugs and start it back up in a day or so. First I need to shim and realign the new high output alternator and replace the clamping bolt that stripped it out on install and wire the non-working fan to run continuously until I can fix it properly.

Any advise? How long (if ever) should I expect to have to drive it before the rings free up (I realize they may not at all and I'll be doing a ring job this winter). Is it best to cruise or drive it hard? Does it matter?

BTW, oil pressure is good, 25 to 30 lbsat idle, 60 to 80 accelerating.

[vandor]

Congrats! The first drive is always exciting, even if things aren't working as expected.
One would think higher rpm would be more likely to get the rings loose. However, on many engines that I took apart they were a block of solid carboned up mess that nothing could have freed up.

[zachmac]

GM also has a problem with current Cadillac engines with carbon in the cylinders causing stuck rings and excessive oil usage / blow by. I know they sell a product in the parts department that you basically suck in through a vacuum line to clean out the carbon. May also give that a shot. Again, can't imagine I am going to do more harm and as the alternative is a re-ring job so I might as well give it a try?

[zachmac]

And yes, the first drive was indeed very rewarding. Like meeting a dear old friend whose company you had forgotten you really enjoy.

[Fiatracertracer]

Try CRC Motor treatment

Pour it in the gas tank and or through a main vacuum hose.

This is what the web site has to say:

"Details - Cleans gum, varnish, and carbon from the fuel system, injectors, pistons, and combustion chamber. Removes moisture from fuel and oil systems and lubricates engine components. For use in gasoline, diesel, ethanol, & oil. Pour into fuel system, or induce directly into combustion chamber via main manifold vacuum line and add to crankcase. 16 fl. ozs. treats 8 to 25 gallons of gas or diesel, 10 quarts of oil."

http://crcindustries.com/auto/?s=05316

It will remove the carbon in the engine and it will smooth out the idle, it worked great for me and I can't say enough about it.

[4uall]

Found the same with Seafoam myself when I first bought Fiona. Worked great. I would still investigate though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5faqSGWSlo

[4uall]

hmmmmmm I may stand corrected

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg9ppeUMpK4

[Fiatracertracer]

Seafoam is a favorite of mine and I have cans of it on my shelf.

CRC motor treatment works quickly, a noticeable difference in a smoother idle and quick throttle response.

[RRoller123]

How often do you folks add either the SF or CRC to the gas? Every fillup? Once in awhile?

[4uall]

Did mine 3yrs ago and not since I believe it should be prior to every oil change

[zachmac]

Quick update, I went with about 10ml of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder, cranked it over to spread it around and let it sit two days. Cleaned the plugs (all four were oil fouled)), reinstalled them and cranked it up. It of course smoked quite a bit while the mystery oil burned off but after about 30 miles of driving seems to be almost smoke free!!

I tossed the remainder of the mystery oil in the crankcase, topped the tank with premium and added a can of Gunk cleaner to the gas for good measure. Seems to be running better and better with each mile. Now to figure out why it is running cold (see new post)?

[zachmac]

Well, like real life smokers, I was premature in declaring the car a non-smoker. Next cold restart the smoke was as bad or worse than ever. Guess the other day was just a result of things warming up and expanding enough to stem the flow. Normally I'd say valve guides when a car smokes on start after sitting but not after warming up (like ALL old Ferraris!) but it is also still pumping up the crankcase pressure pretty good so most likely rings or both. Soooo, I guess my winter project is planned. Now I just need to decide if I should pull the head and pan and re-ring with the block in or bite the bullet and pull engine and tranny as a unit and really go through everything?