The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Smokin 216

Hey guys, Ive got a 1952 5 window Chevy pickup that was originally may parts truck for a 47 project. Well it sat behind the shed for a few years donating parts and sinking in the dirt a little deeper. When last winter I decided to pull her in the shop. It started out innocent enough just cleaned her up a little and see what we had. The usual cab corners,box floor, front of floor pans and cowls But I had a little experience with those things from the 47. Now a year later Ive got her air tight(well you can't see the ground thru the floors anymore)and it smells a whole lot better! I got the old 216 purring like a kitten after sitting for a lot of years, but it smokes when ever I give her a little gas. I'm not a motor head so I was wondering if any of you bolters might have some suggestions to cut down on the smoke. Like I said it runs great and Im falling in love with the darn thing. Heck my wife went for a ride with me Sunday and after we rode around the gravel roads for awhile she asked if she could drive! Man you couldn't wipe the smiles of either one of our faces!! Will it clear up at all from just running her? Should I pull the head and give it a valve job? I didn't want to rebuild the motor cause it's not really in the budget right now. Or maybe I'll just have to buy a case of oil keep driving it the way it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Troy

Run a heavy dose of penetrating oil such as KROIL or Wynn's Friction Proofing, etc. in the crankcase, about one pint or a little more in addition to a full fill of clean oil. If the smoking is caused by sticky rings the penetrant might free them up. If you've got rusty cylinder walls that won't let the rings re-seat, nothing short of a rebuild will help. Another way is to add about 2 quarts of Diesel fuel or kerosene to a crankcase full of heavy oil like straight 30 or 40 weight, and run the engine at a fast idle (1,000 RPM) for 30 minutes without putting any driving load on it. The overfill lets the crankshaft whip into the solvent-laced oil and splash it all over the place, including up under the pistons.

Definitely DO NOT drive the vehicle with a heavy overfill of solvent!
Jerry

I had a similar deal as you with a 216 in a 52. It smoked a bit. It had a crack in the water jacket that sort of sealed up with radiator stop leak, . I ran the crap out of it for years as is, because I knew that I would never rebuild it given the crack in the water jacket. It started and ran great all the way up until I tore it down to scavenge a couple of connecting rods for another 216. I would say do what HRL says, and run it til it don't.
Carl

Well I took your advice and ran 40 weight oil with an extra 2 quarts of desiel . Backed the truck out of the shop and ran it for a half an hour . I'll be honest I had high hopes but did'nt really think it was going to make a difference, When in fact after about 20 minutes it started to smoke a lot less!! After running it for a half hour I pulled it back in the shop, changed out the oil with fresh 10-w-30. Then today I took it for a ride and noticed a little puff when I clutched it between gears but nothing like it did before. I thank you for the tip and am looking forward to fun summer of riding around our country roads with the old parts truck.

Make sure that you change the oil every 3,000 miles religiously. Worn engines will experience contaminated oil from blow by past the rings. The unburned fuel will dilute the oil, leading to rapid wear on everything which moves. If you keep up with the oil changes, it will run forever.
Carl

I absolutely will ! Thank you again. P.S. I had her out again today and I tell you that old six with four on the floor is a flippin joy to drive!!