The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Non- Chev smoking engine question

I wasn't exactly sure if this should go in here, or the greasy spoon, but since you all are wizards with engines I decided this was the place to pick your collection brains!
My daughter recently bought a'74 VW Westfailure. It has the Type4 with carbs. PO said it was running fine with good power until it started blowing major smoke. That it does! Here's what I have found. It doesn't smoke as soon as you start it up, but give a minute or 2 and it will have a very light blue fog. Rev it up and the smoke starts, it pops (not really a backfire) and the smoke comes out thicker than an army smoke screen machine. We drove it home from the PO's and my daughter couldn't see me and I was only 40feet in front. People coming towards me were pulling over until I went by. It wasn't a rocket, but it ran pretty strong, altho it wasn't happy on the highway, but we were getting low on oil as the smoke was thinning out.
Pulled the plugs and did a quick compression check. Over 100psi per cylinder. Which isn't that bad for a VW. Cleaned the plugs up and fired it up. Didn't sound perfect, but seemed to be running fairly smoothly. Air cleaner was off and the crankcase vent open. Pulled lead off #1 and no change in smoke or engine sound(?). Did the same for #2 and smoke didn't change, but engine faltered a bit. At this point I noticed the black oil spraying 4-5 feet out of the exhaust onto the driveway and shut it down.
Pulled all 4 plugs. #1 was oil soaked to the point of almost fouled. #2 & #3 were wet and black (oily) BUT #4 was dry and clean!!
Haven't dared venture any further into the engine. Seems strange to me that 3 of the 4 cylinders would be wet and 1 dry and compression didn't show an obvious major problem.
So any suggestions?

Valve guides?

Yep-I'd be looking at valve guide seals. that or it was overheated to the point of losing the temper in the oil control rings. I had a Pontiac that had that problem,same symptoms.
Speed

It's been many years since I had my collection VW boxers. I'm thinking someone over filled the crank case for that much oil to be spitting out. My two cents.

Larry

Sorry Larry.. isn't that. I wish. In a 15 minute drive it burnt over a litre and a half of oil. Had the oil light flickering as I got it home. More likely the rings are gone.

Hey Freedo, Those engines are not too hard to rebuild. Have to go down to the case and remove the jugs but if the body is good its worth it. Usually the number 3 cylinder is what goes out first being it gets the lease cooling. It also causes a popping sound, not a back fire sound. Sounds like in got overheated very badly and toasted the rings or ran it too low on oil. If you rebuild it, use Castrol 10-30 till brake in then go to either Texas Refinery 10-30 Pro Spec III or Amsoil 10-30. I use Texas Refinery in my Chevy 4x4 truck. It handles even diesel combustion temperatures, about 2 1/2 times that of a gas engine, and will help that engine last a very long time. I also use system 48 plus. Its no gimmick. Afetr nearly 41 years at turning a wrench, I'm very selective at what I put in my rigs. Its not Slick 50, which is ok for old engines, but something very different. I also used it in my diesel. Makes it spin faster in the morning and quicker revs and more power. Cuts oil temp down some also. Those 4 bangers need all the help you cab get. Especially air cooled engines. Regular motor oil just really isn't formulated good enough in my opinion for air cooled motors. I have owned a VW bug and know them quite well. Knew many including my brother that had them plus my friend who has an import parts store. He's rebuilt thousands of them over the years. I wish you well. Henry

My sister insisted on buying one of those years ago, agains,t my better advice. I had a nice Ford van all picked out for her. She broke down many times between Texas & California. She finally ran out of money & sold it for enough for a bus ticket home.

Thanks for the advise guys. I'm kinda in the WR boat. My daughter has wanted one of these for a while. This is $500 special that is supposed to be a summer camping funmobile.. I've owned 3 Westfailures before and have it down to having the engine out and Van out of the garage in 2 hours. I just didn't want to have to deal with the grease lump.
Henry I really appreciate the oil advise. I haven't heard of the Texas Ref. stuff, but we have Amsoil here.
As long as the bearings aren't dead I'll probably hone it, put in new rings and check the heads. Might actually be cheaper and easier to find a running engine from a juny yard.
It's her money and I'll run the options past her.

VW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....Knowing nothing about them so shooting in the dark..check for plugged oil return in top of head area,,sucking oil thru crank case breather system,,if comp is 100lbs what is it supposed to be????is there a preasure oil passage thru head gasket from block to head that can leak into cyl,s..If car is in very good shape you will have to weigh cost of repairing and labor aginst another car...doc

Doc.. Compression should be in the 120-130plus range.. so this isn't great, but ok. Can't remeber exactly where the oil gets pumped out to the heads, but I do know it drains back thru the push rod tubes... thanks for taking the time to respond.
You know.. I've had more responses to this question on THIS site then on 2 strictly VW sites I also posted on. Gotts ta love this place.

That is why my wife gets so ****** at me, because I am alway's on this site reading everything. Love this site, and these guy's!

I wouln,t let my daughter drive something like that. They are unreliable & unsafe.

Freedo, Glad to help if I can. I love this site too and spend a fair amount of time hear. Like to hear about all the experiences both good and bad and learn from them. A junk yard engine might be ok if they guarantee it. Definately check the compression if they didn't all ready. Some do and some don't. Wrenchbender does have a point, I knew someone , well.....for years and she used to work for a VW mechanic back in the 70s. Had a customer that was in a wreck and lost both legs due to no real front end on those things. Not trying to scare anyone, just a word of caution. My Dad also had one for a very short time and sold it. Bought a Chevy. I truly wish you the best on whatever you choose to do and may it be successful. BTW olememphis51, unless its excessive being on this site, your wife should be glad you're home and helping people out and not in a bar or some other undesirable place. Just don't neglect or ignore her. She comes first. Then Chevies! Yeah! Henry

Looks like I'll be pulling the motor and redoing the rings, valve seals and possibly guides and gaskets. With-out machine work she should be able to get away with spending about $300. My labour, as usual, is free! But this ain't happening until my wife and I get back from our 25th anniversary vacation!