The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop blue smoke and rough

Hi guys I just got my truck out of hibernation. When I put it away in Nov I put gas stableiver in a full tank of gas then I put a squirt of oil down each spark plug hole. Today I changed the oil and filter, then sparked her up. Let run for about 15 min. The was a bit of smoke. Then I took it for a 20 minute drive, not to fast or slow about 25 miles an he. The top of third and the bottom of fourth were somewhat rough. At a stop light I had a good size cloud blue smoke come out of the tailgate. It stopped smoking but she I got home and put it in reverse I got another cloud of blue smoke. I know blue smoke usually means a valve job. Is it possible that it is something else. Like burning off winter gas and crud. Any hopeful news? Its a 235 six in a 58 pick up
Thanks rick

Blue smoke is an indication of oil burning. I would suspect oil rings, or maybe it was parked because It used a lot of oil. I would guy a gallon of Marvel Mystery Oil and squirt each cylinder full of it and let it set a week or two. I have saved a lot of old engines like that. Of course, if its worn out, its worn out. But if its stuck rings, there is a good chance you can make it drivable. Its worth a try.

Hmmm never heard of the stuff, but I will see if I can find some around here. Basically what is it doing. Is it like a penetrating oil. Am I trying to loosen a ring. When I put it away in the fall it didn't burn a drop

you got it. I was amazed what it did for a studebaker 289 I used it on. At this point since it was 'ok' last fall I'd run one pt through the gas (even with stabilizer) one pt in the oil (if not a full qt) and a squirt in the cylinders while it sits over night. Maybe with a squirt of Kroil to boot. I bet you see the difference after just couple run/soak/run cycles.

I'd also run it harder as long as it sounds ok. Open it up and blow it out.

Just checked online and I can't get it here in Canada. Any other options

Rick - got NAPA in your area? they should be able to get it

Bill

What Marvel Mystery Oil does best is dissolve carbon deposits.

Yes we do have . I will give them a try Monday. Thanks

Do you think the smoke is related to the roughness as well

As much as I agree with the use of marvel mystery oil... I have to think the stabilizer you added to the gas is part of your problem. You said you added it to a full tank. Drain some (a lot) of that gas out and get some fresh gas in there.

I've watch my father use Stabil since he parks his vehicles over long winter and travels. It always seems he has hard starting at first and poor running condition.

Good to know, thanks i'all try that as well

I put in a tin of barsahl. It says it is suppose to clean valves etc. I put 20 litres of fresh gas and drove around for 30 minutes but it didnt seem to be helping.

I think I found the problem. I removed the rocker cover and found one of the push rods(I think that's what they are called) was off to the side of the rocker arm. I pushed it back into alignment and all seems good now. There is still a tiny amount of smoke, but hopefully that is just all the crud burning off.
I hope its solved. Thanks guys
Rick

if you have a pushrod fall out, you most likely have a sticking valve, one cause of which would be using old gas. you shouldn't be able to just push it back in, they are meant to be pretty well trapped in there, or your valves are very loose. Not to mention the distinct possibility you bent that pushrod. I had 3 pushrods fall out on my truck after I had the head rebuilt, and all 6 exhaust valves were ruined. I'm not exactly sure why. I had installed positive valve seals, which in theory controls the oil that gets to the valve, not wipe the valve stem clean. And after looking at them as opposed to umbrella seals, still seem like it should work. I'm more inclined to believe the fella didn't give enough clearance when he assembled the head. Which is why I'm going to get the tools and do it myself next time. What ever the case pushrods just don't fall out, it really isn't ok.

Thanks brokenhead. I was thinking the same thing that the rod would be bent. Anyway do you know how I can tell if the valve is stuck and is the valve on the other side of the rocker arm(sorry to sound dumb)Is it something I can see if I take the rocker cover off again.
Thanks Rick

it isn't a foregone conclusion that the pushrod would be bent, but quite likely. Yes the valve would be on the other end of the rocker arm, the valve would be shorter than the rest of them, and it doesn't neccesarily follow that it will stay that way, mine stuck long enough for me to get home, take the valve cover off, and to notice the spring was so, so close to being coilbound, then as I was standing there wondering what had happened it all of a sudden just SNAP, popped shut again, fortunately these heads have the exhaust so far up in the combustion chamber, there is little chance of it contacting the piston. if the truck was running fine last fall, and the valves were adjusted properly, you have a stuck valve. or gremlins.

so is the valve under the spring (coil)