smoking

[wrightster]

when starting my westy lately (1800 zetec 45s) i have noticed it is quite smokey - not really a very blue smoke but a reasonable amount is kicked out and it stays like that for a bout 5 mins (untill warmed up) under hardish acceleration is this normal - i think the engine has done about 50k in total - is it likely to just need a tune up ? seems to be running as well as it ever has otherwise ....

[Blatman]

Sounds like ring/bore wear to me.........

[perksy]

As Blatman says Give it a Compression test and note all the readings, if ok possible Valve stem oil seal or Valve guide wear.

Wrightster IF you've got a Cat fitted you need to sort this asap, 'cos this ain't going to do it any good  

[Nick A]

Give it a Compression test and note all the readings

Yes but both wet and try to help determine where the problem is

wet put a little bit of oil in each cylinder before the test

dry no oil

if wet is a lot higher than the dry it's a bore/ring problem oil acts as a temperary seal

if little or no difference it could be a valve seal or other problem

hope this helps  

[wrightster]

Thanx, like i say its not serious but should it be doing that after 50k ? i suppose it depends on how well it has been looked after if it is what Blatman says is it very expensive to have rectified ?

[Blatman]

Depends how much of the work you do yourself. It's a complete strip though........

You may get away with new rings and a hone of the bores. My local engineering shop honed my Cossie bores for £20. A set of Cossie rings was about 80 quid, and a full gasket set was about 120 quid. So £220 in all, and about 10 hours of my free time. It actually took about 2 weeks.......

HOWEVER, you may need more than a hone. You may need a rebore, which will mean a new set of pistons on top of the extra cost of a proper rebore rather than just a hone....then of course, there's all those jobs you *should* while the engines out, like new valve guides, maybe a head skim, perhaps bigger valves........

[Nick A]

Or get a zetec from the scrappies they can be found for about £200 depends what spec yours is though thats for a standard one  

[Blatman]

Chances are a scrappy engine won't be any better. If you recondition what you've got, then at least you *know* what has (and hasn't) been done......

[wrightster]

Thanks, i wlll see how i get on with it and if ness look at the reconditioning work early next year, as i say its not a lot of smoke so i will get it checked out and take it from there

thanks again