What causes all of this smoke?

[kevin206]

I was working on a metro for a friend. We wanted to get out on the cheap, so I put in a new #2 exhaust valve, a couple of valve stem seals(but not all of them) and slapped everything back together. Well, I also hand-lapped the other valves. Anyway, the thing smokes REALLY bad. We think it smoked before, but not like this. What has me worried is that I did basically the same thing on my 92, but I also replaced the rings. I still smoke in that car, foul out the #3 plug and burn a LOT of oil. Is there some common problem that I'm not thinking about?

[Crvett69]

when you redo a head on a metro you almost have to replace the rings or it will smoke on you. you can check the pcv valve and hose but chances are you wll have to pull engine apart again and rebuild it or replace it

[spy1309]

Why do you have to do that?I don t see the logic sorry.
I replaced a few heads (on different cars} and never had this problem after.

[Crvett69]

just experiance working on these engines. replaced a few heads and engine started smoking and using oil. happened on 4 out of 5 engines i replaced heads on in the metros. think they just have weak rings and extra pressure from "new" head makes then let oil by

[popup]

First which engine do you have? Everything I say pertains to 3 cyl engine. Is the smoke oil or coolant? Coolant runs between the intake manifold and the head. If you don't use a new gasket and torque it properly starting with the middle bolts it will leak coolant into the intake and cause billows of white smoke. If you are sure you did that correctly do a proper compression test, warm the engine, remove all the plugs remove the fuel injection fuse, hold the throttle full open. Then repeat the test after squirting a bit of oil in the spark plug hole. If the PSI comes up with oil that indicates a ring problem.

[leonbentz]

Uh Oh.....Metro Miquito Fogger

[geozukigti]

Sounds to me like your cylinders are out of round. Putting new rings in an oval cylinder won't help at all. If your cylinder is worn, you'll need to have it bored, and put larger pistons in. Chances are, if it was driven to the point where it was fouling plugs, and then driven more, the cylinders are egg-shaped. Prolly have to have .020" bored into it to get it back to round. JDM engines are your best bet. Cheaper, low mileage, and a quick engine change. Less machine work, and hastling with a rebuild. Check ebay.

[Crvett69]

these were all the 3 cyl engines from metros. i found it was cheaper and less trouble to pull old engine out and drop in a jdm engine. ask around at your local machine shop, they will probably tell you the same thing about the smoke. and its oil smoke not coolant

[spy1309]

Crvett69 maby I am hard headed and I seek the logic but I don t understand why Geo engine smokes after the head is replaced for example on mine this summer I replaced the head with a used one , replaced EGR valve , complete tune up etc after all this I tested the compression 175psi on all 3 so I suppose that rings are ok, valve train is ok no leaks but at high revs some blue smoke comes out after that no sign of oil in the throtle body or intake (PCV valve is new).
Plus the engine sputers at idle if I disconect the O2 sensor the sputering disapears, and the strange this is that the ECM does not give me the code of bad (disconected) O2 sensor.
Enlighten me please.

[geozukigti]

Like you said. You replaced the head with a used one. Who knows how long it's been sitting dry. The valve seals could be dry-rotted, the valve guides could be corroded, and it could have been warped for all you know. The block deck could have been warped too. Did you re-use the headbolts?

[spy1309]

LOL the story with the bolts is a funny one, I bought a new set of head bolts from parts dinosaurs and when I torque them at the specified ft/lb they started to break long before reaching the max torque seting so half of the bolts are used ones so far so good no coolant in oil and no oil leaks.
But still why the engine sputers with the O2 attached?

[Crvett69]

you sure your torque wrench is accurate?

[spy1309]

Yes I am I returned 3 of them thinking that they are bad, they are the clicking type when you reach the desired torque setting.