318 - Blue Smoke

[Deter Pinklage]

Hey guys,

About two weeks ago I had the oil changed and oil filter replaced on my 68' Coronet, 318. It was by a mechanic friend, and I know he isn't one to do a bad job.

After everything was said and done, we fired it up, and got quite a bit of light bluish smoke, followed by a bit here and there. After sitting idle for about five minutes it had pretty much gone away.

Stumped by it, a few days later my father added some Oil additive to seal things up. After idling it for a while and driving it around town everything was fine.

About two days later though, I fired the car up again and got some blue smoke again.

I've noticed that on start up its usually clear, and then thirty second later I start getting smoke. If I let it sit idle for a few minutes, it dissipates and goes away.

It didn't do this prior to the oil change, so what could it be fellas? Bad gaskets? Use a thicker engine oil?

 

[benno440]

blue smoke is usually the engine burning oil, I would suspect piston rings on the way out.

 

[69Bee]

Where is the smoke coming from? If it did not do it before the oil change, and now it does after, I would suspect something with that. The only thing that could happen is the filter is not on tight enough, or the wrong filter was used. This would be if the smoke comes from the engine compartment. If the smoke comes from the tail pipe, then it was coincidental that you saw it after the oil change, as it could not start burning oil that fast. It could have been there before, but you noticed it after the oil change.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I would suggest the simple soloution first:

Valve stem seals...
Located in your HEAD.

After years they get old and hard and leak-down when car has been sitting.(they are a rubber seal)
The smoke "burns-off" once it has disapated from the cylinder.
After driving a bit, the smoke is gone.

Try this troubleshooting technique first before you "tear-down" the engine for a re-build.

 

[Hemi 354]

Definitely agree with the Valve seals approach