Help with oil smoking

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Jun 30, 2005 | 06:56 PM

tastyklair

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From: Eastern Pa

Help with oil smoking

My 390 is burning oil on the drivers side only. Only about 3000 miles on engine. I pulled the intake to make sure it was sealing and it seemed to be fine. Made sure the pcv was working properly and it is. Pulled some plugs and I know #8 was fouling and some of the others were not looking too good either on that side. Where should I go from here and what tests would be most beneficial to figure out where I should go next. Please don't make me have to pull a head. Well if I have to.

Jun 30, 2005 | 08:37 PM

fordeverpower

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From: iowa

with 3000 miles theres no excuse for much. Some possible causes bad valve seals, worn guides, worn ring/broken ring, a bad valve will let oil blow out the exhaust. I would try a vacuum, compression, and leakdown test.

I am curious do you have headers on your 79? If so,what are they? I am looking to get some but want to make sure they will fit.

Jun 30, 2005 | 08:40 PM

Hypoid

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From: Golden, CO

Re-torque the head?

Jun 30, 2005 | 09:12 PM

tastyklair

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From: Eastern Pa

My 79 is not the one with the 390 in it. The 390 is in the 73 4x4 4spd. I think they were just dynomax headers. Hypoid, why retorque the head? An oil passage not sealed off? If I were to try that should I just retorque as it sits or break them loose first and then retorque?

Jun 30, 2005 | 09:18 PM

fordeverpower

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From: iowa

there is no oil passages that I know of. The oil drainbacks are on the end of the heads, (intake manifold side).

Jul 1, 2005 | 07:23 PM

Hypoid

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From: Golden, CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastyklair

Hypoid, why retorque the head? An oil passage not sealed off? If I were to try that should I just retorque as it sits or break them loose first and then retorque?

It's kind of a Hail Mary in the hope of not having to pull the head. You would think that other problems would be present also. Last time I had to go there (stud mounted heads) I had to break the bolts loose and run through the sequence again, check the breakaway torque to see if anything is comparatively loose.

Check the valve seals, especially on #8. Umbrella seals have been known to let oil past when they are submerged.