Hi peeps. Need some help. I have a MK4 XR3i. Its a late model with EFi. It has been sat in my garage for about 3 months while I do some little bits and pieces to it.
Before I stopped using it I noticed that it smoked a little while just after start up for around 5 minutes. I asked my friendly garage type bloke and he said that it was probably the valve stem oil seals in need of replacement. So I thought "ok, ill work towards overhauling the whole head and replacing all the gaskets, cam belt and put in a performance cam/pulley etc, all at the same time"
I then turned over the engine the other day and after the usual probs of flat battery syndrome , noticed that now the exhaust is smoking all the time and it is slightly blue in colour. Any ideas anyone?

 

Did you change the valve stem seals?

Have you checked your bottom end? sounds like maybe rings are worn?

Easiest way to check is to take the crank case breather off the back of the rocker cover but stick your thumb over the end of the pipe you remove [or the engine'll cut out ]

If there's white gas coming out the hole, you got a crankcase issue and its quite likely the piston rings are worn and you're getting some blow by, but worst case block/bores need attention.

 

I didnt change the seals cos i was gonna do a load of stuff all at one go cos it made sense at the time.

 

Then while the heads off, get the block, shells and rings checked as well

 

Before doing all that, i suggest flushing your engine oil with some anti-slugde (like stp or similar)... on my engine it solved a lot of problems including your's...

sticky piston rings in my opinion, if the engine didnt smoke before, is the most probably cause!

before that, i also did emptied a hole can of carb cleaner into the intake with the engine running without stalling...

after that, new filter and new good quality oil...

good luck

 

Mine dosnt have smoke coming out of it, it has oil i no its been standing for 5 years whats the best oil to use and should i use a flush aswell as it ticks badly!! Any help would be appriciated thanks

 

Just get it nice and warm and do a oil/filter etc service on it, use a 5W40 should be ok, tappets may quieten with a bit of use as thinner hotter oil gets through them.
tabetha

 

Right okay thanks. Do you think after being on the road and getting used a little bit that the oil spitting out of the exhaust will stop??

 

Then while the heads off, get the block, shells and rings checked as well