Smoking

[l3n]

Damn, that's lame...hope you get your stuff back.



The way I figure it, the spark test helps let you know if you need to check the rods in the first place. A compression test is definitive for determining cylinder trouble, but it doesn't automatically point to the cause. A bent valve can kill the compression in one cylinder, but it will keep on clacking with the spark test. Or he could have a blown head gasket, and cracked flexplate.

I know you hate "what ifs," but the spark test is so quick and simple, I like to give it a whirl and see if I can save myself a little time.

A compression test is absolutely a good idea - any time you have engine issues that point to an internal problem, you should check the compression. But other tests can be useful for pinpointing where to look too.

 

[CobraSix]

If you have a knock...or a tick. Check your rockers. Pull the valve cover off and see if any of the rods are lose. if they are, then readjust that rod (or shim if you don't have adjustable rockers).

I know the pulling wire trick. It's the easiest and fastest way to narrow down which cylinder is acting up for what ever reason. Spark, fuel, compression, etc. I don't rev, I just listen and monitor engine RPM and gauge relative drop. If you pull a wire and it doesn't drop by much, then that cylinder is having some sort of problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I just ran it with the cover off. Im not worried about the ticking. you can barely hear it.

Im just trying to figure out where all the smoke is from. When i ran it with the cover off, it looked like all the smoke was coming out from the back half of the engine.

 

[Bort62]

You really aren't going to figure out anything else until you do a compression check.

 

[JackFish]

If it's leaking any oil out the back of the valve cover it could go down onto the bell/tranny and smoke.

 

[l3n]

I just ran it with the cover off. Im not worried about the ticking. you can barely hear it.

Im just trying to figure out where all the smoke is from. When i ran it with the cover off, it looked like all the smoke was coming out from the back half of the engine.

Blowby from a sloppy ring. The rear of the engine runs the hottest and leanest, so that's probably where it's coming from.