engine and drivetrain Help, exhaust down pipe smoking

[72_02]

Hi Guys. Help!

 

Replaced the exhaust manifold studs nuts and gasket. While it was off I figured why not do a graphite spray? Spliplate wasn't available so I went for CRC dry graphite lube, I read on another forum it can be used and rated to 850f. The pipe is smoking more so at the joint than the manifold but still.

 

i can't see any oil burning off anywhere and the nuts are tight. Is it graphite burn off?

 

scared to drive my car!

Edited July 4, 2016 by 72_02

[jgerock]

Any coating applied to the exhaust system will burn off.

 

Make sure to check the valve cover gasket and distributor housing gasket.  Both can allow oil to drip down onto the exhaust and cause smoke signals.

[TobyB]

See if you can interest it in some edibles, instead...

 

t

 

[zinz]

Just let that graphite spray burn off... Then, as Jim G says, check the usual suspects for oil leaks.  Dizzy housing and it's sealing washer are known culprits.  I've also found that the o-ring on the shaft of the distributor can be at fault on some aftermarket distributors. Valve cover gasket is very likely.

 

Step one would be to clean the top, back portion of the engine of all oil accumulation, so you can then see where fresh oil is originating from, and go from there.

 

Ed

[72_02]

Thank you guys.

 

It must be a coincidence that the dizzy is leaking after this work. The graphite doesn't smoke anywhere else. It's only right under the dizzy...

 

Which has oil all over the back of it perfectly aligned to drip down and feed that exhaust joint oil to smoke. Also a cable tie around the shaft?! The last mechanic was definitely pro cable ties. Exhaust also held in by them. Unreal.

 

the dizzy also had a tonne of play in it, so maybe my next project is replace that, gasket and o ring and hopefully I can at last drive it.

 

Pic below. I'm sure the housing or shaft shouldn't be that dirty. I'm guessing the cable tie was to try stop oil!

 

Chris.

 

 

Edited July 4, 2016 by 72_02

[72_02]

[72_02]

Was I a complete dork to install manifold nuts onto the studs with a little grease to help? They are so tight otherwise. I'm thinking that it's also probably burning.

 

 

[TobyB]

Most excellent pictures. 

So good, in fact, that I can see that the far top bolt in the second

pic is missing the sealing washer that keeps it from leaking.

 

So while the dizzy might need an o- ring, that bolt also needs a seal, and I'd start there.

The factory way was with a rubber- lined brass washer, but anything like a stat-o-seal

will work.  It could even be a crush washer, but it'd have to be a soft one.

 

I'd do that first, clean it up well, and stick a bit of rag into the slot in the bottom of the

distributor housing.  If the rag gets soaked, swap the dizzy o- ring.

If it stays mostly dry, I'd say you've gotten it.

 

hth

 

t

 

[TobyB]

And don't worry too much about smoke-

yes, the oil and grease LOOK awful, but they burn off

in a hurry once you get the engine under load.  I know

we're all supposed to panic when we see smoke, but

with hot engines and fresh stuff on manifolds, it's really common.

 

t

 

[72_02]

18 minutes ago, TobyB said:

Most excellent pictures. 

So good, in fact, that I can see that the far top bolt in the second

pic is missing the sealing washer that keeps it from leaking.

 

So while the dizzy might need an o- ring, that bolt also needs a seal, and I'd start there.

The factory way was with a rubber- lined brass washer, but anything like a stat-o-seal

will work.  It could even be a crush washer, but it'd have to be a soft one.

 

I'd do that first, clean it up well, and stick a bit of rag into the slot in the bottom of the

distributor housing.  If the rag gets soaked, swap the dizzy o- ring.

If it stays mostly dry, I'd say you've gotten it.

 

hth

 

t

 

Thanks Toby.

 

Yes that bolt is actually a screw mangled to fit in there somehow. It's not even a hex bolt, not quite sure how they managed to fit that one in!

 

Cheers, will give stat o seal a go. 

[jimk]

Isn't the dizzy sitting too high.  The o-ring around the dizzy should be down in the housing below the clamping split.

[72_02]

16 minutes ago, jimk said:

Isn't the dizzy sitting too high.  The o-ring around the dizzy should be down in the housing below the clamping split.

 

I think the height is okay that's the cable tie thrown around it by the previous mechanic. Still yet to learn its purpose. 

 

Regardless the rotor has a bunch of up down play so I'll have to rip it apart and fix next.

[nbcbird]

I'd also suggest getting a longer bolt and new nut/wavy washer to secure/clamp the distributor.  About two threads holding it now.  

[jimk]

3 hours ago, 72_02 said:

cable tie thrown around it by the previous mechanic

It fooled me!

Edited July 4, 2016 by jimk