bit of blue smoke?

paul_c

Hi guys. I've recently replaced the head, balance chain and timing chain on my zafira after my chain broke. As I work at a scrap yard I managed to get a second hand head from a vectra that was driven. The car only had 60k on the clock and the engine run perfectly. I removed the head and fitted it to my zafira with all new gaskets etc. The car is back on the road. Only problem is that if I leave the car on idle for a few minutes then rev it up I get a puff of blue/grey smoke but it clears quickly. I've only done about 7 miles since the rebuild and was wandering if it might just be because its been standing for about 9 months and also because of the work its had done to it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

evocarlos

hey paul
i would try driving the car for a longer journey keeping a eye on you oil level
that would confirm if it was just leftover oil in the system it would soon burn it off

did the car blow any smoke before the chain went and fitting the head ?

it could point to either valve stem seals of piston rings telling which one would be causing the issue is harder than it looks 🙂

paul_c

Hello mate thanks for your help. The car never smoked before I done the work to it and the donor car ran perfectly too. I was thinking it was a bit of oil left over from the work. I'll take it for a good drive tonight and see what happens.

vpm

If this engine has them, would suspect inlet valve seals.

paul_c

Thsnks for the reply. If I leave the car at idle for a about 5 minutes then tap the throttle there's a puff of grey/blue smoke then it clears. It doesn't smoke when driving at all only after its been ticking over for a while. Sometimes the car hesitates slightly on acceleration too. Also it doesn't appear to be using any oil. Someone told me that it could be the egr?

vpm

Could well be, by all means take it off and clean it first it will only benefit from it at at worst will cost you a can of carb cleaner, if the car is running OK i doubt that the EGR has failed but if it is caked in gunk you may get a bit of blue but the symptoms you describe, I.E. ticking over for 5 mins then hit the gas you get a puff of blue smoke, that is a strong symptom of inlet valve seals. When it's ticking over you get a slight dribble of oil that gets past the seals and it steadily builds up until you hit the gas pedal then it burns it off and blows out the exhaust.

vpm

Sorry i think i replied to the wrong post here:whistle: