Could be time to sell up !

[Spirit]

Recently had a few occassions where some puffs of blue tinted smoke have appeared on tick over. My local friends at AP have made an initial guess at possibly valve stems (same as you Andy).

Funnily enough, the owners son has also told me he wants to buy the car and has offered a reasonable price. And he is even happy to buy it if the engine goes bang, as he would rebuild it stronger from scratch but of course pay me a lot less for the car.

Maybe it's time to sell up while I have a reasonable offer for her ?

[The Vee]

Would be sadly missed - even my wife likes the look of that car. Now that is praise indeed - bless her !!
More importantly though, would you replace with another VR4 or somtin' else

[Spirit]

If I did take the leap and sell her I doubt it would be for another VR4 - to be honest I don't think I would feel the same about another one and finances currently would not allow what I would like - an R34 GTR :$

Gonna wait and see what happens on track Monday and car is booked in with AP for next Friday to replace discs and pads and do a bit more investigating - they mentioned a compression test.

[The Vee]

compression test will check for worn piston rings/bores and badly seating or burnt valves. will be interested to hear results - keep me posted.

[Spirit]

The reckoned it's not the piston rings as they revved the engine to approx 3k and held it there, they said that after a minute or so the smoke would be getting worse if it was piston rings but there was none

[The Vee]

Yep I'd go along with that. My initial guess from what I saw would still be valve stem seals but it's like everything else - can't be certain till you start proper testing and pulling apart if necassary.

[KiwiTT]

Do you think any of the "Mods" you have done affected the engine reliability ?

[Spirit]

I don't think so Richard, and to be honest she still sounds and drives as sweet as ever. Just normal wear and tear I reckon.

[Kieran]

Stem seals aren't really that serious, are they? The CVH engine in my old escort was notorious for them leaking.... Mind you, I suppose that it's not as straightforward on the VR-4?...

My honest, unedited opinion is that after spending all that cash on it, you'd be crazy to sell up because your stem seals are leaking. I'd get 'em fixed. As Alex always warns me, you could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire if you get another car....

[The Vee]

Stem seals aren't really that serious, are they? The CVH engine in my old escort was notorious for them leaking.... Mind you, I suppose that it's not as straightforward on the VR-4?...

My honest, unedited opinion is that after spending all that cash on it, you'd be crazy to sell up because your stem seals are leaking. I'd get 'em fixed. As Alex always warns me, you could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire if you get another car....

Seconded

[Nick VR4]

its horses for courses really ...
Whats the price to fix it and does it need it untill it gets really bad ?

[Roadrunner]

Getting the valve stem oil seals fixed will be a whole lot cheaper than buying another car! One of the head gaskets went on my car recently and I had the valve stem oil seals replaced at the same time as the gaskets. With everything cleaned, the "ticking" from the lash adjusters has disappeared too! OK, not a cheap repair with 24 hours labour :eek: but, as I've said, less expensive than buying another car.

Brian

[The Vee]

Burning a little oil is in itself not really much to worry about. However over a period of time it will lead to extra carbon depsits in the engine and these turbo models do run a little hotter. the cat won't appreciate it too much either but that may not be an issue :-D . Don't know on a 6a13 whether seals can be done with heads still in place. Some engines you can. If it is heads off then unfortunately it is quite labour intensive, but a good opportunity to "have a look inside". But this is all supposition at the moment, let's wait and see what the tests reveal.
Andy

[Nick Mann]

My honest, unedited opinion is that after spending all that cash on it, you'd be crazy to sell up because your stem seals are leaking. I'd get 'em fixed.

I agree.

Sorry to hear you've got trouble, Pete, but it may not be a large bill. If you can't afford anything you'd prefer then the only reason to change the car is to save money. Hopefully it is a small problem and you will not even have to think of selling up.

[enigma]

Does Shaz know you are going to sell her car?

[Kieran]

Does Shaz know you are going to sell her car?

:lolz: Ehehehhe! I can hear the "WHAT?!?!?!" from here!

[Brind]

We noticed the smoke at castle combe too, remember me mentioning it?

It was only when you let off that it was smoking, is it doing it all the time now??
I guess removing the cat makes it more apparent as there is nothing to really restrict the gas flow.
I agree with others, get it fixed as the time and effort spent on the car will be waste over something that isn't a 'huge' problem.

Skyline, Kieran grab the firewood! I'll get the matches!!!

[Kieran]

Skyline, Kieran grab the firewood! I'll get the matches!!!

....Hmmm...... R33 GTS-T.... Mmmmm.... Oh, err! What?! Sorry Brind!:$ Err yeah! Firewood! Yeah, I'll err, get right on it, the evil witch him!:$

[nick-f1]

We noticed the smoke at castle combe too, remember me mentioning it?:

At Dartmeet Pete's car only smoked after prolonged idling and I did not notice it at all whilst driving around, so I'd agree its most likely valve guides and no great problem. Dont sell it Pete!!!!!!!

[Brind]

....Hmmm...... R33 GTS-T.... Mmmmm.... Oh, err! What?! Sorry Brind!:$ Err yeah! Firewood! Yeah, I'll err, get right on it, the evil witch him!:$

Getting worried about you mate... before, even the slightest derogatory remark would send you into a witch hunting fit.