Help please but not a ford

Bigstang1

Founding Member
Aug 28, 2002
415
0
16
Massachusettes
My girlfriend bought a 89 firbird (not a ford i know but its better than the eclipse she wanted) with the 305 tbi engine. It runs real good and has plenty of power but the only problem is that when she starts it up, quite a bit of blue smoke comes out the pipes. I know its buring oil but is it from the rings or the valve seals? I dont think it smokes any or at all when you jump on it...just when you start it. I know there is one that is prone to smoking only on startup but i cant remember if its rings or valve seals. im thinking valve seals since the oil will want to seep throw the valve seals when sitting rather than come up through the rings. thanks for the help guys any advice on what to do here would be great and sorry for the long post.
 
305s are prone to valve seals cracking. they use the cheap plastic ones.
when you change them out get a couple bottles of exon fuel system cleaner to run through, it will take off the caked on oil on the valves and help how th car runs.

11sec87
formerly 79 monte 305/70elcamino 454
 
i was thinking about buying a set of rebuilt heads for the car rather than rebuilding the heads. I was wondering if the HO 305 heads will work. there is a fresh rebuilt set on ebay for 200 right now. Its not a rush tho because she dont have alot of money right now anyway.
 
yea i was thinking of trying some of that but i was told that it wouldnt work. Maybe i will try some of the cheap stuff. OIL TREATMENT. it smells like lucas and its the same consistancy. I put it in my cadi to make it run smoother till i get to those motor mounts :rlaugh:
 
doesnt quaker state or some brand have high milage oil that is supose to re-condition the valve seals? saw it on tv might want to try that. My father told me if it burns more than a quart every oil change something is wrong. so before you go spending 200 on some new heads and put hours of sweat and cuss words into it. guage how much oil it is burning and use that valve conditioning oil. COOL??????
 
yea she hasnt even put 1000 miles on it yet, but it hasnt used any oil according to the dip stick since shes had it, but i will keep an eye on it. I figured just replaceing the heads will give me new valve seals anyway without the hassle of rebuilding the heads. Is replacing valve seals hard? do the opther parts have to replaced too such as valves etc.? thanks
 
it depends on the condition of the heads you might find a warped valve while you are in there. most of the time they should be fine i know alot of people replace the valve seals and springs and give em a port job while they are at it but......................... for you since it isnt eating any oil i wouldnt worry about it. maybe you should try to get a engine flush on it. they are about 70 or 80 dollars and they hook it up to a machine and it sucks all the sludge and deposits all the way to the valve covers.might want to look into that.
 
Well, if it bothers you having it smoke on startup, seals can be replaced with the heads on the car... You pressurize the cylnder with air and remove the retainers and replace the seals. If the guides are bad, that would be a problem...

Guides will generally smoke upon deceleration, and rings will generally smoke upon acceleration. If it's only at startup, seals may likely be the culprit.

I have an 89 4.3 blazer with 240k on it. it has smoked a bit on startup since I bought it at 165k. Ehh... I just let it smoke. hehe..