Burning oil, help

[Deefadog]

Thought I'd start a new topic for this.

My car was running ok, bit of a flat spot, got that sorted by fitting a new distributor as it was leaking oil. Flast spot sorted

But since I had the new distributor it is burning oil! Anyone have anyideas if it a coincidense or that replaceing the distributor has caused this (wrongly fitted or something).

Also the car has always been run on optimax, but the last few weeks i have been putting in normal supermarket unleaded, copuld this be a cause of the dreaded smoke blowing?

Gambit has kindly given me advice on how to check what is wrong, but I just wanted to find out why it happend first.

thanks for any advice

deef

[mk1]

Doubt the distributer will have any bearing on the oil consumption, as long as it is not leaking. Probably valve stem seals  .
Steve.

[Deefadog]

Well it was leaking alot, which was why I had it changed and it also caused major flat spot in the revs!

For a simple explination (cheapest) I have been told it could be the breathers, but I can not find any info on hoe to find them and check them, any ideas, any pics or diagrams?

If it is the valve stem stem seals, are these easy or cheap to do, or is it major work?

Thanks

[mk1]

The engine breather is on the front of the engine, there is a pipe coming from it going to the air filter. Check the pipe is clear and the oil separator is not blocked. Valve stem seals require a fair strip down to change .
Steve.

[Deefadog]

Aha, you mean the straight plastic pipe that's travels along the front of the engine and has rubber pipes attached on either end? I take it that the oil seperator is on the right hand size and has another smaller pipe coming up from the engine.  How do i check it, do i just take it all apart and clean it out with white spirit or something?

Sorry for being cluless

[Gambit]

enigne breather can be seen on this pic

breather

its just to the right of the dipstick, and runs under the top radiator hose, behind the alternator and into the air box

[Deefadog]

Thanks mate, got it.

So just take it off and clean it? if it was blocked, what would it be blocked by, as it's quite large!

Also can you please explain to a non mechanic how the breather works and how it would cause the smoke?

Thanks again

[golfvr6]

Just remove it and clean it.
The way the crankcase ventilation system works is as follows, a hose is attached to either the head or block, this is also attached to the inlet manifold, so with the engine running any oil vapour or blow by past the piston rings(burnt fuel/air mixture) is sucked out and recirculated into the inlet to be burnt.
The main benefits of the system is to prevent oil being broken down quicker by the blow by, and to stop blow by/vapour escaping into the atmosphere.
The reason the hoses get blocked is its inevitable that some oil will be sucked up the hose, so over time sludge can partially block the pipe and make the system suck harder, so more oil gets sucked up through the inlet, causing the smokey exhaust.
Hope that helps  

[mk1]

Good advise '6, only other thing that may be worth checking is the plastic dip stick tube extension is intact and not broken. This is critical as if it gets broken it is hard to accurately check the oil level, may be overfilled .
Steve.

[Deefadog]

Thanks for the explanation, I'll let you know how it goes.

Is there a close up pic of the dip stick someone could take for me so i can compare mine?

Thanks