That guide looks pretty handy although I'm sure I can still stuff it up! I guess if I can get the bus to work I might aswell clean up all my inlet mani/rocker cober etc - I guess if I just do the stem seals etc that should be enough to stop it smoking / oil burning yeah? quick Q how can you tell weather it's stem seals or ring lands for example? (bare in mind I've no power loss and as far as I can see it's smoking mainly while at idle in traffic etc)
Cheers Rich.
Usually, the stem seals will leak down whenever the car is idle. So if you park the car overnight, then start it in the morning and there's a big cloud of smoke, it usually indicates stem seals. The same rule applies if you are sat at a set of traffic lights and go to pull away, and there is an accompanying cloud!
I test rings using a compression tester. Do a dry compression test, then put a teaspoon of oil down the spark hole and repeat (this is called a wet compression test). If the compression is noticeably higher - its a sign the rings are worn.
Stem seals are quick and easy. Rings require a reasonable amount of strip-down, honing, de-glazing and possible re-boring (not so much of a DIY job).
