'93 GM Blowing Oil Smoke

[Mercury93]

Was driving in stop and go traffic a few minutes ago, wondering if I knew the person behind me, when I hit the gas and was greeted with a massive plume of oil smoke . I thought it was a one time thing like it usually does, but a trail follwed me home. What the hell? There's no sweet smell that would signal antifreeze burning, so we know it's oil. My dad was thinking the rings are bad? Maybe a gasket somewhere down the line? Ideas? Help!!!

[93 Marquis]

Valve seals. It's a common problem on the pre-'96 4.6L motor.

The bad news is that it looks bad. The good news is that you can keep driving it, letting it smoke. Just be sure you keep the oil topped off.

Ray

[gabegt90]

Valve seals. It's a common problem on the pre-'96 4.6L motor.

The bad news is that it looks bad. The good news is that you can keep driving it, letting it smoke. Just be sure you keep the oil topped off.

Ray

x2 valve seals indeed how much oil are you burning right now

[Mercury93]

I'm not sure how much it's actually burning. I check it at least once a week and it's not bad. How much of a task is it to get the valve seals replaced? Thanks, guys.

[theredlineboss]

Valve stem seal replacement is not for the faint of heart. Here is a write up of the process. That one is a bare-bones article, with no pix.
This thread has a couple of links with pix of the process.

-Rob

[Mercury93]

Thanks for the articles. I was just trying to get an idea of how much this was going to set me back in repair bills. It does make things easier when you have a cousin that runs a shop a few blocks away from my school. I think I'm gonna drop by and see what I can find out tomorrow.

[93 Marquis]

I was quoted between $600-700 many years ago.

Another option is to replace the motor. Sometimes you can find a good deal on them. You can use any CV/GM/TC motor from '96-'00 with just a swap of your intake & exhaust manifolds. I was able to pick up a '00 engine & trans from a wrecked civilian-CV with only 13k miles on them for the same price. It was a no brainer.

[Lincolnmania]

if you can wait 2 weeks or so i'm going to be doing valve seals in a 92 4.6......the motor is out of the car which should make it easier......why you ask i dont get a 96+ engine? cause it's a bastard block car

[Grandmarchris]

I have some Felpro seals if you want them

[Lincolnmania]

sure cableguy would appreciate that!

[Mercury93]

Went to my cousin's shop after school. He looked it over and told me to keep track of what fluids it's using and check back in with him. My motor only has 102,850 miles on it. I don't think I need to replace it. He thinks it might be either the piston rings or the valve seals.

[turbo2256b]

Do a compression or leak ddown test and find out for shure

[p71towny]

Its normal, just keep up on the oil. It will eventually take out the O2s and cats, but Ange has learned to live wit it.

[Mercury93]

He looked for blow-by and didn't see any signs of it. What do you mean that it will eventually take out the O2's and cats?

[91waggin]

What do you mean that it will eventually take out the O2's and cats?

Oil smoke is detrimental to Oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.