VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 Smokes Hot - first trip after sitting years

I was able to get the 31 coupe out on the road today more than just around the block. Fresh 30wt in engine and 600w in trans and rear. After it warms up it starts to smoke. You can smell it as oil and admittedly the tail pipe has oily residue. Seems to smoke a little as you are going down the road, but it is super noticeable when at a stop and a little off idle (a little off idle with no load). Grounding cylinders shows similar contribution from each. Plugs were new when I got the car and none really show more wet than others. Is this a sign of a cracked head. I have read a lot of the threads about smoke and cracks, but most seem to focus on cooling system. I drove it about 35 miles top speed between 35-45 and the temp gauge never ran more than slightly past center with no other signs of overheating. Oil pressure started off about 8 but seemed to sit around 5psi once warm. fuel gauge does not seem to work. From time to time seemed to spit (backfire) from carb but I have not taken the carb apart yet to see what could be in it from sitting. Previous owner luckily drained fuel before storing and the tank looks good inside. Feels like a good first outing with the smoke as my biggest worry but with no experience would love to hear what others think.

Could be a lot of oil and "stuff" burning out of the muffler. This would clear up in 5 miles of driving.

What was it like when it was last driven?

I agree with Gene in that I think that if there isn't any knocking, and it sounds smooth mechanically, you should drive it for a while and see if it clears up.

Previous owner said it had only been driven about 5 miles a year for last 10 years. The car was his fathers and he drove it once a year to a local old timers show. The son did tell me it smoked and got worse as it heats up. I drove it about a mile four or five times over the last few weeks as I started to bring it back to roadworthy. This last trip was about 35 five miles cruising in third most of the time. I would have thought 25 - 30 miles would have cleared out anything from sitting. Hopefully I will get a chance to take it out on a few more 20-30 mile runs over the next week just a little concerned that it smokes so much more just off idle but not under laod.. I will try to update after a few more runs.

As for the smoke, sure sounds like an old Chevy to me. The rings did not have a lot of tension, the valve guides had no seals, much of the lubrication inside the engine was by a "fog" of oil splashed up by the dippers. This was the norm for the era. People are used to modern cars that are spotless and heavily emission controlled. You could spend several thousand dollars on an engine and have exactly the same result. Or you could just enjoy it as is.

Tell you what. How about $1,000 sight unseen for that smokey, smelly, old beat up Chevy? Come to think of it maybe you should pay me to get such an environmentally unfriendly scrap yard refugee off the road. Most Americans would figure it probably has 2 wheels in the wrecking yard already, and is "unsafe at any speed". We could send it in to make yet another Hyundai, or Subaru. After all its just another old Chevy.

Just kidding. Get the windshield riser working to clear out the cab and the driving will be much more enjoyable.

Just as a point of reference my '31 oil pressure runs about 5 psi at idle, 10 at speed and is rock solid.

That is mormal oil pressure. The only part that gets the full oil pump pressure in a 1931 engine isthe cnter main bearing. All other points get low pressure.
You could try soaking the ring by removing the spark plugs and inserting about an ounce or two of Marvel Mystery oil into each cylinder and nor starting the engine for a couple of days.

I agree with Gene... i would soak the rings for a few days.
sounds like you have some oil blow by. should not be burning oil.

just remember when you do fire it up after a few days it is going to smoke like crazy burning off that MMO !!

Thanks for all the comments and insight. Admitedly this is my first pre war machine and I do not want to hurt the "smokey, smelly, old beat up Chevy". I feel alot better that the oil pressure seems normal and no one feels it has a terminal ailment. Thanks for the help.