<VV> Turbo oil smoke

[John Beck]

I've had a similar situation with Total Seal rings.  Try a little 
experiment.  When the engine is in the mood to smoke at idle, adjust the 
timing a few degrees either way and see if that affects the smoking.  --J.B.

Jim Simpson wrote:
> My '66 Corsa turbo has developed a bad habit lately of blowing oil smoke
> while at idle.  (It's definitely exhaust smoke, not a leak.)  Sometimes
> it's enough to take care of the local mosquito population.  It is a bit
> erratic though.  It seems to be worse when the engine is hot idling in
> traffic, but then after a highway drive it can idle in the driveway with no
> visible smoke.  Fellow Corvair owners who have driven behind me haven't
> noticed any significant smoke while cruising.  The overall oil consumption
> doesn't seem to have changed very much, but the smoke is a bit
> embarrassing.
>
> Any suggestions as to cause?  My preliminary guesses are the oil seal on
> the compressor side of the turbo, a bad intake valve stem seal or worn
> valve guide(s).  I haven't run a compression check, but the engine was
> built about 15k miles ago with TRW forged pistons and Total Seal rings and
> hasn't been driven hard.
>
> Does anyone have a good suggestion as to how I could isolate the problem?
> I have a spare turbo with what "should" be a good oil seal.  I may swap to
> find out if that's the problem.  But is there any simple way to check valve
> stem seals without pulling the heads?
>
> Jim Simpson
> '66 Corsa
> Group Corvair
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