This is a follow up to my
oil consumption/burning problem. Still looking for the answer and can really use some help now that I have some good information.
Review: 418 SB, AFR 205, big lumpy cam, dyno 560ish on pump gas.
Oil consumption is excessive at a quart every 200-400 miles. But, the only smoke is on the passenger side and that is wispy smoke and more blue than blackash. It smells like candle wax burning and does not come out in "puffs" like a cylinder burning it and spitting it out. After shut off, a trail of blue kind of dense smoke (but very little, like a cigarette maybe) will trail out of the right side pipe and have that same strange smell.
I put a good baffle in the valve cover over the PCV valve and checked it for sucking
oil and it is now bone dry, so at least that problem is solved.
My gut tells me the oil is not coming past the rings, but is entering the cylinder from above, mostly and hitting the inside of the hot valves and header causing the "unusual" smoke.
It still starts and runs perfect in all respects, including power.
Plugs are strange as well. The two middle plugs on the passenger side are black and have a fuzzy carbon or oil material on them. All others are tan and perfect. Motor is Mass-Flo injected.
I did a compression check this morning and was a bit relieved. All the cylinders are between 200 and 205 dry, after 5 compression strokes. I didn't put any oil in them yet and recheck and I'm not sure I need to but can use some advice on that. Looks to me like the rings are at least holding compression well. Can that happen and still have a couple of broken oil rings?
I'm still leaning toward valve stem seals, but having those two middle plugs black at the same time is a bit confusing to me.
If it stem seals, any chance of fixing those without pulling the head or heads?
I'm ready to move in any direction, including pulling it apart. Pretty easy in a Backdraft, almost nothing is in the way, bottom or top.
All help will be greatly appreciated!!