Thread: Newly rebuilt fe390 still smoking after intake redo. Leak Down Test? Wrong pcv valve

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I just wanted to add that I took readings from the other cylinders on the driver's side. #7 and #8 cylinders were showing about 25% loss which is pretty good but what's puzzling is #5 cylinder showed only 22% loss and there was also air coming through the dipstick tube. Maybe because it's the cylinder closest to the tube. I did another test on 6 and still get 35% loss with just air coming from the dipstick tube and breather hole. I understand that I should be getting some air through these 2 places to some degree if the valves are doing their job and sealing properly. The air has to escape through the tube and breather hole I would think as there is going to be some loss of air no matter what. The Bon Ami idea is starting to look better. I think that this test is at least showing that my valves are all working and sealing properly. I was told by the previous owner who built the engine to set the valves at 18 intake and 20 exhaust.

Do yourself a favor. It's about 165 miles from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. Tomorrow morning fill your car with gas, and hit the road east, preferably on something like FL 90 vs I10 - stay off of the interstate highway. As you drive through the countryside, vary your speed, not sticking to a set speed limit, and as you leave the little towns and have legal freedom, accelerate briskly up to the speed limit and then continue varying speeds. Go on through Jacksonville to the coast, maybe down to St Augustine, and find a nice spot to have lunch by the ocean. After a nice lunch, reverse direction and head home, following the same pattern. Friday when you get up, fill the tank and hit the road again, but maybe head down FL 27 to Tampa, following the same pattern of varying speeds, but include a few hard runs at WOT as you leave towns and get up to the speed limit. It's about 275 miles to Tampa, so enjoy a late lunch and head home, then maybe enjoy dinner along the way home. On Saturday start it up and take it out for a cruise, and see how your oil smoke is doing. If you're still totally focused on a little bit of smoke, use the Bon Ami trick and if that doesn't work sell the car and buy something that makes you happy. Life's too short to continue the way you're going.

I would personally at this point (even earlier) to remove engine and go thru it completely. New rings, bearings, cam bearings, recond rods , correct bolts, torque plate hone cylinders ( possibly to bigger size) align hone, deck block square to crank bore----- looks like in pics you have GT or CJ headers with 4 bolt flange and all bolts don't even look fully engage plus some discoloration on some parts of head and bolts, throttle pull needs to be redone----

Another tip------since you have pretty well proven that its rings sealing, plus other areas of questionable work---------an method of rapid ring seating used by pro stock racers back in early 70s--------put the rear end up on jackstands ( some that will not fall over) and run the engine up thru the rpms a few times--------while applying the brakes!!!!!!!!!!!! this will allow you to put a controlled load on the engine while its reving up----you will have to watch brake temps back there so maybe can only do 2 or 3 before cooling off-----and this is a strong load , not just dragging the brakes a little-------

All I've heard you complain about is a little smoke from one side, and you've confirmed with the leak down test that your rings aren't seated fully. Sure, you can tear it down and start over, but if it were in my garage I'd be taking it out and driving the P!SS out of it for the summer, and if it's still smoking in September buy a new engine from one of the reputable FE specialists out there and start again when it warms up. Oh, forgot you're in Tallahassee - drive it until it quits smoking, or you get sick of it and then buy the new, fully assembled and tested engine.
Sorry, but the answer just seems so logical to me. I'm done, and won't post here again.

Thanks everyone for your replies. No I won't be breaking it down any time soon. I took it out today for a good run and had a lot of fun as I always do when driving it. I'm going to put a few hundred more miles on it and then take some more readings just to see if they're any changes for the better. THe main thing here that I was concerned about is that this engine wasn't smoking in the beginning when it was just starting out getting broke in. This developed after the first couple hundred miles. Maybe this is normal. This is my first rebuild and I have learned a lot from everyone. Thanks for the knowledge you have shared with me. Good Karma coming your way. Thanks for putting up with my ignorance. I hope others will benefit from this.

Thanks Denny. I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep driving.

Mic up your Cylinders and Pistons to be sure they are within specs.