Break In

[JonnyOnTheBeach]

I just dropped a 350 bored .30 in my s-10 and I have about 2,500 miles on the engine. I know that while breaking in an engine it tends to burn more oil for an extended period of time. However, I noticed I was a quart low and about 450 miles later I am a quart low again. Is this normal? I haven't found any leaks on the outside. After realizing I was losing so much oil I started to pay careful attention when starting and I noticed a little smoke comes out of my left exhaust, but it doesn't seem blue and stops soon after. Should I be planning on pulling the engine and checking the seals? Also, if it is burning oil, can I simply check the spark plugs to see if they are blacker than usual and would that be a good indication that I'm f***ed?

Thanks,
Jonny

[big dave]

your rings haven't sealed yet. Take it out, cruise along at 30mph in 2nd gear, then nail the throttle till you get to 60, then back off completely and coast down to 30 again. Do that six or seven times and it should help the rings seal..

[JonnyOnTheBeach]

Thank you Big Dave, I've done that a few times but I'll try it again and I do it 6 or 7 times. I'll enjoy doing it too :)!!
Thanks,
Jonny

[Dimemaster]

Smoking as you describe sounds like valve stem seals. Did you put new seals in? Was the valve stem/valve guide clearance within spec?

White smoke may indicate a cracked block. Check for oil film on top of the coolant in the radiator.

Full throttle in second gear won't seat your rings, either. It will just cause a lot of blow-by and blow lots of oil fumes through the PCV system.

Yes, blacker plugs may indicate which cylinder(s) is(are) burning oil.

[JonnyOnTheBeach]

I did put new seals in and everything is within spec, that I know of. I will check the coolant, but I'm guessing one of the seals just isn't sealing. I haven't checked my plugs yet because I am at school and I don't have any tools, but thanks for sharing your vast knowledge and wisdom.

Jonny

[JonnyOnTheBeach]

So I finally made some time before the Michigan State game yesterday (3-0 squeezed by Notre Dame....Michigan is going down in two weeks) to investigate a little more on my oil crisis. It doesn't look good. It appears there is oil in my coolant and it was a pain to get the truck started. Once I did, there was so much oil coming out of the exhaust it was coating the ground. I plan on taking it home next weekend for an early retirement. Dimemaster, do you think it is a cracked block, or could it still be seals? I had a guy do the head work on it and about three months after having him do it I found out by a bunch of people that the guy hasn't been doing a very good job. If it is seals I can do all that myself, but something more extensive I don't really want to take it back to that guy, but he may offer to do it for free. Would do you suggest for my plan of attack?

Thanks for the Responses,
Jonny

[s10xtremist]

If the "head" guy did a faulty job with you paying, what do you think he'll do for free?

[ZR1BLAZER]

??hopefully fix his mistake?? go luck

[Dimemaster]

No seals exist between oil and coolant. May be a bad head gasket, though. My guess, since there is oil in the coolant, is cracked block. There is no oil under pressure running through the heads. Oil to the valve train travels uo the pushrods. I'm almost willing to bet you have a cracked block.

[DFlynn21]

If you had white smoke on the left exhaust I would check the head gasket on that side first to try and Isolate the problem. You may want to drain the oil and see if there is any coolant that comes out also. This could be the tell-tell sign of blown head gasket or cracked block. I would check the head gaskets first. If you have to pull the engine out, at least your heads will be off. May save you a lot of time and money seeking out the lesser possibility.

[s10tuner86]

i think i would agree with dimemaster on the cracked block, oil in ur coolant is a tough thing to get without something seriously wrong like that

[JonnyOnTheBeach]

I was afraid of that, but the good news is I have a cousin that builds late models and he is going to help me get it up and running again. Now all I have to do is find a block.


Thanks guys,
Jonny

[Boots Crofoot]

The only thing that seats rings is preasure and the only way yoou gonna get preasure is open throttle. Just do it about 12 times.