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Creeping cause for concern...

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Nunyas

Nunyas

Yoda
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I've been doing a lot of work on my car lately. Granted most of it has been on aesthetics (new carpet, seat covers, etc). However, after I was done dry fitting the HS6 this past weekend, I disassembled the ZS manual choke conversion, and reset it to work properly. When I started up the engine with the crank case ventilator disconnected from the stock ZS carb, I noticed a couple of puffs of white smoke come from the tube. At the time my primary concerned was getting the hose firmly attached to the carb, so I only made a mental note and continued with my work. I also noted an oily residue in the throat of the ZS, and that minute amounts of oil is weeping out around the head gasket area.

Then lastnight, when I started up the B to go home, I noticed there were some puffs of light colored smoke coming from the exhaust while the choke was applied. I'm not 100% certain on the color, but I know it wasn't black. So it could have been white or possibly blueish.

Over the past couple of days, the smoke has been eating away in the back of my mind. In the best case scenario, I'm thinking the smoke in the exhaust is because I may have over filled the dash pot. In the worst case scenario, I may be getting blow-by in the cylinders. Because of the puffs I saw from the crank venting, I'm worried it may end up being a complete bottom end rebuild. This stuff just isn't sitting with me well, since this is my only car.

Anyone have any alternative opinions on what may cause puffs of smoke to come from the crank breather tube?
 
When I top off my H4s....I do get a bit of blue smoke but, it burns off after a short drive.

And sometimes, when it's damp outside, I'll get a little water vapor out the exhaust on start-up.

I wouldn't sweat it as long as you have good oil pressure and aren't leaving a cloud of blue smoke.
 
I definitely still have good oil pressure (50 at idle on start up, and 60-75 while under way), and I definitely do not have a smoke trail while driving down the road. Which is why I didn't post and ask for opinions earlier. Unfortunately, it did start eating away at my concerns while it was sitting on the back burner.

The thing with the smoke yesterday is what ~really~ started me thinking, because it wasn't "cool". We had a high of 90 something yesterday. It was decidedly cooler by the time I left for home, but not so cool that vapors from the exhaust would have been normal, IMO.

Anyways, thanks for the opinion. I think I'll try not worry about it too much, but at the same time I think I'll keep a closer eye on pressures, and fluid levels for the time being.
 
My Dad's old 8N tractor has a draft tube that gets "sump cheese"....

Caused by moist air getting sucked into the engine when the hot/dry air inside the block contracts as it cools.

This water vapor filled air reacts w/ the oil and forms white sludge that collects around the tube.

And the vapor is expelled when he starts the tractor after lunch.

I think it's kinda the same thing going on when you saw it coming out of the pipe.

I'm thinking the air inside a running engine is well over the boiling point of water.
 
ah... I think I see now.
 
If your oil consumption is less than a quart in 1K miles, you have a long way to go before you have concerns. Condensation in the exhaust can occur with a 50% relative humidity on short runs (not up to normal operating temp for at least 15 minutes). Don't swet it unless you're towing a cloud. Your O/P is fine, check plugs for any tell-tale traces of "odd" conditions periodically. It'll 'talk' to ya.
 
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