Re: Smoke question...and low[?] oil pressure
Hi,
Seeing oil pushing out of a few places like that, you might want to check the PCV or "Positive Crankcase Ventilation" valve. If it's not doing its job, pressure can build up and force oil out through gaskets and vents. The same pressure can push some oil into the cylinders, past rings or valve guides, where it burns, usually producing bluish smoke out the tail pipe. This is more likely the hotter the engine is and the thinner the oil, such as at highway speeds.
Being your car is a '79, it should have a number of emission control and a closed breathing circuit. Is anything missing, perhaps removed by a previous owner? This might be a source of problems.
It could be that the aftermarket valve cover cap is actually intended for an earlier, non-emission-controlled car and shouldn't have a hole in it, and might always leak a little. I don't know about this, though. You'd have to compare with a "correct" oil filler cap and see if that's vented too (one of the vendors might be able to tell you).
All this may be related to the "smoke" you saw. However, oil getting into the cylinders would normally make bluish smoke, not white. It would be helpful if you could get someone to follow you on the freeway and watch the tail pipe, try to see if that's actually where the smoke is coming from, or if it's coming out from elsewhere under the car and confirm the color carefully. It could be the oil on the header or as simple as something was painted recently or there are some vapors "cooking off" new-ish parts.
However, with white "smoke" I'd primarily be concerned about a coolant leak, either internal or external, and would keep an eye on the level in the radiator (or expansion tank if there's one on the car). This might indicate a head gasket leak, allowing coolant into a cylinder, in which case the white smoke would come out the exhaust pipe. Usually when the head gasket is leaking, there is a puff of white smoke out the tail pipe when the car is first started, after it's sat overnight. It could also be coolant leaking from a hose or even a pinhole in the radiator leaking steam or spraying some liquid onto a hot header or hot exhaust system, where it turns to steam. A close watch of the coolant level will tell you if there is a problem.
You mentioned noticing some odor, too. That might give a clue, depending on whether it smells like oil, fuel or anti-freeze.
Yes, the second set of oil pressure numbers sounds pretty good. Watch what it does fully warmed up on the freeway, too. Also, "pegged at 100" at cold start might actually be too high and indicate a pressure release isn't working. I am not all that familiar with Spits, but most other TRs have a release/bypass in the oil system that prevents more than about 75-80 psi when the oil is cold. Here's another possibile reason you are seeing leaks and smoke. But, it could also be unrelated and might be as simple as the oil pressure gauge not being very accurate and giving an incorrect reading.
I don't think you mentioned what type oil you are using? 20w50?
Keep us posted what you find.
p.s. I'm curious about yellow smoke, too! LZ? Landing Zone?
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