Blowing smoke

["Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>]

Kerry,

 

I am running now the cheapest 40 W I can find - 84 cents a quart from the supermarket.  I have found my smoking problem has all but gone.  I do have a leak at the flange between the exhaust manifold and the main pipe and this is not as bad as it was.  Changing the timing helped a lot, and dumping out the mish mash of oils I dumped in their when I was in Dallas.  The car is running close to acceptably now.  Very close.  Only the slightest leak also.  Amazing.

 

Here's a funny thing, I hope.  When I saw the letters HD I thought they stood for Heavy Duty.  I am informed they really stand for High Detergent.  Oops!

 

I do have to pull the starter, unfortunately.  When I get back the 92 Chrysler from the repair shop, hopefully on Friday, I can stand Mrs. B. down from her service as a daily driver and get to doing more futzing than I feel is safe to do at this point in my tragic trajectory.

 

I am of Irish extraction and call my approach field engineering.  If you were in a Model A in 1929 stuck miles from anywhere, what would you do to get home?  This perspective keeps me grounded to the realities that a guy probably without much education much this thing together and such folks are the ones we pay big money to fix 'em.  I'm not disparaging their skills.  I'm just saying they can be acquired with determination.

 

Hugh

 

----- Original Message -----

From: KerryPinkerton

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 7:00 PM

Subject: Re: IML: S.N.A.F.U.

Hi Hugh,  Can't document why this works and I know there will be some people who will say I'm full of it.  However, in my experience a smoking engine can be reduced GREATLY by going to single weight non-detergent.  My personal favorite is Vavoline 50W racing oil.  I've had cars that ran for years with no problems other than slightly harder to start when it's VERY COLD.  In my experience, multigrades will smoke more.  Can't explain it but I know what I see...

Kerry