Ted's advice on checking each spark plug is spot on. It has always helped me to identify where the oil burn is coming from to locate the part of the valve train that is the problem or a cylinder that has a broken ring. When you say "After about 10 mins of driving, I get a whitesh gray smoke with a definite oil burning smell. Last about 10-20 secs and then goes away." Does it ever come back to smoke again after that during the same drive time? Does it smoke more when you are on the gas or when you are letting off?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Have you ruled out the PCV valve if you are running one? It could be picking up oil depending upon how it's installed.

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Are the heads full of sludge? One possibility is that the oil drain back holes are restricted thus putting an excess of oil down the guides.

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Is the coolant level staying full? If not, then you could be seeing the results of coolant weeping into the engine.

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Another possibility is leakage from the rocker arm oil passage at the head gasket into a cylinder?

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If you have an automatic transmission with a vacuum operated modulator valve, then a bad valve at that point could be pulling ATF up to the engine.

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Examining all the spark plugs may indicate a single cylinder or all cylinders which would also help to pin-point the origins of the smoke. Beyond all that, a compression test or cylinder leak down test may help in determining the problem.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Hey gang,
My 312 started smoking this summer. After about 10 mins of driving, I get a whitesh gray smoke with a definite oil burning smell. Last about 10-20 secs and then goes away. Has happened twice. Thought it could be valve seals but a guy in my club thought it might be a pcv problem. Seems to happened after the thermostat is open.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, I'm kinda stumped on this one. Btw-it's a 1957 Sunliner.
Wes Wells
Columbus, OH


1957ford