Topic: 20r smoking from exhaust

[Yotaoverland]

My 20r was rebuilt about a year ago by a local japanese engine shop. Even after the rebuild it had a bit of blowby at higher rpm. I eventually got
tired of oil coming out of the front breather filter on the valve cover pictured below

A few weeks ago I took the breather filter off and routed a hose in place to circulate the excess oil back into the intake.. as shown below...

Since then the engine seems to have deteriorated. I've experienced some weird symptoms. Vibrations at certain rpms and recently its began
smoking (burning oil). Did I completely trash an already motor?
Here is a short video of it idling.
https://youtu.be/dcp683OZyZg
I've thought of reinstalling a breather filter and hoping that its just the excess oil thats getting burned.. Worse case scenario is I burned up the rings somehow..

[H8PVMNT]

I may be wrong but I think the only thing the oil would do is foul up your plugs.  I would check out your plugs and see how they look, replace if they are crusty.

My 1980 pickup is original and a lot of oil makes it past the really worn out rings.  I switched to one step hotter plug on that engine and it makes the plugs last a bit longer.

[Yotaoverland [OP]]

I may be wrong but I think the only thing the oil would do is foul up your plugs.  I would check out your plugs and see how they look, replace if they are crusty.

My 1980 pickup is original and a lot of oil makes it past the really worn out rings.  I switched to one step hotter plug on that engine and it makes the plugs last a bit longer.

Gotcha. I'll check that out. In the mean time, I went to autozone and got another breather filter and put that back as it was.. now it appears the front main seal is dumping oil... sheesh..
it's 22r time...

[Snowtoy]

The shop could have not offset a set of rings on a piston, or mic'd the cylinder bore wrong or thought it was close enough to be left alone, a partially closing valve can also cause it to smoke some. 

I would do a compression test/leak down test, and see what the cyls. are doing, if low or off, do a valve adjustment and see what the results are..

The amount of smoke you have, is that on start-up or all the time, just when cold, or even when hot?  What does it smell like?

[Yotaoverland [OP]]

The shop could have not offset a set of rings on a piston, or mic'd the cylinder bore wrong or thought it was close enough to be left alone, a partially closing valve can also cause it to smoke some. 

I would do a compression test/leak down test, and see what the cyls. are doing, if low or off, do a valve adjustment and see what the results are..

The amount of smoke you have, is that on start-up or all the time, just when cold, or even when hot?  What does it smell like?

After removing the front hose and placing a breather filter back on the pcv valve, it seems to have stopped smoking. I assume that hose was routing excess oil back into the intake and burning it.

[Gnarly4X]

After removing the front hose and placing a breather filter back on the pcv valve, it seems to have stopped smoking. I assume that hose was routing excess oil back into the intake and burning it.

Are those filters K&N?

Gnarls.

[Snowtoy]

After removing the front hose and placing a breather filter back on the pcv valve, it seems to have stopped smoking. I assume that hose was routing excess oil back into the intake and burning it.

Is this back to the first pic, or is the current set-up the 2nd pic?  The first pic with the breather is correct, it is supposed to draw in filtered air from the air cleaner.

With oil being pushed out the front filter, that is usually a sign the PCV valve isn't working correctly, have you checked the PCV?  The valve is cheap, under $5.  You might also check to make sure air flows between the two ports on the valve cover.

[Yotaoverland [OP]]

Are those filters K&N?

Gnarls.

Nope, just some crappy one from autozone.

[Yotaoverland [OP]]

Is this back to the first pic, or is the current set-up the 2nd pic?  The first pic with the breather is correct, it is supposed to draw in filtered air from the air cleaner.

With oil being pushed out the front filter, that is usually a sign the PCV valve isn't working correctly, have you checked the PCV?  The valve is cheap, under $5.  You might also check to make sure air flows between the two ports on the valve cover.

Oh, I haven't checked the pcv valve actually. I'll look at that. I have wondered about that though.

[redneckcustoms13]

When I ran a weber my base plate for the air cleaner had a fitting in it and I ran a hose from the front vent on valve cover to it and the blow by would be drawn through the carb like the factory air cleaner would. By you tying the vent and pcv valve together you were not allowing the crank case pressure to properly vent. Therefore you now have a front seal leak. The little filter you put on there will always have oily residue on it. Just route it to the air cleaner (not a vacuum port on the intake) and you should be just fine.

[MrFatEggs]

I would install an oil catch can on it as well. They catch alot of oil on the worn out 20/22rs. They are cheap and you can get them on eBay for about $10.