2000 Camaro LS1 - Blue Smoke

[bts1]

Hello all, need some advice on what/where to look. 2000 Camaro with the LS1 engine. It smokes blue "sometimes" on start up. When you step on it, you get a puff of blue, but it goes away.

I've put a catch can on it, so ruled out the PCV. I haven't done a compression test, so not sure on that yet. What has me confused is on start up. If it was the valve seals, wouldn't it smoke everytime? If if was a ring problem, wouldn't it smoke steadily on WOT?

Thanks in advance....

Excellent forum!!!

[Knight]

Not necessarily. As the motor warms up things begin to seat better, oil circulates better, so you may not have oil being burned as much while the engine is warmer. As long as you're sure it's blue smoke and not black smoke, I'd complete the compression test and see what results you get. Do you need to add oil very often?

[blue02Z]

Valve seals are when after it sits because the oil around the valves has time to seep thru and get into the combustion chambers. Rings would make it smoke most of the time. Like knight said, do you have to add oil?

[67CamaroRSSS]

Valve seals are when after it sits because the oil around the valves has time to seep thru and get into the combustion chambers. Rings would make it smoke most of the time. Like knight said, do you have to add oil?

^This would be my 1st guess.

You need to do a compression test to rule out the ring and/or valves. If compression is good then it's probably valve seals.

[bts1]

Thanks to both of you. I use a quart every 2-3k miles. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and do the compression test. Odd thing though, it doesn't smoke all the time. If it was seals or rings, I would have thought I would see smoke all the time?? Oh ya it's definitely blue smoke!

[konigandy6]

^This would be my 1st guess.

You need to do a compression test to rule out the ring and/or valves. If compression is good then it's probably valve seals.

Agreed. You're getting oil down in the combustion chamber when it sits, 90% of the time is your valve seals... At least from what I've seen.

[bts1]

Thanks, couple more things I should have mentioned ... This happened pretty much overnight and I ended up with a mis-fire on cylinder one around the same time. Does this help at all?

[DaddySS]

Valve seals are a good bet. Start by pulling the pulling the plugs. Generally rings smoke under load, valve seals on deceleration or start up. You should also make sure the fueling is right and you're not washing the cylinders with gas.

Pull the plugs and see what they look like - if they are buring OK, no oil and no soot from being too rich, replace the valve seals.

[Cobra Killer]

Replacing the valve seals is a pretty tough job I would guess on our cars... Considering the engine placement and such and my limited tool selection... Do you have to pull the heads off? Just in case how much for a shop to do this? Mine smoked once too after sitting for about a week and a half so now I am worried as about my LS1 as usual it seems.

[bts1]

Thanks all. Finally did a compression test. It's looking like rings in cylinder 1. All the other cylinders are 155-160. Cylinder 1 is 105, then oil added it bumps to 120. It's starting to use oil now.

So, what do you guys recommend? Can i just replace rings in one cylinder if no other damage? Should I put piston and rings in all? I'm at around 96K miles. What else should I replace if I'm in there?

Not sure of the dollars I'm looking at. Is it going to potentially cost as much as a crate LS1 $2700??

Recommendations?

Thanks again all.....

Todd

[garygnu65]

maybe do a lite hone with new rings.you can replace the valve seals in car,airing up the cylinder like when you change valve springs.

[98maro]

Mine do the same thing.
Some guys here said it could be the Valve seals. (could be)
But at the shop the mechanic told me. It might need new piston rings.
So I guess it's time to rebuild it

[bts1]

Update for everyone. I ended up getting a good deal on a used LS1 with low miles. Couple of questions. The LS1 I purchased was from a standard trans car, I have an automatic. What do I need to do? Do I swap wiring harnesses from engine to engine to continue to use my automatic or are there other options? I'm thinking of selling the old LS1, what are your thoughts? Is it worth selling, if so, how much should I ask? The motor will need a bit of work, I'm thinking valve seals and possibly rings?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

[Blue_01_Z28]

if your just swapping the motor there is no need for any wiring. Just use your tranny and and components. Drop the 6 speed flywheel and pressure plate. Use what your motor has, torque converter automatic flywheel. I'd say thats about all you need.