Blue smoke

[cdahl383]

Picked up my 49 Cub a couple months ago and have been going through it, changing fluids, fixing little things, etc. Starts and runs great. The tractor has always smoked a little on startup but then seems to smoke less as it warms up and gets driven for a while.

It’s blue smoke so likely oil. I changed the oil when I first got it, and after driving it quite a bit over the last couple months the oil is still up to the full mark on the dipstick.

If it’s not using oil, why is it smoking? Coolant is full. If the hydraulic oil was leaking in there it would be over full right? The hydraulics work just fine. Could it be the carb? Running too rich maybe? Not a huge deal but would like to figure it out eventually.

[inairam]

What weight oil are you using? I had has a similar problem before I switch to 15-40

[MiCarl]

It doesn't take much oil to make a lot of smoke.

[NJ Farmer]

Worn piston rings or worn valve guides…..if you took borescope and looked at the top of the pistons and found the “wet” one (or ones) you will find out which cylinder has the problem.

NJ Farmer

[cdahl383]

What weight oil are you using? I had has a similar problem before I switch to 15-40

I'm running straight 30w non-detergent.

[cdahl383]

Worn piston rings or worn valve guides…..if you took borescope and looked at the top of the pistons and found the “wet” one (or ones) you will find out which cylinder has the problem.

NJ Farmer

Yeah that's probably it. Piston rings don't look too terribly difficult to replace. Not sure about the valves though. I suppose I can continue to run it as is for a while until I can get the time to do a refresh. Runs great and it's never low on oil.

[Eugene]

Add SeaFoam to the engine oil and gasoline. Hopefully free up stuck rings.

Sometime down the road conduct compression tests.

I wouldn't consider an engine overhaul as long as the tractor performs well.

Edit; Poor spelling.

[inairam]

What weight oil are you using? I had had a similar problem before I switch to 15-40

I'm running straight 30w non-detergent.

I would try some seafoam and run some 15-40. Since you have been using nondetergent I would do a few quick oil/filter changes along with the treatment

[cdahl383]

Add SeaFoam to the engine oil and gasoline. Hopefully free up stuck rings.

Sometime down the road conduct compression tests.

I wouldn't consider an engine overhaul as long as the tractor performs well.

Edit; Poor spelling.

I'll give the Seafoam a shot sometime this summer. How much do you add to the gas tank and engine oil?

The tractor starts and runs great. The smoke seems to clear up when I run it harder (higher RPM) for a little bit. Also, it seems to smoke more at first if I use the choke and don't pull it off fast enough. It's never completely smoke free, always a little bit coming out, but it clears up pretty good once running hard for a bit. I agree, I have no real desire to tear it down as it runs so well right now.

[cdahl383]

What weight oil are you using? I had had a similar problem before I switch to 15-40

I'm running straight 30w non-detergent.

I would try some seafoam and run some 15-40. Since you have been using nondetergent I would do a few quick oil/filter changes along with the treatment

I just use 30w non-detergent because I wasn't sure what the previous owner was using. I'm sure at some point by now someone switched to detergent oil, but I'm not 100% sure, so I thought I'd stick with non-detergent oil for now.

[Barnyard]

I'll give the Seafoam a shot sometime this summer. How much do you add to the gas tank and engine oil?

Carl, I usually add about an ounce per gallon of gas, or an eight ounce can to a tank full. You will get more smoke when you run it with SeaFoam.

[inairam]

I personally think it is riskier to use nondetergent than to switch. The cub engine has an oil filter. nondetergent is for engines without filters. If IH engineers had access to modern oils they would have updated the manuals and speced them.

I was running 10-30 before and had a similar issue as what you mentioned. Most of the issues went away when I switched to the slightly heavier 15-40.

[cdahl383]

I'll give the Seafoam a shot sometime this summer. How much do you add to the gas tank and engine oil?

Carl, I usually add about an ounce per gallon of gas, or an eight ounce can to a tank full. You will get more smoke when you run it with SeaFoam.

Cool thanks! I'll give that a try sometime soon.

I made my hotel reservation for the Barnyard Bash this morning. My Dad is going to come with me. Will be bringing my tractor on a U-haul trailer. Plan on leaving early Friday morning and hopefully get there 11am or so. Got all my parts ready to go. Looking forward to it!

[cdahl383]

I personally think it is riskier to use nondetergent than to switch. The cub engine has an oil filter. nondetergent is for engines without filters. If IH engineers had access to modern oils they would have updated the manuals and speced them.

I was running 10-30 before and had a similar issue as what you mentioned. Most of the issues went away when I switched to the slightly heavier 15-40.

I just went off what I read on here. Guys said to use non-detergent if you were uncertain of what oil was used in the past. This is my first tractor so I'm still learning.

[Eugene]

I'll give the Seafoam a shot sometime this summer.

It will take time to free up stick piston rings. Install SeaFoam now. Let it work every time you run the tractor.

Actually, wouldn't hurt to give the tractor a good hard work out.