Cylinder head checks

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LeftFoot

Active Member
Posts
247
Greetings,
In an effort to identify the cause of my persistent smoking at idle I finally decided to remove the head and check condition of gasket and valves.
1.Head was checked with a straight edge and passed with flying colours.
2. Head gasket has no visible signs of damage but since milege is now at 154,000 km it is due for a change.
3. Valve seals appear to be fitting snugly except for 2 inlet valves.
4. Exhaust valves are full of carbon build-up however. The plan is to clean and lap them and install with new valve seals. Guides feel snug enough.

What else should I look for at this stage that could contribute to the constant smoking?
Timing belt done recently and timing appears to be spot on as the pin slips in and out easily whilst the crank mark is lined up and the is flywheel locked in place with the tool. She fires up on the turn of the key as well.
Turbo doesn't appear to have excessive wear. Truck still smokes when I disconnect the turbo outlet when idling.

Is the carbon on exhaust valves a possible contributor or a sign? The cylinder walls are very clean and smooth. Only thing I noticed was a ring of carbon at the very top of the cylinders as well. What could this also be an indication of?
 
Poor compression (poor valve sealing / bad rings), worn injectors / pump, excessive blowby, blocked / gammy PCV valve (crankcase oil separator), worn / stretched timing belt etc

You've checked off valve guides / seals passing oil it sounds like, and timing sounds like it is okay, (as long as the truck drives / starts well and spins up all the way making good power)

Exhaust valves are full of carbon build-up however
ring of carbon at the very top of the cylinders as well

Symptomatic rather than the cause, if you check compression and it's good and timing is definitely good (check the cam as well, certainly look behind the timing case cover if it has not been done lately), and basic servicing is up together, i.e fresh oil / air filter / valves lashed up, I'd pull the injectors out for testing next.

The cylinder walls are very clean and smooth

Smooth as in the bores have waved cheerio to the cross hatchings? Have you still got the head off for some picture evidence of these foibles? Does it burn much oil?

Doesn't hurt to check the valvegear / rockers all move full travel also - a fractionally bent pushrod can be hard to spot if you've not looked at them closely.
 
Greetings,
In an effort to identify the cause of my persistent smoking at idle I finally decided to remove the head and check condition of gasket and valves.
1.Head was checked with a straight edge and passed with flying colours.
2. Head gasket has no visible signs of damage but since milege is now at 154,000 km it is due for a change.
3. Valve seals appear to be fitting snugly except for 2 inlet valves.
4. Exhaust valves are full of carbon build-up however. The plan is to clean and lap them and install with new valve seals. Guides feel snug enough.

What else should I look for at this stage that could contribute to the constant smoking?
Timing belt done recently and timing appears to be spot on as the pin slips in and out easily whilst the crank mark is lined up and the is flywheel locked in place with the tool. She fires up on the turn of the key as well.
Turbo doesn't appear to have excessive wear. Truck still smokes when I disconnect the turbo outlet when idling.

Is the carbon on exhaust valves a possible contributor or a sign? The cylinder walls are very clean and smooth. Only thing I noticed was a ring of carbon at the very top of the cylinders as well. What could this also be an indication of?
your looking for black staining across the fire ring surfaces on the gasket
a ring of carbon at the top of cylinders is normal
is egr blanked
what colour smoke
 
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