Burning oil slightly

T

Tractor Rod

Well-known member
I have a 51 Cub that has plenty of power, but still burns a little bit of blue smoke out of the exhaust. Is there any additive that I can put in it that will reduce that blue smoke? Thanks.
 
You might try making sure that the engine is tuned to get the most hp that it's capable of producing, but as far as I know, if the oil is getting by the rings there's no magic potion that will compensate for wear. After you've done the tune-up you could do a compression test to see what the overall health of the engine is. JMHO Stan
 
Some have used an additive like Seafoam to free up stuck rings. Realistically the oil consumption is likely due to worn cylinders/rings.
 
My Cub doesn't burn any oil (checking the dipstick). However I get a puff of blue smoke after the engine RPM is increased rapidly from idle. Maybe it's from the higher vacuum at idle and oil is sucked up past the valve guides. There is no blue smoke when at RPM's above idle. Also, the spark plugs are a nice tan color - not black that comes with burning oil.
 
what is the weight of the oil you are using? i had and issue using 10-30 multi weight. it stopped when i went to 15-40. if it has been sitting you.may want to work it hard for a few weeks while trying some seafoam or other additive as was mentioned. a dry wet compression test after you adjust the valves will also help to test the condition of the rings.
 
Tractor Rod said:
Is there any additive that I can put in it that will reduce that blue smoke? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi,
They say on here if the engine is smoking, to put Seafoam oil additive in the engine oil.
They sell it at auto parts stores.
Piston rings commonly get stuck, and then the engine will smoke.
It could help the compression, and reduce the blue smoke, if the rings are stuck, and the Seafoam loosens them.
Make the engine work doing something when using the additive, so it warms up.
I have read on here of people having good results after using the oil additive.

One of the experts on here said to use the additive for 2 oil change periods.
The 1950 Cub operator's manual says to change the oil every 120 hours of use.
If the piston rings are wornout, the seafoam won't help much.
I have used Rislone, and had good results with that brand, it is an oil additive also.
I haven't used the Seafoam, but have read people's posts about it on here. :)
 
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To add to this
What sae oil are you using in the tractor?
Does it work hard ,or just idle?
What is the compression say after a hard work day ? Or leak down test.
If the rings are stuck in place it will take awhile to free up . Like said if the rings a worn not going to change. Leak down test will prove this.
Adjust carburetor to higher vacuum and set timing to factory.
Nothing like working the tractor hard . To eventually free up some rings .
 
I do use my tractor hard. I do have a light haze of smoke out of the exhaust and I do have a little blow by coming out of the dipstick. But it seems to have more power than many on here. Cutting thick grass in second gear. Third gear is no issue. Steep hills while mowing thick grass in first. It is still plugging along at 72 years old.
 
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