Volvo RWD 444-544 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 2/2007 444-544 INDEX

[<<] [>>]

THREADED

THREADED EXPANDED

FLAT

PRINT ALL

MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by Retro77 on Mon Dec 9 23:31 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

Hello to all from a newbie to the site and also new to 544 ownership. My son and I bought a couple '59 544's from his good friend's dad who , due to health issues, was selling his hobby. We spent an afternoon with the owner telling us what was done to each car and what was needed to get them running. We have found both cars to have been mechanically restored with care. Sadly the owner passed away before we could hear more of his story with the cars but we did learn that his love of these cars started as a young man owning one. The first car started was a copper colored '59 544 that the owner said was in a 1990's movie involving a car chase through downtown Los Angeles. He couldn't remember the movie though. It has a 12 volt system and I hooked up a 12 volt fuel pump per his instructions and the car fired right up and idled perfectly. He had the SU's rebuilt and synchronized . We noted that at idle a small puff of smoke comes out of the oil filler cap and as the engine is revved a steady stream spews out. Slight amount of blue smoke from the tailpipe and the dip stick shows oil, no water. Changed the oil and still looks perfect after running the engine with same smoke /filler cap problem again. The engine did sit a few years before starting again. Is it possible that valves/piston rings need to reseat and this is the cause of the oil smoke coming from the engine oil filler cap? Thank you to all; there are many helpful subjects/messages on this site.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by james_a_sousa on Sun Dec 15 17:14 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:51 CST 2014

[RELATED]

You might want to look at a later model.

I would go out and look - I just ran my 64 544 andput its cover on again - I won't have any time tomorrow.

I think that my car has an outlet on the oil filler cap and a hose to one of the carbs. This is a period emission system to capture oil fumes.

Later cars might even have a PCV valve.

How do your plugs look?

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by derek uk on Mon Dec 16 05:00 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:33 CST 2014

[RELATED]

With B18 there are basically 2 types of crankcase ventilation control. Not counting the early one up to about 1963 which was basically an open circuit. After that the flow went one way and then it was changed over to the opposite direction to improve emissions. No PV came with the latter type originally AFAIK. If you have a hose from the oil filler cap to one of the filters that should flow clean air into the engine in a proper late type system and not oily fumes into the filter. Many of these engines, B18 and 20 have a mixture of the two systems so they don't vent as they should. Check the flow diagrams for these engines and see how yours shapes up. They are designed to keep a very small vacuum inside the engine and fuming should be minimal in a good engine. Properly set up, if you put your hand over the oil fill opening it should suck. Blowing means too much internal pressure so the PCV valve either blocked or fitted the wrong way round. there are other reasons. I think that he B16 has an open circuit so fumes just come out downwards through the side tube. Back in the day it used to be very common to be following a car and see these fumes pouring out from under the car. Rare now days and a sure sign of a problem with that car if you do.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by Retro77 on Tue Dec 10 16:21 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

Thank you guys; great advice. Dave, unlike your GT-6 frozen motor (yikes!) this motor turned over easily right away the afternoon we checked it out. Ron, I have the magical Marvel Mystery Oil and will get on that this afternoon. Much thanks guys; could be my lucky day!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by derek uk on Wed Dec 11 05:03 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:33 CST 2014

[RELATED]

If you can do a compression test before you start the MMO treatment it will give you a baseline for any subsequent comp tests when they hopefully show good improvements.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by Nahtanha on Sun Dec 15 16:05 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Tue May 20 10:10 CST 2014

[RELATED]

Get your ring loosen and then replace your valve stem seals for a cleaner run. Intake valves tend to suck air/oil mix around the intake valve stem when the piston is drawing intake air, bringing the oil into the cylinder. My one B16 did smoke while idling until I replaced the valve stem seals.Easy job to do.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by Ron Kwas on Tue Dec 10 10:35 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Fri Oct 24 04:03 CST 2014

[RELATED]

Daryl;

I agree with Dave, high oil consumption / blow-by after an extended layup is likely a result of stuck rings...particularly the oil scraper rings. I'd run it for a while, also put an ounce or so of Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder...let it sit, run it some more, change oil...I expect it will get better as rings free up...you might need to do the MMO treatment more than once.

Good Hunting!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

B-16 engine; oily smoke from oil filler cap. 444-544

posted by Volvo From Heck on Tue Dec 10 09:40 CST 2019
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Mon Oct 13 20:56 CST 2014

[RELATED]

It would be common enough for rings to get stuck with a long interval between running. Was there any difficulty in getting the motor to turn over smoothly without a "hitch" due to rust on cylinders? Rust can wind up breaking rings. At this point you've already run it so turning it over by hand may not tell you much. I would set the car in a place where the smoke will be least objectionable and let it run. It will either clear up--or not At that point you can take a compression test to help decide your next move.
My best result with a very frozen motor (rust in the cylinders) was with a Triumph GT6. The motor wouldn't budge with the crankshaft front pulley bolt so I removed the starter and used the flywheel ring gear to pry it a little bit back and forth after putting oil in the cylinders. It took a day of this till I had it turning over OK and re-installed the starter. When it fired up it blew an unbelievable stream of burnt oil out the tailpipe (sorry Earth) and it took a full 3 hours before it cleared up. So - there is hope. Good luck with your B16 - Dave

<< < > >>

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.