I have an old 4 cyl Volvo.
I did a compression test that showed I had bad rings. The wet compression went up alot, but the smoke goes away when the car warms up. Can I ignore it, will it hurt my engine to keep driving like this?
mr.squanky
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Old Volvos are not only well built cars, but they're also cool as hell. That's why you need to bite the bullet and pay the money to get it repaired NOW - before the engine is lost completely. Every time you drive it with bad rings more damage is done to your valves. You can either pay the money and get it fixed, or drive it till it dies and get another car. As is, my guess is it has approx 3-4k miles left before it dies.
luken5
The reason you blow smoke when the engine is cold is because your piston rings are cold and letting engine oil into the compression chamber. When your engine heats up the metal in your piston rings expand and create a seal hence no smoke. Its a sign of engine wear. You can ignore the smoke but check your oil levels at least once a week. Eventually your engine will die but stay on the maintanence and you should be ok for a while.
craig s
Look the engine is worn out. It will probably run a while like it is but to fix it. Its gonna need a overhaul at best. You could try some other weights of oil but, you should use what the engine is supposed to have in it.
Anonymous
You should have the rings changed this will hurt the engine over time you can try a heavier weight oil and something like lucas oil or restore treatment this may work.
Anonymous
you are burning oil, and polluting the air, more then you think, people who drive cars like that for more than the time it takes to notice a problem, should be criminal.
Cars that smoke should be given inspection tickets and required to immediately go to an emissions inspection facility and immediately taken off the road if they fail.