My car blows a little blue smoke when its cold, will a can of Engine Restore help me?

I understand it's a temporary fix, and I'm gonna have to eventually get new piston rings, but will it help me out a little? its an old car w/ 92kmls.

Eric2009-02-14T11:55:03Z

Favorite Answer

If you get "puffs" of blue on start up it is likely your valve guide seals allowing a bit of oil to migrate from the area under the valve cover to the combustion chamber.

If the smoke lasts a few seconds it may be worn piston rings as you mentioned. I'm not sure if the restore product will help but it may be worth a try.

Good luck.

bobweb2009-02-14T11:57:23Z

If you mostly see the smoke on a cold start in the morning it's likely leaking valve seals. That shouldn't cause any problem unless the spark plugs get fouled or the catalytic converter is damaged. If your not burning more than one quart of oil every 1,000 miles, the oil usage is considered to be in the normal range.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/problem_engine_smoke.htm

Ron B2009-02-14T14:29:05Z

There is no Santa Claus or "miracle-in-a-can". All engine oil additives or restoratives are a scam! What is your oil consumption? Your problem is not necessarily worn rings. It could very well be all that is required is some cylinder head work...

berserkerbob2009-02-14T11:55:27Z

It might help a little. Most of the time it's not the rings, its the valve seals and is not that hard to fix.

Anonymous2009-02-14T11:53:16Z

You can try it or a heavier oil. If it's blue when you first start it after it's been sitting for a while then it's probably your valve seals/guides that are worn not your rings. A leakdown test will pinpint it for you.