1440 Smokes on Starting

[dgallagher]

My 1440 smokes a lot(white smoke) when I first start it. After that, it runs and performs pretty well. The motor has about 500 hours on it and was not maintained well before I got it. Any ideas on something simple. I don't think it is worth rebuilding as it has other problems too.

 

[jchamberlin]

David: I've always heard that white smoke indicated carburetor issues; blue smoke was oil getting past the rings and/or valve guides.

 

[jdiederichs]

That condition on start up tells us that oil is puddling on top of the pistons after shutdown. The typical causes are oil leaking past the valve seals or a slight head gasket leak from the lifter cutout or the oil return passage in the gasket.

Two things cause that, first being an engine that has clogged cooling fins and overheating, while the second is that the previous user did not follow the shut down procedure and allowed the engine to backfire at shutdown. That can actually stretch the headbolts enough to cause the "clamping effect" of the head to the block to be reduced.

Neither condition may be present while running the engine due to expansion etc, but once shut off the small amount of oil getting into the cylinder(s)can make mucho smoke.

Look where the muffler is attached to the engine, the two exhaust ports and see if either side shows any oil signs. If so that is the offending cylinder, obviously. Also make sure that the oil level is never above the full mark.

If the smoke on start up is an issue you can tolerate, then continue as you have been, it is your call.