My '72 Supreme is using oil and I'm getting a slight puff out of the driver side exhaust so I think it's blowby. If I decide to use Lucas oil stabilizer to help, will it work with my flat tappet cam?

 

Not familiar with that particular Lucas product, but intuitively I'd say that if you were using a ZDDP enriched oil (Lucas Hot Rod & Classic, for instance) you should be okay.

When you say "using oil" what is the actual rate of consumption? A little puff of blue through the guides at startup is no biggie.

 

If it's a puff on startup it's most likely valve stem seals.

 

I don't know of anything you can pour in your crankcase that will stop a car from using oil. It is kind of like pouring money in your crankcase.

 

It's not just a puff at startup, it's also at idle, and I go through a quart about every 500 miles or so. No leaks, just puffs, and no blue fog while I'm driving.

 

When was the last time you changed your PCV valve? Just a thought.

 

Well, that's probably beyond the pay grade of any snake oil treatment you can buy.

Any crankcase fumes? A quick and dirty road test you can try next time you're driving is to stick it in first, wind it out to 4-4500 RPM and then decelerate back to 12-1500. Without hesitating, now punch the throttle and check the rear view mirror. If you see a blue cloud, you'll know your rings are the culprit.

Next step is a compression test.

 

Valve stem seals can do a very similar thing. Very simple fix.

 

One of the most common problems if everything is stock.

 

PCV valve is good...just checked it last week.

 

How much disassembly is required for that?

 

"Punch the throttle?" You mean a quick stab?

 

A "stab" would probably be enough, but you can take it back up to 4 again just to be sure. If it doesn't smoke under those circumstances your rings are likely okay.

 

Dave - Punch the throttle e.g. open it up...e.g. floor it...e.g "hit it" e.g. smoke-em

 

Exactly. "Stomp on it," "mat it," "light 'em up," "let 'er romp," ... etc.

 

Dave - You work at an automotive parts store, I think? Pretty simple deal to grab (borrow) a pressure gauge & perform a cyl compression test. Perform the test both dry (1st) and wet (2nd) on each cylinder. You'll get a general "overall" understanding based on comparison of the numbers from each cylinder, each cylinders relationship to the next cylinder & relationship(s) of each cyl to all cylinders - e.g. overall health. Maybe getting time for a "refresh"? A PO used to race your car, correct? Strip or track?