First time i noticed it.
Our red 2cv when running coolish tends to smoke a little (blueish). This happens when the choke is fully in and slight revs applyed to the engine and does not do it at all when the engine is hot? Is there a cure?
Cheers All.

topic moved.

i always pick the wrong one. Cheers Neil

i've noticed!

sorry

Hi Tom.

Blue smoke = burning oil. (Darker smoke = over-fuelling.)

Blue smoke on cold start-up is commonly caused by worn valve stem seals - at least it is on 'normal' cars with the engine sitting upright in the 'normal' way! I don't know if this applies to boxer engines the same way - I just don't know.

Burning oil is generally an engine 'wear' issue - valve stems or piston/bore wear - unless it just happened suddenly to a youngish engine, in which case you'd look at a 'fault' such as - ooh - a failing head gasket? Cracked valve stem seal? Broken ring?

Cure? Well, if it's just general wear and tear and isn't really a problem, then the engine will likely go on perfectly well for many years. If the engine IS a high-mileage example - so that some wear is 'fair enough' - then you could try a slightly thicker grade of oil. Millers make a really good 20W/50 'classic' semi-synthetic oil but take advice before changing oil grade. If your engine is NOT partly 'worn' then certainly don't do it!

Remember to inspect the valve guides too. No point in pulling the heads off to replace the stem seal only.

With a horizontal engine, if the car is parked sideways on a slope, the oil can run down the 'lower' barrel and on starting the engine, it will burn off....So I'm led to believe

Arh! I used to live on a street with a very round camber, starting after a longish period always resulted in clouds of smoke, now I've moved to a flatter street never happens! coinsidence?