Smoking engine ?

[Richard Farrant]

Personally, I would approach this in a different way, remove plugs one by one noting if any particular plugs (and cylinders) are oily, this will give a positive indication as to where the problem is.

[Lynn Eades]

In the old days, getting the spark to jump a 1/4" inch gap was your lucky day, and shorting out the plug was no big deal. Any "man" could handle it!
Things have improved a bit and now the spark will jump about 3/4" (for the metric thinking, that may as well be a meter)
The idea of shorting these ignitions out with a screw driver sends a wee shiver (induced current?) up the spine of any life loving mechanic, at the preliminary thought / idea of shorting a plug out, and makes him /her (plus 20 other pronouns) wonder how much truth there is in those warning stickers about the dangers of meddling with these voodoo boxes.
Btw, for the newbies; stick the sharp end of the screwdriver hard to the head (earth point) BEFORE introducing the spark plug lead to the shank. This generates more job satisfaction, for you. If you do it the other way around, it generates job satisfaction for other people.

[RichardT10829]

Hi Barry, you say it’s smoking, is running lumpy too, or does it have a smooth idle but happens to be smoking a whole bunch ?

[carrierbarry]

Yes smooth idle, but lot of smoke.
Took it for a drive yesterday, started on the button. Lot of smoke before and after a mile drive. Seem to run better with a little bit of choke. No obvious loss of power. Fuel is about two years old, but lots and smells ok. Going to give her an oil change and clean filter. What’s the best oil and where to buy in UK.

[Lynn Eades]

Cummins Blue diesel oil because the diesel oil has more zinc that most petrol engine oils. The diesel oil is high detergent and might help to un gum your oil rings (which sounds like the problem to me?)
If not then a mono 30 grade oil high in zinc (important) The zinc has been largely removed from petrol engine oil for "enviromental" reasons.
Do some research to bolster your choice.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Cummins Blue diesel oil because the diesel oil has more zinc that most petrol engine oils. The diesel oil is high detergent and might help to un gum your oil rings (which sounds like the problem to me?)
If not then a mono 30 grade oil high in zinc (important) The zinc has been largely removed from petrol engine oil for "enviromental" reasons.
Do some research to bolster your choice.

I would not recommend using a high detergent diesel oil in an engine of this age which is probably been running on the old style monograde with little or no detergent. You may think it will un-gum the rings, but worse than that it will release all the sediments in lower part of the engine and put them in circulating and hence cause damage to the bearings. I have been 55 years in the trade working on engines and would never use a high detergent oil in and old engine of unknown history. Just changing the oil will not get rid of the sediment.
If it had just been overhauled and clean inside, then a different matter.

[carrierbarry]

Both good answers, thanks for the help. What would you recommend Richard. New plugs, clean air filter, oil change ,,clean oil filter. And some fresh fuel.
I’m sure it’s just we’re she’s been sitting idle though the winter.
What grade of oil would you use?