oil on my carbs

[67fintail230s]

Hi,
1967 230S Automatic 180.947

Will leaking valve stem seals cause oily smoke to be pumped through the breather tube to the carbs? I began to find oil deposits under my air cleaner on my carbs. The car eventually began to idle rough and now it won't stay idling in drive without power braking. I unplugged the breather tube and found a slight blue to white smoke coming from the valve cover. With the breather tube disconnected, the car runs great at high rpms but as the revolutions slow it is way too rich and the car dies. My 75 230.4 has a coiled spline trap in the tube on the valve cover and an in-line oil trap on the breather tube hose. I may put a similar trap on the 67. I have the valve stem seals, the overhead cam spring tool, but I still need the spark plug/compressor fitting to pressurize the cylinders. I have made seal installation tools by drilling holes (according to specs in my workshop manual) into some scrap hardwood dowels.

At this point, the car takes about 10 tries to start. It seems like a lack of fuel, maybe the float is leaking and the fuel pressure needs to build up to fire (this may be due to the oil in the carbs?). once it starts, the fuel keeps up. I have a second pair of Zeniths which I plan to rebuild (kits should arrive today!).

I just pulled apart my ignition switch last night, cleaned and lubed it. Rocking the key would shut down the car. (Actually, this may have been the starting problem mentioned above) I'll keep posting!

Well that's my plan for this weekend. If anyone has any input, I would appreciate it.

Happy motoring.

AV

[tom in nh]

Sounds like you have some serious internal problems (excessive "blowby"). Check your engine's compression along with a cylinder leakdown test.