Right cylinder blowing oil into exhaust

[TheRadBaron]

Hello, this is my first post here.  I'm an admirer of FJs though I don't yet have one.  I have a friend who owns a nice '84, but he's never wanted to let it go...until now...since it has developed engine trouble. 
I'm a competent motorcycle mechanic and I have no fear of tearing into the motor, but I thought that I'd check here first to see if anyone else has ran into this problem and might be able to shed some light on it.
My buddy said that he was riding it around and it was running fine when suddenly it started to run funny, like it lost a cylinder.  He pulled it over and noticed that some oil was coming out of where the head pipes join to the mid pipe of the exhaust system (low point in the system).  He also noted that there was some oil coming out around where the head pipe goes into the cylinder head on the right outboard cylinder.  That's as far as he's gotten into it.  Hopefully it's nothing major and the oil just fouled out the spark plug, though I can think of a few things that it could be that are a lot worse.  A compression test is certainly in order.  I think that I can get this bike for very cheap and I'll probably take the plunge regardless of what's wrong with the motor, but again, I figured that I'd ask here first to see if anyone has seen this problem on their FJ.  Thanks a lot and I look forward to spending some time here.

[Harvy]

Head gasket?

Harvy

[Firehawk068]

If you have very little compression in the cylinder with the oil, I would suggest (like Harvy did) The head gasket.
I think these engines are robust enough to not have cylinder head cracking issues??
If compression is mostly even across the cylinders, I would suggest valve seals and/or valve guides

[andyb]

Sounds like a couple different problems.

First, it's down on power and that plug is undoubtedly fouled.  Otherwise oil should burn off and leave you with the familiar blue smoke out the back.

Head gasket is a likely suspect, cracked head is quite unlikely but anything's possible.  Valve seals usually show up in smoke on the overrun.  Rings are the other big question mark.

A compression check (with and without oil), a leakdown, and a plug read will probably tell you all you need to know to continue. 

If you're doing the head gasket and have the tools, you may as well clean the head up a bit and throw new seals at it while you're there.  And what a lovely time to double check the head for warpage, lap the valves, and so on....

[TheRadBaron]

Thanks for the tips.  I think I'll be able to make it over to my friend's shop sometime at the beginning of the week to drink beers, smoke pipes, and work out a deal.  This guy has always given me good deals on stuff in the past.  I'm pretty sure that I'll buy the bike, then worry about troubleshooting the motor once I get it home. 
I've never bought a bike that worked right when I got it anyway.  In fact, I don't think I've ever bought a bike that runs before.  I've torn down and rebuilt many singles and twins, but this will be my first 4-cylinder.  It should make a good winter project. 

[SlowOldGuy]

The oil galleys are on the right side of the cylinder and head.  You may have a blown oil seal.  But checking that requires pulling the head anyway.  Be sure to replace these seals if you pull the head.

DavidR.

[TheRadBaron]

Update:  It probably doesn't make any difference, but it turns out that the problem is in the LEFT outboard cylinder, not the right.

[srutherford]

mine smokes when i start up(cold) only for a min or two get on it and it clears. ?? valve stem seals. mabe oil settles down into the exhaust ports idk woundering if there is known problems runs great have to top oil off once or twice between oil changes 3-4k
thanx for any help


silas


p.s. randy suggested the seals im not really wanting to break into it yet. he told me just keep oil in it

[srutherford]

btw 86 1200 43k . i believe its sat for a period of time

[TheRadBaron]

Sounds like valve stem seals to me.  I agree with Randy, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Mine has about 57,000 on it and I have to do a few top-ups between oil changes, too.  Someday I'll rebuild it, but I can deal with a bit of oil burning until then.