Smoke in engine compartment

[Unregistered]

Hi

My 1973 Atomic has started to emit a bit of smoke through the oil filler. Assuming it was due to blow-by around worn rings, I checked the compression on the cylinders, and then checked them again, adding a capful of oil. There was no measurable change. The compression was: #1 100 #2 80 #3 100 #4 100

Does this mean the head gasket is damaged around the #2 cylinder? Or...?

On a possibly related note, I noticed that spark plugs were on the wet side, indicating a fuel-rich mixture. I've adjusted the idle mixture screw for maximum RPMs at idle, but how does one adjust the mixture for speeds other than idle?

Thanks,

Stephen

[Don Moyer]

Stephen,

Your compression values do not indicate a faulty head gasket. After you get the engine running for a while, the compression in the second cylinder will probably improve. You can squirt a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil into the second cylinder to help it return to better health more quickly.

Assuming that you have a late model engine, there is no adjustment for the high speed system. In terms of the idle mixture, it sounds as though you were trying to control idle RPM with the mixture adjustment which won't really work. You have to adjust the idle RPM using the set screw in the throttle arm assembly, and then adjust the mixture (in to make richer, and out to make leaner) for the smoothest idle performance.

Don