Has something to do with oil gaskets? Well my 72 camino sat for the last 10 years, I replaced the carb and runs great. The car when started is burning oil or gas. White smoke bellows from the dual exhaust but quickly goes away as engine warms. The burning smell is making me nervous. Im afraid I am ignoring a problem that will bite one day with a vengance. The previous owner said something about umbrella gaskets. Does anybody know what he was talking about? I'd appreiciate any suggestions. I really enjoy driving this car.

BB valve stem seals i believe

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Rich
Cocoa Beach, Fla
Team Chevelle #380
wa3men@aol.com
www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg)

Hey Jason,
The umbrella that I am familiar with is a cup shaped metal hood that goes over the valve spring and under the valve retainer and keepers. The umbrella seal (gasket?) is a little rubber ring that fits around the valve stem between the valve retainer and the keepers. The function of the umbrella is to deflect oil away from the valve springs so it doesn't collect inside the spring and funnel great quanities of oil down the stem, past the guides and into the combustion chamber. During normal operation some oil will always collect on top of the retainers and run down the valve stems past the guides UNLESS the umbrella seal is in good condition. That little seal may not look like much but when is goes away, or if it is defective in any way, (incorrectly installed n a freash engine) your engine will produce a blue haze when it first starts up, no matter how good the rings and other internals are. As soon as the oil burns off the blue smoke will stop. After shut down as the engine cools that hot viscous oil that has collected on top of all 16 retainers will try to run down the valve stem and collect in the combustion chambers unless the seals stop it. The next cold start with turn blue and so on. It is not unusual for a servicable engine to have bad umbrella seals. Those things live in a hell of an enviorment. You can replace the seals with the heads on the car if you have the proper tools and know what you are doing. Anyway, probably more than you wanted or need to known but, hope this answers your question. mgg

[This message has been edited by Manny Gomez (edited 10-29-99).]

An "umbrella seal" is a rubber or in some cases hard plastic cup shaped device that fits over the valve stem and down over the valve guide.There are a few different types.
An "0" ring seal fits in a groove on the valve stem just below the keepers.

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Harley
69 461 El Camino Nitrous Model, 69 Chevelle coupe
70 El Camino,71 SS Camaro
75 L-82 Corvette,71 Gremlin X
Kerrville,Tx.

An umbrella seal is actually a rubber seal that fits over the valve stem and shields the valve guide from oil running down it and into the ports. It doesn't actually fit over the valve guide, but rides up and down with the valve. The style that locks over the valve guide is a positive lock valve seal and those are either Viton rubber or teflon.

Thanks guys, all the info was very helpful. I know where to look and what might need to be replaced. A bad seal could cause the problems I am having. I not sure if it is blue smoke. Another thing I noticed today after initial start was some moisture coming out of left exhaust. Is this related or just a sign of the cold weather?

some moisture is normal till a bb warms up i am told

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Rich
Cocoa Beach, Fla
Team Chevelle #380
wa3men@aol.com
www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg)

Does the engine run smooth, mine would smoke a little on start up when the head gasket was seeping and show moisture out the pipe.When you shut down try loosening the rad cap,see if there is any change.An umbrell seal rides with the valve to shed oil.If this is the problem go with the positive seals, much better oil control...FRED

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The engine runs smooth. It does idle very high on startup but I am able to kick the idle down once the engine warms. Did the smoke go away when you changed the seal?

You missed what I was saying the head gasket was leaking and it was anti-freeze that was smoking on start up with the rad cap loose there was no pressure build up over nite.My engine has had positive seals since new...FRED

Ok, I checked the rad cap which is not loose. The radiator is keeping pressure. I dont see any leaking antifreeze. Jason.