Having issues with my 1973 Maverick I-6. The exhaust sputters at idle even though the enigine itself sounds pretty smooth. I am also getting some bluish smoke at idle and sometimes out of the breather cap (maybe bad piston rings). I currently go through about a quart of oil per week and the car does not leak at all so it is being burned up somewhere and gas mileage sucks at 10-11 mpg. I just had a brand new carter carb put on it and it seemed to run great immediately afterwards. Does anyone have any ideas??? Maybe a timing issue with the sputtering or possibly a bad cat???
if its been ages since a tune up that could cause it, burning oil could mean carboned up valves not seating good, causing uneven compression, to check, with it at idle hold a piece of paper to the tail pipe and see if it gets sucked back in, speed up the idle and try it again, if it still does run a compression test.
More Info Well the pcv valve is brand new along with the breather cap. There is a minor leak in the exhaust due to bad welding and rust buildup but is very small. Nontheless, she will be getting a new exhaust when the engine gets rebuilt and a new header installed. Most of the symotoms and talk with mechanics is leading to a timing and idle issue which would coincide with the new carter carb. The hose from the pcv valve is also not blocked and is checked frequently to stay on top of.
