mk 2 smokey engine

[ratti]

hi hope u can help i have just purchased a mk 2 8 valve which is a bit smokey when running and down on power if anybody can point me in the right direction please.

[macmillions]

Could possbily be your valve stem seals, or possibly piston rings.

Might be worth getting a compression test down to see everything is sealed properly in the engine.

[tick73]

another cause of the symptoms could be the carb, is it a webber or pierburg? the pierburg is very well known for causing major problems and giving the same symptoms you have.
its quite tricky to get it running good if it playing up.
start by checking all the vacum hoses, there are a number of them round the back and upto the start of the air filter.
there is a very good info at the top of the mk2 section called "the ongoing saga of the 2e2 carb". have a read of that

[KeithOT]

If reasonably well looked after these engines are good for 200K miles. If it is black smoke down on power & lumpy running usually running over rich. blue smoke burnt oil smell exhaust pipe stinks of burnt oil- knackered engine, puff of smoke as you lift off to change gear valve oil seals. As tick73 says probably the carb.
Compression test if you can, if the pressures are low or very uneven try a couple of shots of oil in each plug hole if pressures increase worn bores or rings , no or little change valves maybe head gasket. This is a bit barebones but may give you some clues.