Valve stem replacement
 

I am guessing my valve stems are slowly going bad but it is very slight and manageable. The only time I see smoke is when the car is idle for a long time and I shut it down and start it back up (like when I get gas). This only happens when I am idle for more than 10 minutes and it does not always happen. Anyhow I found this ad in craigslist (see below), anyone here try this person? Thanks.

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/aos/...224718896.html

Greg

I wonder if you can treat it with AT – 205. Works great to stop small leak in my power steering

I use it with every oil change. Helps for sure.

I bought some of that to attempt freshening of rear air bags...you are adding to engine oil? Interesting...how much do you add?

Yes, to engine oil (5w40) at each change. An entire bottle. They are small bottles. The stuff is designed for oil, power steering, and other areas to "freshen" old seals. I very rarely get smoke anymore. Requires a long stationary idle (15+ minutes) to get minor smoke. Used to get it in drive throughs at fast food joints.

At-205 can help BUT if the stem seals are passed the point where they cant be saved... that's it. you give it 5 hours of engine operation with a fresh oil change and if you didn't see any difference you're out of luck.

it's worth a shot at least. but don't expect a miracle and if you get one you're blessed.

i had really bad smoke at high vacuum on a chrysler 4.7 magnum... used at-205 treatment four times, one on each oil change... never helped one bit with blue smoke at high vacuum and idle
sure helped with rear main seal.
in the end, all stem seals once replaced, zero blue smoke and no issues.

Valve stem replacement
 

The solution is found in your statement above: you obviously need to avoid contritions that create high vacuum:

As exemplified in this movie clip:

(Skip to 1:30 timeline if the URL link fails to do that automatically)

https://youtu.be/y4UhOeYYXAA?t=90

"All I can advise is never drive her under 3000 RPM in a forward gear ... ever."

Back to seriousness, if I had this problem and wished to punt the inevitable VSS replacement, I would take off the VC and apply the AT-205 directly to the seals, put enough on that a small puddle formed that can capillary wick through to any part touching the stem and maybe do 2-3 applications like that over a day time before putting the VC back on and add a bottle of 205 to the oil. If that doesn't help it's time for the operation.

All helpful suggestions. I appreciate the insight and have a lot of steering/suspension items to get knocked out prior to a big decision on VSS. I just changed oil on a new to me ‘04 4.8is and thought if AT-205 could help AND I already have a bottle...it would be worth diving deeper into suggestion. 185k miles with NO service history. Long live Xoutpost!

I would get new chain tensioners ASAP because nobody changes then before they show signs of failure and by then usually too late.

Fortunately it's probably not nearly high risk as the M62 motor but I've seen on xo what happens in the N62 when the chain guides fail and it's not pretty, the chain acts like a chain saw and starts working it's way though the timing department.