Re: blue smoke under high rpm deceleration (archive)

I have the same problem and I know from looking at the guide seals that they are bad. I am going to replace them on the car and see how big a difference it makes. If it doesn't get drastically better I'm having the head done. It is a pain in the butt to replace them on the car and I am ready to leave it parked and take the head off for a rebuild if the job goes south on me. I have had guides push through when installing the seal on a "well used head" My 320 has 240k on it and has been pulling oil through the seals for the last 75k at the rate of 1/2 qt per tank of gas.
I get blue smoke (oil burning) from the exhaust under high rpm deceleration. I don't get this at any other time. I've got a 79 320 with a 32/36 DVAG carb that runs pretty clean, accelerates and idles very smooth. I've had this car only for about 1000 miles but it had 208,000 on the clock until I re-hooked up the speedo cable, so who knows... If I pop the oil cap and look inside it is really clean. No carbon or tarnishing on the cam, etc. Ok, now my question.
Do you think the valve guide seals are the cause of the blue smoke? If so, must the head be removed to replace them? Is it something that can be done by the home garage mech or is it best left to a shop?
What other possible sources do you think could be the cause of this oil getting sucked into the combustion camber under deceleration?
Thanks, Matthew

Follow Ups:

how to rectify it in an afternoon. Peter S 23:24 5/05/2001 (1)
- My 81iS, 276K & counting, lil oil in antifreeze(n) Klaus 01:20 5/06/2001 (0)

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