my swapped engine seems to be burning oil, at idle it is okay, but when i begin driving, it smokes quite a bit, i don't think it is coolant because of the smell, but i'm not sure

i think i still have a timing problem, becuase it is difficult to start, and when first cranking, some of the same type of smoke comes out of the intake, could this timing problem be causing this? how do you go about setting the distributor timing correctly?

 

I could just tell you to search....but I wont.

Sounds like you may have jumped on your timimng belt and/or possibly have scarred cylinders get your car in time by going through the TDC process if you dont know how then search. Oops I said it, oh well.

 

The simple answer to what causes burning oil is , oil in the combustion chambers.
The hard part comes from figurering out how it gets in there. LOL
The easiest and most obvious answer is, "worn and/or damaged piston rings or cylinder bores".
But the list can go on and on.
None of the options are pretty. Or cheap or easy to fix. LOL
HTH

 

Sounds like it could possibly be the rings or valve seals......

 

Your motor = OWn3D!!!!!!

 

My Z6 is doing that **** to but I am about to rebuild. But I learned next time I swap I will trow on new pistons rings, seals and gaskets before I trow it on unless I really need the car.

 

If the engine smokes while driving, then piston rings are the most probable cause.
If the engine smokes mostly when you just start driving, then valve selas are the most probable cause.

Bad rings will allow some oil to pass them and into the combustion chamber.
Bad valve seals will allow oil to pass them, mostly at idle where vacuum is the strongest. So when you start driving, all the oil that accumulated on the valve will drip down and burn.
Either way, it's time for a rebuild.

 

I will have to agree with the rebuild. unless it isn't oil. If its white in color, then it is coolant, and you need to do a compression, and a leak down test of the motor. If you numbers are down severely in one or more cylinders, I would suggest doing a head gasket, and a head job.