The white smoke has started...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
The white smoke has started...
So, been a WHILE since I've posted....
That's because for a whole bunch of reasons, my 80 has been parked at my mother-in-laws house for about 7 years.....So finally all the life experiences/drama/situations are all over with and taken care of....
I get my car, have it towed to Race Street Rally and basically tell Max fix everything, and get it to pass smog. That happens, and I'm a pretty happy guy for quite a while
until a week ago....
After the car sits, either overnight, or at least a few hours, white smelly smoke comes out the tailpipe after it starts up. It stops after perhaps 5-10 seconds, then the exhaust is clean (it passed smog with amazingly good results). So I remember I had a 76 blazer and this exact thing happened, so I think I know what the end of the story is....BUT is there any way to prolong the time before the engine rebuild? I really need an enclosed vehicle for a few more months. (have a MC, but the wife is not to keen on me taking the kid to school on the MC)
Thanks guys, and really looking forward to continuing my restoration on it.
John
That's because for a whole bunch of reasons, my 80 has been parked at my mother-in-laws house for about 7 years.....So finally all the life experiences/drama/situations are all over with and taken care of....
I get my car, have it towed to Race Street Rally and basically tell Max fix everything, and get it to pass smog. That happens, and I'm a pretty happy guy for quite a while
until a week ago....
After the car sits, either overnight, or at least a few hours, white smelly smoke comes out the tailpipe after it starts up. It stops after perhaps 5-10 seconds, then the exhaust is clean (it passed smog with amazingly good results). So I remember I had a 76 blazer and this exact thing happened, so I think I know what the end of the story is....BUT is there any way to prolong the time before the engine rebuild? I really need an enclosed vehicle for a few more months. (have a MC, but the wife is not to keen on me taking the kid to school on the MC)
Thanks guys, and really looking forward to continuing my restoration on it.
John
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Port Allen Louisiana
So, been a WHILE since I've posted....
That's because for a whole bunch of reasons, my 80 has been parked at my mother-in-laws house for about 7 years.....So finally all the life experiences/drama/situations are all over with and taken care of....
I get my car, have it towed to Race Street Rally and basically tell Max fix everything, and get it to pass smog. That happens, and I'm a pretty happy guy for quite a while
until a week ago....
After the car sits, either overnight, or at least a few hours, white smelly smoke comes out the tailpipe after it starts up. It stops after perhaps 5-10 seconds, then the exhaust is clean (it passed smog with amazingly good results). So I remember I had a 76 blazer and this exact thing happened, so I think I know what the end of the story is....BUT is there any way to prolong the time before the engine rebuild? I really need an enclosed vehicle for a few more months. (have a MC, but the wife is not to keen on me taking the kid to school on the MC)
Thanks guys, and really looking forward to continuing my restoration on it.
John
That's because for a whole bunch of reasons, my 80 has been parked at my mother-in-laws house for about 7 years.....So finally all the life experiences/drama/situations are all over with and taken care of....
I get my car, have it towed to Race Street Rally and basically tell Max fix everything, and get it to pass smog. That happens, and I'm a pretty happy guy for quite a while
until a week ago....
After the car sits, either overnight, or at least a few hours, white smelly smoke comes out the tailpipe after it starts up. It stops after perhaps 5-10 seconds, then the exhaust is clean (it passed smog with amazingly good results). So I remember I had a 76 blazer and this exact thing happened, so I think I know what the end of the story is....BUT is there any way to prolong the time before the engine rebuild? I really need an enclosed vehicle for a few more months. (have a MC, but the wife is not to keen on me taking the kid to school on the MC)
Thanks guys, and really looking forward to continuing my restoration on it.
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Condensation somewhere.
Oil smoke is blue.
Rich fuel smoke is black.
And white smoke is steam (water vapor).
Could be something leaks by until the engine heats up then it seals. Watch your coolant level for changes and look for bubbles while engine is running (don't take the cap off while the engine is hot).
Don't even consider an engine rebuild just for a gasket/seal leak.
Worst case is u have to replace the head gaskets.
Hope this helps,
cardo0
Rich fuel smoke is black.
And white smoke is steam (water vapor).
Could be something leaks by until the engine heats up then it seals. Watch your coolant level for changes and look for bubbles while engine is running (don't take the cap off while the engine is hot).
Don't even consider an engine rebuild just for a gasket/seal leak.
Worst case is u have to replace the head gaskets.Hope this helps,
cardo0
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Smoke can seem white or grey, but sometimes it has some blue in there if you look closely. My money is on valve seals. Even a low mile engine can have this issue if it sits for a long time. GM EOS additive might help a little bit for a short time.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: w. jordan utah
smoke
i also am leaning toward valve seals. make sure of the smoke color. oil can leak into combustion chamber from valve stems at top past the seals. lays on back of valve untill start-up burns off then smoke goes away tell next start up. a motor will run like this for a long time.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Port Allen Louisiana
Smoke
A very good point on the smoke from the oil, fuel, and water. But I still say that at least my problem and maybe his is from the valve seals. The smoke comes out immediately when I start the engine after sitting for 5 or 6 hours or more. It would seem that if it was water, it could not evaporate that quick with a cold engine, but the oil will burn right away with fire. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Could also be a cracked head. Cracked block?
If u remove the heads to replace the gaskets u can have the valves reground and the shop with pressure test the heads for leaks.
cardo0
If u remove the heads to replace the gaskets u can have the valves reground and the shop with pressure test the heads for leaks.
cardo0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I have to go with valve stem seals. They get old, the rubber gets hard and they leak- right down the valve stems and into the combustion chamber. Easy fix=- and I always go for the easy fix first.
Pretty typical Chevrolet burp-smoke-when-it-starts. Almost as reliable as the old Pratt & Whitney radial engines- if there's not a puddle of oil under it, it's because it's empty.
Pretty typical Chevrolet burp-smoke-when-it-starts. Almost as reliable as the old Pratt & Whitney radial engines- if there's not a puddle of oil under it, it's because it's empty.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Thanks guys....
This morning, I had my son who is 10 get in the car and start it (he loves that), while I was behind it. The smoke definitely has a bluish-tint to it that I couldn't really see while in the car. So the valve seals sound like the issue, so I'll keep driving it as is for a few more months, just keeping close tabs on the fluid situation before I take it back to Max's shop for the valve seals....
Thanks guys, and really like the look and some new functionality added to the forum.
John
This morning, I had my son who is 10 get in the car and start it (he loves that), while I was behind it. The smoke definitely has a bluish-tint to it that I couldn't really see while in the car. So the valve seals sound like the issue, so I'll keep driving it as is for a few more months, just keeping close tabs on the fluid situation before I take it back to Max's shop for the valve seals....
Thanks guys, and really like the look and some new functionality added to the forum.
John
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento Ca
John, my car was sitting for a long time in a barn. When I would start it it would smoke quite a bit and then burned off after it warmed up (valve seals). I ran it for a few weeks to limber up the motor and changed the oil and filter. I was told to try Castol GTX high mileage oil.
I went to the GTX and the car stopped smoking after about a week.
I'm not saying it's a fix to the problem but it will get me to a point when I'm ready to have the heads rebuilt.
Kurt
I went to the GTX and the car stopped smoking after about a week.
I'm not saying it's a fix to the problem but it will get me to a point when I'm ready to have the heads rebuilt.
Kurt