C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Blue smoke

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 04:19 PM
  #1  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default Blue smoke

Engine has 5,200 miles. Has a puff of blue smoke shifting between 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 out of driver side exhaust. Already had guides and seals redone about 2,500 miles ago. 454 engine. Could it be a cracked gasket somewhere or what? I’m not a mechanic. Thanks for any help.

Last edited by 7T3stinger; Mar 19, 2023 at 04:26 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 04:29 PM
  #2  
Jud Chapin's Avatar
Jud Chapin
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Default

If by chance the intake manifold was off, be sure it's torqued properly. Easy to check. Been there, done that. Believe me there are mechanics out there who think they can torque w/o a torque wrench.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 04:38 PM
  #3  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by Jud Chapin
If by chance the intake manifold was off, be sure it's torqued properly. Easy to check. Been there, done that. Believe me there are mechanics out there who think they can torque w/o a torque wrench.
well it actually had the blue puffs before I had the guides and seals done. So there has to be something else going on.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 06:17 PM
  #4  
aerofix's Avatar
aerofix
Instructor
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 121
Likes: 38
From: Billerica Massachusetts
Default

Typically blue smoke out exhaust = oil burning, black smoke = fuel( excessively rich mixture), white smoke = coolant burning. I would remove the spark plugs and see what they look like. Good luck.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 06:22 PM
  #5  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by aerofix
Typically blue smoke out exhaust = oil burning, black smoke = fuel( excessively rich mixture), white smoke = coolant burning. I would remove the spark plugs and see what they look like. Good luck.
yea. I do know the smoke types. This is on driver side. Puff of blue. Wondering if it could be a head gasket or intake gasket.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 07:34 PM
  #6  
AKjeff's Avatar
AKjeff
Pro
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 246
From: Carson Valley
Default

Intake gasket would be the easiest thing to replace.
Is the engine stock?

If the block deck has been milled you may need thicker intake gaskets.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 07:56 PM
  #7  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
Intake gasket would be the easiest thing to replace.
Is the engine stock?

If the block deck has been milled you may need thicker intake gaskets.
the engine isn’t stock. Aluminum heads, Edelbrock intake. 10.5:1 compressor. Cam.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 08:01 PM
  #8  
calwldlife's Avatar
calwldlife
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Default

something is allowing oil in.
pcv, gasket, valve, piston, head, valve cover.
tough to pinpoint sometimes.
sorry for the issue.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 08:13 PM
  #9  
AKjeff's Avatar
AKjeff
Pro
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 246
From: Carson Valley
Default

Originally Posted by 7T3stinger
the engine isn’t stock. Aluminum heads, Edelbrock intake. 10.5:1 compressor. Cam.
I'd assume the deck has been milled, you may need thicker intake gaskets.
Unless that's been tried, in which case I have no idea.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 08:16 PM
  #10  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by calwldlife
something is allowing oil in.
pcv, gasket, valve, piston, head, valve cover.
tough to pinpoint sometimes.
sorry for the issue.
thanks for your input. pcv is new. Just eliminating that. Everything is new from the rebuild. And it’s only on one side.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 08:44 PM
  #11  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
I'd assume the deck has been milled, you may need thicker intake gaskets.
Unless that's been tried, in which case I have no idea.
It was built at a professional shop. That’s all they do. Build drag engines also. So I assume they did all the right things.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 08:51 PM
  #12  
AKjeff's Avatar
AKjeff
Pro
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 246
From: Carson Valley
Default

Have you checked the plugs on that side?
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 09:03 PM
  #13  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
Have you checked the plugs on that side?
not yet. Plan to tomorrow. What am I looking for? Oil coated plug or plugs?
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 09:11 PM
  #14  
AKjeff's Avatar
AKjeff
Pro
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 246
From: Carson Valley
Default

Oil on the plugs or black soot from burning the oil.

There's a picture in this thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rning-oil.html
Though I think he has a more serious problem than you do.

Also, which cylinder it is, or how many.
That may help narrow down the problem.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 09:25 PM
  #15  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
Oil on the plugs or black soot from burning the oil.

There's a picture in this thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rning-oil.html
Though I think he has a more serious problem than you do.

Also, which cylinder it is, or how many.
That may help narrow down the problem.
could it be intake gasket cracked or a head gasket cracked? Just wondering.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 09:59 PM
  #16  
AKjeff's Avatar
AKjeff
Pro
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 588
Likes: 246
From: Carson Valley
Default

Could be though I'd be surprised if it did it before and after the heads were off for new guides and seals.

Another thread here mentions heads with screw in studs that go into the intake runners. You may have one of those leaking.
It's a simple matter of pulling the screw in stud and putting some sealant on the threads, if your heads are constructed like that.

If you find one plug with oil on it it would indicate which stud it is.

Does the car smoke while decelerating?

Have you contacted the engine builder about this? I'd be curious what they'd have to say.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2023 | 10:11 PM
  #17  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
Could be though I'd be surprised if it did it before and after the heads were off for new guides and seals.

Another thread here mentions heads with screw in studs that go into the intake runners. You may have one of those leaking.
It's a simple matter of pulling the screw in stud and putting some sealant on the threads, if your heads are constructed like that.

If you find one plug with oil on it it would indicate which stud it is.

Does the car smoke while decelerating?

Have you contacted the engine builder about this? I'd be curious what they'd have to say.
it only smokes on driver side when I shift gears. Just a puff. Doesn’t smoke at idle or when driving. It’s a 454. Just saying. I plan to call them on Tuesday. I want to pull plugs so I’ll know which cylinder it is. They will probably ask me if I’ve done that.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Blue smoke

Old Mar 20, 2023 | 04:00 PM
  #18  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Default

Oil smoke only from driver's side exhaust indicates leakage into left bank intake manifold or cylinder blow-by on left bank of engine. With new build, most likely intake sealing problem.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2023 | 04:50 PM
  #19  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Oil smoke only from driver's side exhaust indicates leakage into left bank intake manifold or cylinder blow-by on left bank of engine. With new build, most likely intake sealing problem.
okay. Thanks for info. Here are what the plugs look like.






Reply
Old Mar 20, 2023 | 04:51 PM
  #20  
7T3stinger's Avatar
7T3stinger
Thread Starter
Racer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Default

Originally Posted by AKjeff
Have you checked the plugs on that side?
I have pics of plugs below. Thanks
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:32 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE