Dark smoke when first started?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: Sublimity OR
Dark smoke when first started?
I hope that some of you "interpret smoke" 
After sitting for a couple of days, my car lets out a puff of dark smoke upon starting. It is not blue, which I think oil would be so........
I drove to the corner drug store to pick up a prescription for my wife; when I got out of the store from that, there was no smoke.
It only happens after it sits for some period of time apparently. The car starts immediately.
The car has 53,000 miles on it; the mechanics took out the spark plugs and told me that it "looked good", whatever that means.
Kistler
After sitting for a couple of days, my car lets out a puff of dark smoke upon starting. It is not blue, which I think oil would be so........I drove to the corner drug store to pick up a prescription for my wife; when I got out of the store from that, there was no smoke.
It only happens after it sits for some period of time apparently. The car starts immediately.
The car has 53,000 miles on it; the mechanics took out the spark plugs and told me that it "looked good", whatever that means.
Kistler
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 942
Likes: 389
Leaky fuel injector depositing a small amount of fuel on top of one (or more) of the pistons?
Black smoke means too much fuel. Have you checked the oil to see if you have fuel in the oil?
I'm sure some of the gurus will be along soon to give good advice.
Black smoke means too much fuel. Have you checked the oil to see if you have fuel in the oil?
I'm sure some of the gurus will be along soon to give good advice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 892
Likes: 1
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
black smoke - rich fuelblue smoke - oil
white smoke - water (coolant)
stock (Multec) injectors won't last because of the ethanol in gas
check out www.fuelinjectorconnection.com like most of us did, or call Jon @ 770-888-1662
Last edited by Jimbo 89; Aug 6, 2011 at 06:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: Sublimity OR
I really appreciate your input--all of you-- I would imagine the injectors need attendtion in any case and this seems the least expensive first fix; am I right?
The valve stem leak would necessitate taking off the heads, I guess. This sounds like major surgery that I could not do my self.
I am going to "research" getting the injectors rebuilt as one of you suggested. First where are they located? The last tune-up I did was in 1959 on my 1951 Chevrolet hardtop.....was my last disaster.
Kistler
The valve stem leak would necessitate taking off the heads, I guess. This sounds like major surgery that I could not do my self.
I am going to "research" getting the injectors rebuilt as one of you suggested. First where are they located
? The last tune-up I did was in 1959 on my 1951 Chevrolet hardtop.....was my last disaster.Kistler
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
I really appreciate your input--all of you-- I would imagine the injectors need attendtion in any case and this seems the least expensive first fix; am I right?
The valve stem leak would necessitate taking off the heads, I guess. This sounds like major surgery that I could not do my self.
I am going to "research" getting the injectors rebuilt as one of you suggested. First where are they located? The last tune-up I did was in 1959 on my 1951 Chevrolet hardtop.....was my last disaster.
Kistler
The valve stem leak would necessitate taking off the heads, I guess. This sounds like major surgery that I could not do my self.
I am going to "research" getting the injectors rebuilt as one of you suggested. First where are they located
? The last tune-up I did was in 1959 on my 1951 Chevrolet hardtop.....was my last disaster.Kistler
That is one way to do it. Since it doesn't have overhead cams, it probably isn't the end of the world to do that. In any case, it can be done WITHOUT head removal.
http://corvetteinjectors.com/
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 50
From: Palmdale CA
If you stand behind the car when it is started, you can smell the differance between the differant smoke..
Black: smells fuel
Blue: smells oily
White: smells sweet like , anti freeze.
If you have an L98, then there is a possability that the "fuel pressure regulator" could also be leaking a bit..
Black: smells fuel
Blue: smells oily
White: smells sweet like , anti freeze.
If you have an L98, then there is a possability that the "fuel pressure regulator" could also be leaking a bit..
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
Absolutely true. However, sometimes it is hard to see between blue and black if you are sitting in the car. Besides, I do question why it happens after it sits for a while and not all the time
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
If you stand behind the car when it is started, you can smell the differance between the differant smoke..
Black: smells fuel
Blue: smells oily
White: smells sweet like , anti freeze.
If you have an L98, then there is a possability that the "fuel pressure regulator" could also be leaking a bit..
Black: smells fuel
Blue: smells oily
White: smells sweet like , anti freeze.
If you have an L98, then there is a possability that the "fuel pressure regulator" could also be leaking a bit..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: Sublimity OR
Aaah, "the return line"....the people I took it to for the initial (should I buy it or not mechanical inspection) inspection said that a fuel vapor return line was leaking.... I think they also said (not written out) that there was gas in a cannister???????
????because the local garage I took it to could not find this to be the case. Maybe the local garage has missed something. The did $589 worth of flushes and filter changes.
Kistler
????because the local garage I took it to could not find this to be the case. Maybe the local garage has missed something. The did $589 worth of flushes and filter changes.
Kistler
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
Aaah, "the return line"....the people I took it to for the initial (should I buy it or not mechanical inspection) inspection said that a fuel vapor return line was leaking.... I think they also said (not written out) that there was gas in a cannister???????
????because the local garage I took it to could not find this to be the case. Maybe the local garage has missed something. The did $589 worth of flushes and filter changes.
Kistler
????because the local garage I took it to could not find this to be the case. Maybe the local garage has missed something. The did $589 worth of flushes and filter changes.
Kistler
Not sure what they flushed. I would do a rear end flush, trans flush, power steering flush and new filters but not much more than that. I usually change all the fluids when I get a new vehicle.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: Sublimity OR
OK, will not worry The local people did those flushes -- changes of coolant, engine oil, PS oil, brake fluid, fuel filter; I don't think they did the posi traction/differential though.
My wife is in recovery from surgery so if "she were to fall into the drivers seat" to start the money pit she might not every recover -- when my neighbor (he was a Chevy dealer in Nebraska) gets home I will have him do the sniff/sight test. The only problem there being is that he smokes (cigarettes) and may have lost his sense of smell--he can still see.
Kistler
The local people did those flushes -- changes of coolant, engine oil, PS oil, brake fluid, fuel filter; I don't think they did the posi traction/differential though.My wife is in recovery from surgery so if "she were to fall into the drivers seat" to start the money pit she might not every recover -- when my neighbor (he was a Chevy dealer in Nebraska) gets home I will have him do the sniff/sight test. The only problem there being is that he smokes (cigarettes) and may have lost his sense of smell--he can still see.
Kistler
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,312
From: Hartford WI
OK, will not worry The local people did those flushes -- changes of coolant, engine oil, PS oil, brake fluid, fuel filter; I don't think they did the posi traction/differential though.
My wife is in recovery from surgery so if "she were to fall into the drivers seat" to start the money pit she might not every recover -- when my neighbor (he was a Chevy dealer in Nebraska) gets home I will have him do the sniff/sight test. The only problem there being is that he smokes (cigarettes) and may have lost his sense of smell--he can still see.
Kistler
The local people did those flushes -- changes of coolant, engine oil, PS oil, brake fluid, fuel filter; I don't think they did the posi traction/differential though.My wife is in recovery from surgery so if "she were to fall into the drivers seat" to start the money pit she might not every recover -- when my neighbor (he was a Chevy dealer in Nebraska) gets home I will have him do the sniff/sight test. The only problem there being is that he smokes (cigarettes) and may have lost his sense of smell--he can still see.
Kistler
I wouldn't worry about that. Still, you should have your injectors cleaned and tested so if it comes back and still does that, you might have other issues like the valve stem seals.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Montreal QC
If the L98 has the aluminum heads I would say it was the valve stem seals. It's common for it to smoke on start up after the oil has settled through the valves. Fuel would burn everytime you'd start it.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
To sum it up: Black smoke points to leaking injectors. Call Jon at the number provided. He hasn't let anyone down yet.
Blue smoke would indicate oil which most likely leaked past valve stem seals. Seals can be changed without pulling the heads.
Neither injectors or seals are brain surgery. Procedures are well documented in Tech Tips and can be done in a day.
Blue smoke would indicate oil which most likely leaked past valve stem seals. Seals can be changed without pulling the heads.
Neither injectors or seals are brain surgery. Procedures are well documented in Tech Tips and can be done in a day.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 5
From: Sublimity OR
Thanks Muffin for the info, details. By the way, when describing my Corvette is it enough to say it is "stock" 5.7L? As far as I know it is/was ordered for fun and not the drag strip. I don't think it is an LT1; am I right?
Kistler
Kistler