Do I need a tune up???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 14
From: POINT PLEASANT NEW JERSEY
Do I need a tune up???
I bought my 87 in May of this year...great shape , the previous owner really took good care of her. She runs great...no hesitation, mileage seems ok....pep all seems ok.
When i start her up..... (which I try to do at least every 3 days or so
as well as take her out for a spin or two), I get a "Sooty" smoke puff from the exhaust which sort of suspends in the air in my Garage ...
she doesnt smoke after that really...but the best way to describe the puff is like a thick soot and when you catch a wiff of it it is strong....I
describe the smell as Soot. Is this from sitting around....carbon deposits on the valves , a tune up due or something else???
Thanks 
When i start her up..... (which I try to do at least every 3 days or so
as well as take her out for a spin or two), I get a "Sooty" smoke puff from the exhaust which sort of suspends in the air in my Garage ...
she doesnt smoke after that really...but the best way to describe the puff is like a thick soot and when you catch a wiff of it it is strong....I
describe the smell as Soot. Is this from sitting around....carbon deposits on the valves , a tune up due or something else???
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,531
Likes: 1
From: Conroe TEXAS!
Cruise-In X Veteran
My guess would be valve seals as well. A sign of age...... I wouldnt worry about it untill it gets bad, its a SBC thing. Every one ive ever had over 8 years old or 75k miles has had at least a small "puff" after sitting a few days.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
Seafoam-here I go again lol. It's an additive-used to clean injectors, help remove carbon deposits,help pass emissions etc. I've used this product on Vettes, other cars and boats.It's not snake oil. It really works. BUT-I've never used it there way! I don't like adding anything to engine oil. There instructions say 1/3 in gas tank, 1/3 thru vacumn line, 1/3 in crank case. I put 1/2 in gas tank, 1/2 thru vacumn-YOU must keep the RPMs up while going thru vacum-best to have 2 people here, it usually smokes like a SOB, and sometimes can film the 02 sensor-causing a code 32-but will burn off, you just need to disconnect battery to clear code.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Originally Posted by Chewch87
I bought my 87 in May of this year...great shape , the previous owner really took good care of her. She runs great...no hesitation, mileage seems ok....pep all seems ok.
When i start her up..... (which I try to do at least every 3 days or so
as well as take her out for a spin or two), I get a "Sooty" smoke puff from the exhaust which sort of suspends in the air in my Garage ...
she doesnt smoke after that really...but the best way to describe the puff is like a thick soot and when you catch a wiff of it it is strong....I
describe the smell as Soot. Is this from sitting around....carbon deposits on the valves , a tune up due or something else??? Thanks
When i start her up..... (which I try to do at least every 3 days or so
as well as take her out for a spin or two), I get a "Sooty" smoke puff from the exhaust which sort of suspends in the air in my Garage ...
she doesnt smoke after that really...but the best way to describe the puff is like a thick soot and when you catch a wiff of it it is strong....I
describe the smell as Soot. Is this from sitting around....carbon deposits on the valves , a tune up due or something else???
Thanks Don't worry about it. My L-98 did it, but my LT-1 don't do it.
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
A puff of blue smoke on start-up is valve guide seals. As stated, is pretty much normal for a SBC with 75,000mi or more. I have 107,000 on mine and it doesn't do it but, the previous owner had the valve guide seals replaced @ 47,000 miles as part of the warranty work-up.
A puff of black smoke on start-up is an indication of a fuel system problem. Ie... leaking injectors, bad cold start injector, etc.
Hope this helps,
Mike.
A puff of black smoke on start-up is an indication of a fuel system problem. Ie... leaking injectors, bad cold start injector, etc.
Hope this helps,
Mike.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
You also might want to run a bottle of Red Line Fuel injector cleaner the next time you fill'er up. It should help clean some of the carbon buildup on you valves, as well as cleaning out your injectors...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Originally Posted by Midnite 88
A puff of blue smoke on start-up is valve guide seals. As stated, is pretty much normal for a SBC with 75,000mi or more. I have 107,000 on mine and it doesn't do it but, the previous owner had the valve guide seals replaced @ 47,000 miles as part of the warranty work-up.
A puff of black smoke on start-up is an indication of a fuel system problem. Ie... leaking injectors, bad cold start injector, etc.
Hope this helps,
Mike.
A puff of black smoke on start-up is an indication of a fuel system problem. Ie... leaking injectors, bad cold start injector, etc.
Hope this helps,
Mike.
