Jims1988C4

She's not my daily driver,maybe 100 miles a week. Cold start,hard crank then white stinky smoke for about 3 seconds comes from exaust. It passed inspection about 400 miles ago,I was womedering if its a cat problem,anybody?? Thanks in advance.And HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL !!!

rel3rd

My bet is a puff of oil smoke...valve seal issue more than likely. My 85 does it too (w/76,000 miles)

Pretty common on small block Chevrolets.

JOHN89

valve seals
replace them or have them replaced with felpro umbrella valve seals.
Blk on the intake. Clear (hi temp) on the exhaust.

John

johnash

Where is a good place to find these? I'm looking at doing this as well, and I'm having trouble locating them.

rel3rd

Should be able to find them at any parts house that sells Fel Pro...if not, Summit, Jegs, or any local machine shop

87 rag

I got mine from scoggin dickey.

Jims1988C4

I couldn't do that,so what would that cost ??

87 rag

I'm not sure what it would cost but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be cheap.
Somehow you should try to make sure this is the problem before spending this much money on fixing it.
Are you sure it is white smoke?
Usually old valve seals make blue smoke that is only there at start up. White smoke is usually water or steam.
The smell is also different. Smoke from water or coolant is sweet smelling.
Sounds like your car is in nice shape. I was going to suggest changing some other stuff while your in there for performance but I bet you would rather keep it stock.
Good luck

B!@cK 86 V3tt3

Puffs of smoke on start up sometimes occur from condensation getting in the exaust from being sat overnight especially when its rainy/cold. Once you start it up the hot exaust gases come out and make it visable.....That might be your problem. I dont think exaust gases are supposed to smell good either.

87 rag

Looks like a 2 car garage in his avatar. The car likely doesn't sit outside.
Even if it did, I'm not sold on your theory.

B!@cK 86 V3tt3

"sometimes". Just a guesstimate.

grapeknutz

If it's light blue its the valve seals. If it's white that sound as if it's burning anti freeze, are you adding alot of coolent lately?

Jims1988C4

I checked coolent,and its full,I do have a 2 car garage like 87 rag said, and its not a heated garage. Maybe its just condinsate,I only drive it like I said 100+ miles a week and sometimes 3-4 days go by and it just sits. Other then that Shes great.http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jimnj44/...60762327655263

crossfire7

How do you burn anti-freeze? and what would be wrong?

87 rag

What happens if the car just sits for a day or a half day? does it still smoke?
Your garage may not be heated but how cold and damp could it get it's under part of your house?
Nice pictures of your car, seat covers made a big difference.
How did the seats get so bad when the rest of the car is so nice?
Nice fish too.
Can you smell the sweet burning intifreeze smell?
It can be pretty hard to figure out what colour smoke you have on start up. I asked about 6 people to watch behind my car when I started it and got different answers from almost everyone.
I wanted to change my rockers to 1.6:1 ratio so I did the seals while I was in there.
Smoke problem went away.
On one of your threds somone (I think it was bogus) suggested letting your car sit for a day and pull the plugs before you start the car to check for coolant.
This would help your diagnosis.
Maybe another forum member lives near you who could give you a hand with the diagnosis.

87 rag

head gasket is one example.

Jims1988C4

My garage is cool and damp in the winter,I don't smell anything sweet like a coolent smell. I remember before I bought this Vette I looked at a 69 with sidepipes and the smell reminds me of just that kind of heavy exaust smell. She idles at 500 and runs great no smoke ever,just at the start.If I shut her off then restart after a hour or so,no smoke.If it sits for 4+hrs thats when it happens but only at the start and just for a second or two.Am I making a big deal out of this ??

aminnich

Now that sounds more like an injector leaking down, which would give you that kind of smell, but usually a gray smoke. A fuel pressure gauge and leak down test is easy to do.

87 rag

An injector is another option. It doesn't sound like coolant.
You could try running some injector cleanor through with a tank of gas or some seafoam.

coupeguy2001

1. coolant doesn't burn, it turns to steam then returns to water without some of the additives that vaporize.
2. I bet if you pulled your plugs, one of them has abnormal deposits.
That one is where you have a leaking injector.
3. If it is really coolant turning to steam, you need to pull the radiator
cap and check the coolant level there.
4. Changing the valve seals is not a tricky operation, just a careful one.
read how to do it, and get your hands dirty, you will enjoy the
experience of actually doing it yourself and the satisfaction of
accomplishment more than outweighs the "money well spent"
mentality
oh, and have plenty of cat litter if you do it
It's probably an injector