Every time I start me car I get a noticable puff of white smoke out of the exhaust. Never get it any other time. Anyone know why. I must confess that I do push the gas while turning it over. If I don't, it takes too long to kick over, and when it does its a week idle until i hit the gas. With a quick tap on the gas, she kicks right over strong.

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Could be as simple as condensation in the exhaust, mine does it alot in mornings

 

If it's white and you don't have to add coolant it's condensation. If it is blue it is oil from leaking valve guide seals

 

ok....triple.....sounds to me like you may have 2 separate isolated problems.....

first.....for your puff of the white smoke...

1..... are you sure it is indeed white.....and not just condensation burning off? if you are positive it is white......well....white is.....steam....and steam is usually from the coolant system.....so double check you have no coolant loss....if you do.....or if you have bubbles on top of the coolant when removing the cap off the coolant tank (when the engine is completely cold).....I would suspect a blow head gasket....the number 7 cylinder in L-98's is notorius for failing first.....ask around....people with tell you....

2.....if no coolant leaks.....I would examine that white smoke closer.....have someone else start your car up and get right behind it near the exhaust to observe it really closely.


ok..onto your idle/gas pedal start.....

my first and only guess here is ....injectors....sounds very much to me like you have either a clog one or ones....or they are on there way out.....hopefully someone can put you up the numbers (*you can measure the injectors witha mutimeter) I don't have the values though.

if the injectors are indeed out of acceptable operating range...its time to replace...I like many others would recommend you get the Ford Motorsports.... Cobra Injectors.....they are 24 lb....vs ours our 22lb....but from what I have heard and seen posted....they are highly recommended....not only because they work just as good if not better..but cost like 1/2 of what GM injectors go for.

well hope this helps....
jeff

 

Sounds like bad valve seals. I had the same problem. It was burning a small amount of oil. You could see the puff of blueish smoke on start up and smell burnt oil. Pretty easy to tell the difference.

This is common with cars that have sat for a long while or have a lot of miles on the engine. It's an afternoon of work but not to bad to fix... :yesnod:

 

Does it matter if it sits for a few minutes or 1/2 hour or overnight? How about hot or cold? If you start it, then shut it off and start it again, does it still smoke a little, or does it have to run for a few minutes? I'm guessing either valve seals(light blue smoke?), or a small bit of coolant seeping into cyl, or intake runner. If it does it more hot than cold, let it cool enough to remove radiator cap. Put radiator cap on loosely, start and let run until it is good and warm, and then shut off. Wiggle radiator cap to release any pressure from system, let sit and then restart. If no smoke, check for coolant seeping either into cylinder or into intake runner.
Maybe check your pcv valve, pull it off and check to see if oil in hose. Just a couple of ideas. Good luck. :cheers:

 

Thanks for all the responces. Here's where I stand. All the injectors were checked with a multi meter about a month ago, and all checked out fine right around 17.5. I am positive that the smoke is white and doesn't have a blue tint. I definitly don't have a coolant leak. I don't think its condensation because the puff comes out simultaniously as it starts. Burn off would take a sec. I will have someone start it and I will check the smell. Injectors could be leaky since they are original and pushing 120,000mi. I will update tomorrow on the smell.

 

I too would say that its either condensation or oil coming down through the valve guides. Try to see for sure what it is. Do the before mentioned, and get back to us.

If indeed it is the head gasket. I can help you do the work here. Its not that bad. Just time consuming. Then again we might as well put my 219 cam in there with some porting done to your heads! Slap on a SR and hello 12s! :smash:

Get back to us and let us know what you find! Good luck my friend :cheers:

 

$$$$$Money says it's the dried up valve seals> Does the car sit over the winter??

 

No, its my daily driver, and I've had it 6 yrs without any problems.

"If indeed it is the head gasket. I can help you do the work here. Its not that bad. Just time consuming. Then again we might as well put my 219 cam in there with some porting done to your heads! Slap on a SR and hello 12s!"

Ski after reading your reply, I'm hoping it is the head gasket. I think I remember smelling gas one day.

Wonder if I could wake my wife up and ask her to start my car for me. She's 7 mo's pregnant, so I doubt she'll do it. They just don't understand. :lol:


[Modified by Triple Black 88, 11:36 PM 9/11/2002]

 

If you know anyone that works in a service garage, ask them if they have a "sniffer" to check your exhaust fumes for traces of coolant. If he charges you for it, give the bill to the wife and tell her that she wouldn't help, so she has to pay! :D :eek: :lol: :lol: :lol: When you get back up, let us know what went on! :lol: :lol: :cheers:

 

Ya, don't make this more complex than it has to be- the car is 14 yrs old, all the heat under the hood cooks valve stem seals- pretty straightforward job, see the tech tips for a nice article on this; not a matter of "if" with valve stem seals, just "when".

 

Do the paper over the tailpipe test to tell what it is. :D

Hold a piece of doubled over white paper over each tailpipe when someone starts up the car. Keep it there with your hand for a minute or so. Sniff the paper - smell like gas, antifreeze or oil? Let the paper dry. Water will evaporate and leave no marks. Antifreeze will leave a color spot (green or orange, pale). Oil will leave halos (oil color). I'm not sure what gasoline will leave, but you'll be able to smell it afterwards.

Once you know what the smoke is you can properly diagnose the problem. I for one have a hard time telling from the color of the smoke. :yesnod: ~Juliet

 

OK, here's the update. I did all kinds of tests today. Sorry for the delay, I just got home from the Phillies game. :rolleyes:
The smoke is white, comes out of the drivers side muffler only, and smells normal with a hint of gas. I have strait dual exhaust without any Y pipes or cats, so each side is isolated.
There is smoke on every start up, but the longer it sits, the more smoke. I don't want to make it sound like its a cloud or anything, but its noticeable out the rear view mirror after 9hrs at work. After say 1 hr, you cant see it from inside the car. My brother said he saw just a small puff.
Any Ideas :confused:
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I'd pull all the plugs on the drivers side, keeping track what cyl. they come from, and check thier color/condition. I'm guessing you could have a small leak(coolant) into a cyl or two. If only one plug is discolored concentrate on that cyl. If two are discolored, where they next to eachother(1/3or3/5or3/7)? If so, i'd think bad head gasket, and I'd retorque the cyl head to see what happens(can't hurt). Possibly might even be a crack in the cyl head, either in a port or the chamber. I myself would retorque the head anyways, and go from there. Good luck. :cheers:

 

Had another thought to narrow down if it is coolant seeping into cyl. Let car sit long enough to be same temp as outside(overnight would be good).
Start car and let run only until smoke quits then turn it off.
If it only took a minute or so ok, if not check radiator to make sure there is no pressure. If not warm yet or at least no pressure in radiator, let car sit for 5 minutes.
Restart car, and watch how much, and how long it smokes. Keep track.
Now take the car for a drive,hard if you want, and get it up to operating temp. then go back and shut it off.
Let it sit 1 minute, and restart it, turn it off when smoke stops or if no smoke at all turn it off.
Let the car sit 5 minutes again, restart it and watch how much, and how long it smokes now. Does it soke more that the first time it sat for 5 minutes?
If so, more than likely to be coolant seeping into cyl. or port. When it is hot, there will be pressure in cooling system, and could cause it to seep more. just a suggestion. :) :cheers:

 

This morning I decided to film the start up today. After further review, the white smoke comes out both sides. Maybe a hair more on the drivers side.
sinistervette the puff of smoke only comes out on the initial start up, and only for 1 - 2 secs. I'm going to try to figure out how to post a video clip tonight. If I can't, I'll download some still frames from the video. That way everyone can see what it looks like.
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UPDATE: Just showed the video to a guy at work, and he said it was definitly the Valve Guide Seals.


[Modified by Triple Black 88, 7:39 AM 9/13/2002]

 

A leakdown test would tell you for sure if it was a head gasket. You would see bubbles in the radiator if it was leaking into the coolant system.

My car before the new heads were put on, did the same thing. Upon removal of the heads the gaskets were fine. Must have been the valve guides. :cheers:

 

Just my 2 cents worth i had the same thing on my 91 let it sit over night and puff of white smoke, turn it off and right back on no smoke, let it sit for 1/2 and hour or more smoke. it turned out to be the valve guides, i had 95,000 on it at the time. :seeya

 

If it is indeed white and it is a "puff" only right at startup, no way is it condensation. Living in New England we're used to our cars being fog machines for a good 10 minutes or so on a cold winter morning. You should see condensation say a minute or so after you have started the car. The exhaust system needs to warm up enough in order to evaporate the standing water in it.