Need help - stranded and not really running.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 23
From: SE PA
Update - we'll there is some badness internally. Changed the oil and filter, left the original spark plugs, it fires right up and idles easy. Fuel pressure and starting issue seems resolved - but - it is now puffing white smoke. It isn't coolant as coolant levels are holding stable with no loss. It's possible it's blue tinged but my garage walls are blue-gray so hard to tell.
I ordered a compression tester that will be here tomorrow. I truly don't understand what caused all this.
Last edited by JT1911; Aug 2, 2023 at 03:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
In all this I don’t see the FPR being replaced. A ruptured FPR diaphragm would dump gas into the motor and if running, extremely rich. May be worth at least checking out.
you also could have nuked/clogged the cats or have residual crud in them.
gas bathing the cylinders washing off the oil will kill compression and allow oil past the rings…
you may just want to try an Italian tune up…get it good and hot and romp in it to make sure everything is blown out etc…
If it’s truly white (and not bluish) it would be coolant
you also could have nuked/clogged the cats or have residual crud in them.
gas bathing the cylinders washing off the oil will kill compression and allow oil past the rings…
you may just want to try an Italian tune up…get it good and hot and romp in it to make sure everything is blown out etc…
If it’s truly white (and not bluish) it would be coolant
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 23
From: SE PA
you also could have nuked/clogged the cats or have residual crud in them.
gas bathing the cylinders washing off the oil will kill compression and allow oil past the rings…
you may just want to try an Italian tune up…get it good and hot and romp in it to make sure everything is blown out etc…
If it’s truly white (and not bluish) it would be coolant
If it’s truly white (and not bluish) it would be coolant
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 23
From: SE PA
Update - 08-11
Finally had a chance to work on it again. Since the new injectors it fires up and runs fine but we definitely have a oil problem. I pulled it out of the garage and the smoke is definitely blue oil smoke. I let it idle in the driveway for about 20-30 minutes and I could watch the oil pressure gauge slowly but visibly getting lower.
To my mind this points to either bad piston rings or a bad head gasket. If head gasket then that's good news as I know I can fix that. What do y'all think?
Finally had a chance to work on it again. Since the new injectors it fires up and runs fine but we definitely have a oil problem. I pulled it out of the garage and the smoke is definitely blue oil smoke. I let it idle in the driveway for about 20-30 minutes and I could watch the oil pressure gauge slowly but visibly getting lower.
To my mind this points to either bad piston rings or a bad head gasket. If head gasket then that's good news as I know I can fix that. What do y'all think?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 335
Likes: 93
From: San Antonio TX
Update - 08-11
Finally had a chance to work on it again. Since the new injectors it fires up and runs fine but we definitely have a oil problem. I pulled it out of the garage and the smoke is definitely blue oil smoke. I let it idle in the driveway for about 20-30 minutes and I could watch the oil pressure gauge slowly but visibly getting lower.
To my mind this points to either bad piston rings or a bad head gasket. If head gasket then that's good news as I know I can fix that. What do y'all think?
Finally had a chance to work on it again. Since the new injectors it fires up and runs fine but we definitely have a oil problem. I pulled it out of the garage and the smoke is definitely blue oil smoke. I let it idle in the driveway for about 20-30 minutes and I could watch the oil pressure gauge slowly but visibly getting lower.
To my mind this points to either bad piston rings or a bad head gasket. If head gasket then that's good news as I know I can fix that. What do y'all think?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 209
Likes: 81
From: Dalbo, Minnesota
Drive it. You probably have a bunch of oil in the intake from when fuel overfilled the crankcase. You are also burning off oil in the cats. Idling in the driveway is asking them to overheat.
just check the oil level now and then.
just check the oil level now and then.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
After this you will hopefully have cleaned everything out....if it is STILL smoking you MIGHT have a valve seal or ring issue....
Oil pressure going down is not a problem...happens as oil heats up. It is not like a fuel gauge...if you actually run down on oil it would not gradually go down...it's measuring pressure and it would be "fine" until it started to cavitate pull air. I.e. it would suddenly drop to 0/spike and that is VERY BAD because that means the engine is starving of oil RIGHT NOW...which means shut it off NOW.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 23
From: SE PA
After shutting her down I checked the oil level on the dipstick and it's right where I left it.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
What you are describing is perfect oil pressure!!! You are good!
around 20 psi at idle is completely normal when hot. oil pressure varies with RPM, the higher the RPM the higher the pressure. Someone will chime in and tell you exactly what PSI to expect per additional 1k rpm.
Also when nice and hot the idle will settle lower.
around 20 psi at idle is completely normal when hot. oil pressure varies with RPM, the higher the RPM the higher the pressure. Someone will chime in and tell you exactly what PSI to expect per additional 1k rpm.
Also when nice and hot the idle will settle lower.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 128
Likes: 26
I'd suggest another oil and filter change soon(ish), doesn't cost much and makes sure there aren't any contaminants left in the oil. The lower idle is probably because the ECM is now able to better control the amount of fuel. Picture shows perfect gauges, you're good!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 70
Likes: 23
From: SE PA
What you are describing is perfect oil pressure!!! You are good!
around 20 psi at idle is completely normal when hot. oil pressure varies with RPM, the higher the RPM the higher the pressure. Someone will chime in and tell you exactly what PSI to expect per additional 1k rpm.
Also when nice and hot the idle will settle lower.
around 20 psi at idle is completely normal when hot. oil pressure varies with RPM, the higher the RPM the higher the pressure. Someone will chime in and tell you exactly what PSI to expect per additional 1k rpm.
Also when nice and hot the idle will settle lower.
Everybody - God is good - y'all seem to be right. Put about 150 miles on it in the last 2 days and it is a happy corvette!
I plan to do another oil change after this tank of gas just to be safe. So... Who am I going to see at corvettes at Carlisle?