'89 iroc brief blue smoke @ cold start up
Brian
cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
Drew Skinner
Same here. Nothing wrong just normal wear, don't worry about it. If it
bugs you enough and you have a pretty good sized chunk of money sitting
around, you can have new valve guide seals, and possibly new rings
installed.
Drew
'89 Z L98 A4
Keith Christian
up in the exhaust.
Zim Hosein
Zim-->I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
Zim-->cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
Zim-->few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
Zim-->engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
All that means is that your valve guides are a little warn, don't panic.
If you car smoked all the time, you would then have a problem. Hope this helps,
later.
:-Q zi...@pipeline.com drives a red '85 IROC-Z L69 5 Speed.
"Everybody wants to be your best friend. You get rid of them...you shake hands and be nice, but you know what's going on."
The Canadian Nevadan
> I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
> cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
> few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
> engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
>
My 1989 Trans Am GTA does the same thing, usually in the late
spring/early summer. A puff of light blue...then clear from sitting
overnight. My engine is the L98 350TPI. I guess some oil drops overnight..
I have heard of many people who share the same "blue-smoke" problem, my
car also runs like a top....very wierd...
Jason E. Samulaitis (The Canadian Nevadan)
[||||BAR||||] [||||BAR||||] [||||BAR||||]----------------------PAYLINE
Tyler Westlynne
spid...@pacificnet.net (Brian) wrote:
>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
I have a 87 Z28 with a 305 TPI and a 5 speed. I found it with only
18,000 original miles on it and it does the same thing. Blue smoke
for a few seconds, and then nothing. It runs great, so I guess I
wont worry.
Steve
GM problem on their newer cars. The dealership I worked at was replacing them
on NEW blazers when the owners complained.
It's not hurting anything however it can be fixed with umbrella-style valve
stem seals.
Hope this helps,
Steve
Oto60
> >I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
> >cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
> >few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
> >engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
> >
Here is your problem: the valve stem seals in your cylinder heads have worn
out. When you car sits overnite, oil remaining in the cylinder head runs
down the valve stems into the combustion chambers. By the time you go to
start it, there is enought oil sitting on top of the pistons to give you a
pretty blue smoke show.
This problem is more nuisance than serious. Just make sure you check your
dipstick often. This eventually happens to most small block chevies,
especially cars that are stored winters.
Klaatu Barada Nickto
The blue smoke is burning off of this oil. Its nothing, all 80's IROCs did it.
>The Canadian Nevadan <ja...@io.UWinnipeg.ca> wrote:
>On Sat, 13 Apr 1996, Brian wrote:
>
>> I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>> cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>> few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>> engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
>>
>
LO...@uswest.com
operates a cold start valve, which is essentially an extra fuel injector
designed to richen the air/fuel mixture (i.e. choke) so the engine won't die
during idle or really cold conditions. Notice that the RPMs are higher during
this period. When the engine idles down to about 600 RPM, the smoke should
stop or shortly thereafter.
It's not oil that's causing the smoke, it's the extra fuel that isn't burning
completely. If your oil level doesn't go down, this is what is happening. If
your oil IS going down and it isn't leaking, then you have an oil consumption
problem.
John
mpvance
) writes:
:>
:>
:>spid...@pacificnet.net (Brian) wrote:
:>
:>>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
:>>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
:>>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
:>>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
:>I have a 87 Z28 with a 305 TPI and a 5 speed. I found it with only
:>for a few seconds, and then nothing. It runs great, so I guess I
:>wont worry.
This is caused by oil seepage past the valve guides, it will get worse as the
wear on the guides progresses. The only way to correct is with a valve job
and good quality seals.
Mark Vance
1972 LT-1 Corvette Convertible
2X4 Offenhauser Cross Ram
M-22 4-Speed
Thomas A. Moreau
Tom
--
Thomas A. Moreau aw...@torfree.net
Toronto, Ont.
Canada
Phil
>John
Ok.. but doesn't fuel look Black when it comes out very rich?? Not
blue???
Joe Wrona
> I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
> cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
> few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
> engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
>
>
nuisance.
In my case, shortly after I noticed my '87 IROC 5.0 5-speed smoking on a
morning startup, I had a valve keeper break and bent an intake valve. This
gave me the perfect reason to rebuild the heads (new
guides/seals/keepers/springs/1 valve + 3 angle valve, pocket port, intake
gasket match :^)) and get some other go faster parts...
joe
wr...@ix.netcom.com - NeXTmail welcomed!
-- anxiously awaiting driving at Bandimere to "see what it'll do" -- 15.633
and hopefully dropping
JAMES A JACKSON
: spid...@pacificnet.net (Brian) wrote:
: >I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
: >cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
: >few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
: >engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
: I have a 87 Z28 with a 305 TPI and a 5 speed. I found it with only
: 18,000 original miles on it and it does the same thing. Blue smoke
: for a few seconds, and then nothing. It runs great, so I guess I
: wont worry.
Blue smoke could be tranny fluid coming in through
the vacuum modulator valve sensor tube. Check to
see if there is any fluid in this line. If there is
then the valve is in need of replacement.
Your problem is more likely to be one or more bad valve
seals. When you park the car, the oil runs down the
valve and into the cylinder, or collects at the top of the
valve; when you get up to go to work in the morning ...
VAAAROOOMMMM ... blue smoke everywhere. This can only be
fixed by replacing the seals which is a lot harder than
checking the vacuum modulator, which is why I mentioned it
first.
Good Luck
Tony ... '78 T/A!
JAMES A JACKSON
: spid...@pacificnet.net (Brian) wrote:
: >I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
: >cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
: >few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
: >engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
: I have a 87 Z28 with a 305 TPI and a 5 speed. I found it with only
: 18,000 original miles on it and it does the same thing. Blue smoke
: for a few seconds, and then nothing. It runs great, so I guess I
: wont worry.
I just took the time to read the rest of the article and
noticed you have a MANUAL tranny, which elliminates the
theory of the vacuum modulator problem. Guess that leaves
you with one option from my perspective!
Tony ... '78 T/A!
LO...@uswest.com
that if you get a blue "puff" of smoke upon a cold start, you have a valve seal
problem. Worn valve guides would create a blue "cloud" until the engine is pretty
well warmed up, when heat causes tolerances to narrow due to metal expansion as a
result of being warmed up.
I wouldn't characterize the smoke of a normal TPI engine upon cold start to be
black. Grey or grey/blue would be a better description, maybe black on the inside
of the tailpipe or directly below the tailpipe on the pavement (test on concrete).
Remember that when an engine is running rich due to operation of a choke or cold
start valve, that fuel tends to "wash down" cylinder walls, causing wear and allowing
oil to get past the piston rings, especially if the ring seal is not at its best.
That is precisely why I had a MANUAL choke Holley carb on my '72 Camaro for several
years. I used the choke only to start and could use 1/4 to 1/2 operation until engine
warm up on cold days. When I tore down the engine after 7 hard years, I had very
little wear on the cylinder walls and very little carbon on the pistons or combustion
chambers. Keep in mind that I changed oil religiously at 2500 to 3000 miles, did
tune ups when I was supposed to, had a good ignition system, etc.
John
Brian
>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
Many thanks. The consensus is valve guide seals. I will worry about
the heads when the problem gets much worse. When I switched from mobil
one synthetic 5w-30 to 15w-50 it seemed to help. For now, the light
blue smoke is only for a few seconds at a cold start up and then it
clears up.
Brian
89' iroc/LB9/5sp/G92
Chris Trias
>
> I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
> cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
> few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
> engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
I have an 89 Trans Am GTA. I had that problem at approximately
18,000 km. The dealer replaced the valve seals with teflon coated seals
to prevent it from breaking down like the originals. My car now has
97,000 km and its starting again. All Trans Ams, Camaros & Corvettes
with the 5.0 & 5.7 have that problem.
P.S. You may also want to check to see if you have an intake manifold
leak. I had mine done 3 times and I know for a fact that all the
other Trans Ams, Camaros & Corvettes have that problem also.
Chris Trias
Chr...@Interlog.com
LO...@uswest.com
Sorry, but I must have a problem with my 87 Formula 350. I've owned her since new,
and I don't have ANY of the problems that you have described. NO leaks or burning
oil, and I use Mobil 1 synthetic, so if I had a problem, the synthetic would aggravate
the situation.
I don't know why you are having so many problems, could be many things.
By the way, I have about 35,000 miles on it and most people would tell me that I
don't baby the thing either. Of course, I maintain it well and I don't abuse it.
If you have had to have your intake serviced 3 times (Wow!) in the last few years,
I'd say that either you have a defective part, or lousy mechanics turning wrenches
on it, and I would say that NEITHER is acceptable in a quality service shop. I
could see twice (hey, people are human) but I think that somebody just likes to
clean out your wallet about every other year.
I haven't heard of a lot of people describing your situation either. How about all
you other F-body fans -- care to share your stories?
John
mrh
>
>What you guys are seeing on TPI engines is that during cold start-up, the ECM
>operates a cold start valve,
The cold start valve was removed in 89 on L98's.
>It's not oil that's causing the smoke, it's the extra fuel that isn't burning
>completely.
Worn valve seals is a know problem for small blocks. My 88 GTA did it as well.
James Peterson
: I bet its that one weird factory problem where the oil return channels splash some oil on the intakes.
: The blue smoke is burning off of this oil. Its nothing, all 80's IROCs did it.
: >The Canadian Nevadan <ja...@io.UWinnipeg.ca> wrote:
: >On Sat, 13 Apr 1996, Brian wrote:
: >
: >> I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
: >> cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
: >> few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
: >> engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
: >>
: >
: >My 1989 Trans Am GTA does the same thing, usually in the late
Neil P. Hoag
>>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
'She' runs fantastic? Well, that's great. Tell 'her' I'm very happy
for 'her'. Meanwhile, I'm in the back seat with my knees in my face
breathing light blue smoke!
coo...@ix.netcom.com
>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
You dont have a major problem, but still a problem. The smoke at cold
start up is caused by bad valve seals. It can be fixed without pulling
the heads, but its a bitch. The seals dont cost hardly anything, but
if you take it to a mechanic your looking at arould at least $500.00.
Daniel Botelno
I seem to have the same problem on my 87 Iroc 305 TPI, Except not only
does it does it blow smoke at start (which, by the way, seems to take
aobut 6 secs just to start the damn thing!)it does it when the car is
idling too long. I mean, If the car is idling for aobut 3-5 minutes, I
will see some dark blue smoke behind me for the next 15 secs. I don't
have much of a clue about what it is, but some people have said that it
is the valve guides. Perhaps you can shed some light on the
situation...I would really appreciate it
Thanks,
Daniel
Brian Recknagel
In article <4kok17$8...@news2.cais.com> Brian wrote:
>I have an '89 iroc with 305 TPI, 5 sp manual,54k miles. When started
>cold after sitting overnight, it blows light blue smoke (oil) for a
>few seconds and then suddenly stops completely. Is this a common
>engine problem for 305? Other than that she runs fantastic.
Just the valve guide seals. Beleive that it is a common problem. It is
just a puff of smoke. It happens on my '87 IROC 305 and I have seen it on
my friends T/A.