loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Hi,

Just went out to check my coolant level that I just filled today and it has gone down a lot.(might even be empty, can't see.)also posted earlier that I have blue smoke coming from the right side of my exhaust system when starting up and idiling.(I have dual glasspacks exhaust system and the left side does not smoke.)checked the oil dipstick and there is nothing out of the ordinary on it....what is the problem I have ran into guys?

Car sat for a year prior to me buying it.originally had the 2.8 5 speed but was swapped with a edelbrock 4 barrel carbed 350.

Please help me out....money is tight and I'm concerned.

Thanks!

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Google SBC blown head gasket

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

But if it was a head gasket there would be white smoke and there would be froth on the oil dipstick..have none of that.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Does the blue smoke smell like oil or coolant?

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Smells like gas.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

I do have a major tranny leak as well, does this matter?

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Same as my old 84 Z28 blow by on one of the cylinders, bad rings lead to blue smoke going out the exhaust on one pipe. as for loss of coolant, check heater core and all hoses.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

There is no heater core...so what am I looking at for a fix man?thanks.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

I have also heard of guys driving their car the way it sits...so sounds like it's not that big of a deal?

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Well if your puffing blue and burning oil the only fix is to rebuild the motor, some companies claim you can put stuff in your motor to fix the issue but you can't fix it, once you crack a ring then you must replace the ring, honestly, its not even that big of an issue, keep coolant topped up and oil and it will be basically out of sight out of mind.. The only fix is rebuilding the motor..

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Exactly what I have heard..thank you for your honesty man I appreciate it a bunch.

Motor is solid, no ticks or anything like that...I got the car last month and when I drove it home I didn't notice any blue smoke...ever since I changed the oil to mobil1 I noticed it...car sat for a year to.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Yeah usually when they sit they develop issues, when I bought my 84 H.O. 305 Camaro the owner claimed the motor to be rebuilt, but it was owned by a bunch of idiots, they replaced the original 700r4 auto trans with a brand new auto 700r4 and didn't even put fluid inside of the trans, so I drove it for a week and kept wondering why it would hold gears, I look and it was bone dry, the carb on the motor was also f***ed from the start and would make the car surge and sputter, and they also did not mention anything about the car needing a full on front end rebuild since it pulled to the side like a mofo, I sold the car since I didn't have the money or time to put into it. And the funny part was passing people since when you would give her in the car it would puff blue so bad it would smoke out everyone else on the highway.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Yeah, I dislike dishonest people man, I believe in karma, what goes around comes around.

This is my 3rd camaro..owned 2 prior 86's and my last one was an iroc..and I am kicking myself in the arse for selling it...these cars are increasing in value everyday and will only continue to go up.I'm a huge car nut but more so a camaro nut.this current rs I have is by far the best car I've owned.just wish I knew more about the mechanical side of things...I'm learning though.car is fast as hell, I beat a 98 cobra and the race wasn't even close lol.

Thanks again for your knowledge buddy.

P.s. what do you think is causing the loss of coolant?I do have a leak in the resivor but that shouldn't cause the radiator to loose coolant should it?

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

No that would be causing your leak most likely, coolant runs in a circle as its all connected, its your overflow tank and is constantly cycling throughout the motor, so that is probably your issue. And I know what you mean, my first was a 2.8l 88 Gunmetal Gray RS, Second was a 1986 WS6 T/A with a 350, third was a 97 Firebird anniversary with a h.o. 3.8l posi all option hardtop Fbird, then a 02 Silverado then a 84 Camaro Z28 and now driving a 1997 Ram 1500 5.9L 360 V8 with 372,000km and I am buying a 1986 WS6 T/A like my old one in a month and a half.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Oh ok man, cause I looked under to see if there was a puddle of coolant and there wasn't, but its leaking on the underside of the resivor...comes out slowly, so no reason to believe otherwise?

Cause when I start the car up, it doesn't smell like coolant, it smells like gas so I'm sure it's not a head gasket issue.there is no bubbles or anything on the dipstick.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Yup, this current one I own was originally a 2.8 5 speed, but it has been converted over to a carbed 350 with a 700r4 tranny, guy didn't know what he was doing I don't think...I need new seals to patch the leak.700r4 are great trannys from everyone I've talked to.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Great choice on the TA man...my uncle owns a 79 with the 400,car is mint.

I won't sell this 89...want to keep it and start a fleet of classic cars.

You're only 18?you seem tobe pretty educated about engines man...you might want to consider a career in automotive.thank you Travis for all your help buddy!

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Anytime man, and nope 17 not 18 till November, and yeah automotives in my passion I am pursuing a career in it hopefully I work as a automotive detailer currently for Kia. lets just say I hate Kia now.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Lol,hey man, kia had a nice line of new cars out..like the cadenza etc.I'm a gm guy...gonna buy the new impala;)

Have a good night buddy:)

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Most likely your blue smoke problem.
Synthetic oils are " thinner" than Dino oil so the new oil will get through places like the worn valve seals into the cylinder easier .
Also the detergents in the oil can clean off crud that was previously sealing a oil leak potential.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

For sure.
Everytime the engine runs , the coolant heats up , expands and the excess goes to the expansion tank.
When the engine cools down, it sucks the coolant back in to keep the system full.
If no coolant available in the tank because it has leaked out, engine will suck air back in so your engine coolant level will be lower.

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

For your coolant leak, check under the water pump. There's a weep hole under there that'll leak fluid when one of the internal pump seals wears. It's common on SBC water pumps. It'll leak when you drive because the system is under pressure and won't leave hardly anything on the ground.

As for your blue smoke, the 85 TPI Iroc I just picked up does the same thing. I'm gonna start with new valve seals then work from there.

Good luck, hope this helps!

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Well said, thank you so much pal:)

Re: loosing coolant along with blue smoke coming out of exhaust.
 

Ok, I'll go and check that out...thank you for your reply buddy and good luck with your 85:)