When I start up my 88 Trans Am it blows out smoke out of exhaust. Is this normal for a older car?

 

well yes and no. Is it only on startup? it is very common for these cars to have bad valve seals and/or valve guides which will leak down the valve stems into the cylinder and when you ignite the cylinder up...pooof. it'll be white smoke with a bluish tint to it. you could also be using coolant but im assuming you'd notice that going low.

 

Do you think it will fail smog emissions if it throws to much smoke only when starting up

 

My car also has the smoke at start up (bad valve seals I would guess ) and I passed smog here in CA just yesterday. My car really only dose it in the morning after its been siting over night.I also drove it for a while before taking it in so it was running at operating temp (that's 180 for my car)with no trace of smoke.

 

Just a tip when taking smog before going to shop run it hard rev it good at shop it heates up converter and the hotter the better effective it is but ya valve seals most likely if its coolant it would be nasty sweet smelling

 

Alright thanks have you guys got your Valve seals fixed or have you just ran em like this?

 

You can have them fixed. you can do that with the heads on the car. now if it has valve guides then you'll have to pull the heads off to have them machined up. you will not fail smog just because a lil smoke at startup. But I'd do what the other poster recomended. First set up an appointment time at the smog station. Then take it out for a highway run before you go. Then when you get there keep the engine revving warming up the converter. usually the smog guy will warm it up before he runs it too. then the converter will be working at maximum efficiency

 

Yeah what I'm going to do is take it to go smog on a day that it don't blow out smoke, and warm it up real good

 

sounds good

 

Thanks for the help!! I'm not going to bother fixing since I'm saving for a 350!

 

way to roll!