How would I figure out if the thick coating of soot in my tailpipe is from burning oil or WAY rich? Sometimes, while accelerating I get a darkish (I can't tell whether it is blue or black) cloud behind the car. The muffler and tailpipe are only one month old and the buildup of black stuff in there is incredible. This started about three days ago. The only thing I have done recently is replace the distributer module. I am going to do a compression check on it when I get home, but I am hoping you can give me some other ideas of waht to look at.

P.S. sorry, I forgot to mention that this is on my 86 Chevy Sprint 1.0 liter.

THANKS!,
Mark

 

I believe the soot means rich, I don't think burning oil leaves soot.

 

Soot would be gas. gook would be oil.
I had an 86 Sprint but it wasn't rated in liters. It was rated at 1600 cc's
I loved that car.

 

This thing used to get me 42 mpg, now I only get 30. This little two barrel carb has 10 wires on it! I can't figure out if the computer is doing something wrong or if the mixture control solenoid is messing up. I know that when I put power to the solenoid it clicks. I wish I could get codes from this thing but it doesn't have provisions for that. Oh yeah, my engine is a whopping 996 cc's.

Thanks to you guys for your help!
Mark