Hi guys,

My car is a 1988 Formula WS-6 5.0L (L03) and a 5 speed trans.

My problem is:

When I start the car, when cold, there is a little bit of white smoke coming out of the exhausts pipes when idling, that for 2-3 minutes. While driving, if I push it a little hard when cold, I can see a white cloud of smoke in my rear view mirror.

When the engine is hot, there is no smoke at all. When followed by someone, they told me that it smelling oil. Could it be the valve seals? In any event, should I consider a rebuilt or I just add oil when necessary?

When the oil level is not up to the max, I can hear valve train noise, particularly when cruising at low speed and then flooring it. When the oil level is at the max, there is no noise or little noise. Is it an indication of something or it is GM normal (I’m new to V8, used to be 4 cyl. guy).

What is the power rating of this 1988 5.0L L03 engine?

Thanks again

Charles

charles_toupin@hotmail.com

 

white smoke usually indicates that coolant is getting into the combustion chamber somehow and trying to burn...
this usually means you have a blown a head gasket

does your oil look like a chocolate milkshake? That is a tell-tale sign....otherwise you are going to have to do a leak down test and see if there is anything funny going on

 

No, the oil ok. The smoke can be a little blueish. There no leaks, well I think, because there is nothing on the ground, the engine looks very clean

Thanks

 

Sounds like Valve seals to me... HP rating of 170 hp @ 4000rpm, and 255 ft lbs of torquw @ 2400 rpm.

 

the leak that i speak of is internal....you wouldn't see it outside anywhere. Ok, is the smoke white or bluish? Usually when valve seals are bad upon startup you will see a cloud of bluish smoke because when the motor is cooling down, oil leaks past the valve seals and drips into the combustion chamber. When the car sits over night it accumulates and then when you start it up the next morning it burns it upon startup and you get the bluish smoke. The reason it doesn't keep happening is once the engine gets up to operating temperature the seals expand a little and helps to stop it.

 

well, it is more white than blue, but it only happens when the car is stopped for a long time.

Is it a tough job to change that head gasket? And the valve seals? I heard that to change valve seals it was a costly job because of the time involved.

Thanks again