I have a ’91 Formula with the 350. I just recently bought it used and have noticed that when the car is started a pretty good size puff of bluish/white smoke comes out of the exhaust. It only happens at startup, and is more intense after the car has been sitting overnight. After it has run for 10 seconds or so it is cleaned out and there is not traces of smoke. I wondered if the valve seals are leaking and allowing oil to seep into the cylinder when it sits for extended periods and that is the oil burning off, although I wonder because the smoke is more white that black. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Absolutely the valve stem seals. Mine did the exact same thing when I got it, even worse with synthetic oil, so I replaced them and the old o-ring seals in there just crubmled away into my hand. Grab a good set of Fel-Pro seals and your problem is just some labor away from being solved.

 

Its probably a combination of the valve seals and guides. The valve seal is a seal around the valve stem, in the head, which keps oil from draining down the valve into the cylinder. The problem is they wear out eventually, so while your car is sitting parked, oil is collecting in the cylinders. It does it while driving, too, but it doesnt accumulate, so you dont notice any smoke. The problem with Chevy engines is, the valve seals dont actually do all that much. It is the valve guides that keep most of the oil out of the cylinders. Those are the metal sleeves, which are pressed into the heads, that the valve stem slides up and down inside. Unfortunately, when these wear out (mine are shot), you have to get a machine shop to remove the old ones, and press new ones in. Ford and Dodge have umbrella seals, which go under the valve spring, and they are shaped like a dome, and they work much better.

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1983 Pontiac Firebird SE
LG4-Based Chevy 400
700R4 Tansmission
Modified 4 Barrel Q-Jet Carb
Accel Super Stock 8mm Wires
Edelbrock Pro-Flo Air Cleaner
3.23 Posi Rear
14X7" Cragar SS/T Wheels
Clarion 45X4 CD/AM/FM Head Unit
100WX2 Amp
2 Pioneer 12" Subs in Custom Box
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is only half an engine"

 

What they said above. Just keep in mind that it is an annoyance, not a serious problem. As long as you aren't burning alot of oil, it doesn't hurt anything

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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

 

white smoke is gasoline, black smoke is carbon, and blue smoke is oil. white smoke at start up is normal. when i start up i get a cloud of smoke that is white but has a little bit of a bluish tint to it.

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1991 RS LO3
mods: 14" chrome air cleaner, straight-piped after cat exhaust with one chrome dual tip on the left side.
future mods: headers, removing smog equipment, and as many cheap mods as i can find
aol s/n: budman8503

SUCKING GAS AND HAULING *** -The American Dream

 

I thought it was normal too since mine looked white and not hardly bluish, but it doesn't smoke a bit since I replaced those seals.

 

If you're seeing bluish/white smoke on start up it COULD be the valve seals like was mentioned above! What they failed to mention is that worn out rings will do the EXACT same thing!! You should start by doing a compression check to make sure it's not the rings!!

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1986 Trans AM
305 TPI
200,000+ miles (speedo/odometer non-funtional! Odometer reads 142,000)
4 Wheel Discs
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
Completely Stock
Soon to upgrade to a 355 converted from TPI to Carb, Edelbrock 750CFM Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake, Hedman Shorty Headers, Stock casting pocket ported heads (2.02/1.60 - 65cc), XE268 Cam, Moroso HEI ignition kit with external MSD Blaster II Coil and an MSD 6-AL Box!!
Current project: Keeping my 305 running until I get my income tax returns!

 

Chris, how many miles you got on the engine?

 

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[This message has been edited by bullfrawg (edited March 03, 2001).]

 

YOU ARE SLIGHTLY WRONG
white is moisture
black is rich fuel mixture
whitish blue is oil



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1985 TransAm BLK/GLD Stock
1985 TransAm BLK/BLK
305HO (soon as it is put in) 5-speed, 3.27 posi, WS6, power everthing.
http://www.geocities.com/bullfrawgs

 

you STILL HAVENT GOT THOSE TACES DONE AND THE MONEY BACK .....SPECIAL SLOW LEARNERS PROGRAM?????? the rings "could" be the trouble but,... doubtful only on poor bulit or old tired engines does this occur with rings its his seals if it has lower milage(under 80,000 miles!!!) by the way doesnt your smoke black like a freight traim??? ????????heheheheheh



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89 firebird formula


356 10.7:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
434 casting completely redone with bronze guides and 202/160 valves 64cc chambers. decked .0005 thousandths
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!

future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!

 

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89 firebird formula


356 10.7:1compression
comp cams xe262 cam
performer rpm intake
#1405 edlebrock 600
434 casting completely redone with bronze guides and 202/160 valves 64cc chambers. decked .0005 thousandths
msd 6al
h.e.i. proform 50,000 volt vac. advance ditributor
700r-4 with 3.08 first gear and 3.23 posi 7 5/8 rear end.
b trans shift kit(will kill shifts...suck dong!!)
shorty heddman hedders with custom 3" pipe y-pipe back(no damn cat!) with 40 series flowmaster!

future mods: 406 roller REALLY REALLY REALLY RADICAL!!!!!