Why does my car smoke(white) when engine is cold, could it be oil leak between valves?
At the beginning the car just smoked once in a while...but tonight it smoked for about 2min before it quit..seems like its getting worse everyday... smells gas too..
I´ve just bought the car 4 weeks ago
any suggestions guys?
-------------------
z28 -87
305 tpi
5 speed tranny

 

White smoke usually means you're burning coolant. Check your coolant level to see if this is the case. If it's oil leaking past the valve seals, then the smoke will have a bluish cast to it.

------------------
91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

I´m not really sure but I have been refilling my watercoolant a couple of days ago. So if it turns out to be that it´s leaking coolant what should I do... The last thing I want to do is do break down the engine into pieces. Could i harm the engine by driving it in this condition?

------------------
Z28 -87

 

My guess is that it's leaking from the intake because I've had this problem on both thirdgens that I've owned, althought it could be something else. You don't have to actually go into the engine to fix it if it is the intake. It'll probably take you a few hours and new gaskets won't cost much at all. But if you're not at all mechanically inclined then you might want to just leave it. I don't see why you would hurt anything as long as you don't let the coolant level get too low.

------------------
91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

hey vicious, your smoked because of that stupid little leak. that makes me feel much better.
thank you soo much i will be fixing that this weekend or next.

 

Hmmm I have noticed that it looked wet around the intake...I was not sure if it was oil or coolant...So u thinkt that the only thing that is broken is the gasket at the intake?

------------------
Z28 -87 TPI
white with T-roof
red interior with leather seats
Wagner Borg
all options

 

Where exactly on the intake does it get wet?

And are your sure if it's oil or coolant?

I have a small oil leak on mine, on the passenger side of the intake.

I will probably replace the intake gaskets when I put the car away for winter storage...

Have you removed your plugs and checked if there is any water in any of the cylinders after the car has been sitting for a while?

As long as you don't get coolant in your cylinders it shouldn't be anything to worry about at least not immediatly, but I suggest you replace the intake gasket....

What part of Sweden are you from, I am from Uppsala myself....

------------------
ZaphodB a.k.a Carl Andersson - zaphodb@faxancruisers.org
'89 Camaro IROC-Z 5.7L TPI - Mods under construction :-)
Custom ARAP Chip Under Development/180 t-stat, Edelbrock TES Headers,
SLP Airfoil, K&N Filters, Accel 8mm wires, Relocated MAT, AFPR @ 45 PSI