I have a 1987 iroc Z 305 TPI...the car blows smoke at start and after sitting a lights. I was thinking valve seals now for about a month BUT I had my uncle behind be yesterday and he says its fuel coming out not burnt oil.He's a car guy to so he knows.Said is so bad his eyes stung. So with the plugs being white but fuel smell what could it be?I don't have any codes.

 

What color is the exhaust smoke?

 

gray..whitish gray..smells like fuel..stings eyes...I thought oil at first but now that you can smell it idling and it puffs when taking off. My fuel economy is going down also..

 

just a thought cause it happened to me before but smell your engine oil does it smell like gas? if so i had an evap system and an egr vavle do the same thing, with the egr vavle it was stuck open letting eccess fuel enter oil, likewise with the evap system ( 2 diffrent cars)

 

What you're describing is a lean condition at idle.
You need to check your fuel pressure and injector function.

A fuel problem that would cause this also normally causes a lean condition all the time, so you would have surging at times during normal driving.
Besides the surging the engine would feel very snappy, and you should log very high BLMs.

If it is only at idle, then that suggests a possible MAF problem, or a vacuum leak between the MAF and your plenum.

Otherwise, if all cylinders are showing lean (white plugs), then that suggests a vacuum leak. In some rare cases the engine could be ingesting coolant in all cylinders, but that's very unlikely and would probably show additional symptoms.

 

ok great so lean then..what should the fuel pressure be around?If pressure checks out good then most likely injectors,or vacuum leak?I have to get an ohm meter the one I have doesn't go to thousandth.

 

305SBC your dead on..the car is VERY snappy,and it will sometimes idle up by itself to about 1500 RPMs and stick there.IF I turn the car off then restart it will drop down to about 750 or so.

 

Hook up a laptop to do some datalogging.
The additional data will be helpful.

Once your engine is warmed up and idling ok you can unplug the IAC valve.
This disables the ECM control over idle speed. It will be helpful for troubleshooting - finding your vacuum leak or whatever the problem is.

You could then start eliminating each vacuum source one at a time, and or use a propane torch (not lit) to help find the vacuum leak.

Have you checked for a leak in the rubber boot connecting your TB to your MAF?

Fuel pressure at idle should be between 38 and 43 PSI.
Did you check every sparkplug for the whiteness?

 

yes, I changed them all out about 2 weeks ago..they all were white.it seems the more when I get into the throttle the more the gas smell and cloud behind the car..

 

Well If your RPM is up around 2000 or more and you're getting surging and lean misfire, that points to an overall fuel delivery problem that is affecting all of the injectors. Low fuel pressure would fall into this category.
Have you not checked it by now?

 

I had to order a fuel gauge.The local parts stores only had ones for Carbed cars.It sucks only need it for oh about 15 seconds.I will check for vaccum leaks tonight.Its hard working on it,i'm a divorced father with two girls.I don't have them tonight so I can tear into it..I'll let ya know if I find anything. thanks for the help..I hope your right..

 

ok checked vaccum tonight with a gauge..about 18 lbs steady so no leaks..will get a ohm meter and check injectors tomorrow.