I have a 1990 Trans Am GTA and when i start it after it has been sitting for a couple of hours, a ton of white smoke comes out of the exhaust and it smells like oil. It never happens if it is just started up after a couple of minutes of it being turned off. Any ideas of what it might be? my exhaust system is pretty rusted out, too, just saying.

 

If it is just on startup it is usually a sign of needing the seals and possibly the guides replaced in the heads.

 

is there a possibility in cracked heads?

 

There is that possibility. White exhaust smoke typically means water, while light blue smoke is oil.

 

i know that it is definately smoke. i mean it REEKS when it starts up. i know much about engines but is it expensive and/or labor intensive to replace the seals and guides?

 

Seals can be done with the heads on the motor. All you do is pull the valve cover, rocker arms, and springs.

Guides will require you to take the heads to a machine shop. At that point depending on how the bores look and how many miles is on the motor, it may be a good time to freshen up everything.

 

okay thanks alot! my dad is a master service tech at a dealership so ill just take it in there and see what all needs to be done. he smelled the smoke and assumed cracked heads so after what you said, there might be hope! haha

 

Valve seals really aren't that big of a deal. Very common for these to go bad and puff at startup. Don't worry about it unless you're burning off tons of oil or you just can't handle it.

But as mentioned with a little work you can replace them with the engine on the car. Not a simple easy job but not the worst either.