enragedyouth85

Hey guys! Every morning when I startup my car white smoke comes out of my exhaust for a few seconds and then clears up. If I shut it off after it has warmed up, and start it again.. it doesn't do it. If I shut it off and let her sit for awhile it does it again. I am thinking a bad head gasket? Thoughts??

JesasaurusRex

iTrader: (3)

condensation...

enragedyouth85

It smells though.. doesn't smell like just water building up..

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like your injectors need to be cleaned. Or you could try seafoam. Will smoke for a while after using it than completely clear up. Mine did that and I started with seafoam. That was not enough, had my injectors cleaned and no more smoke.

enragedyouth85

I'm not very mechanically inclined, so what would that cost?

EvilCartman

iTrader: (1)

1 million dollars.

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Yeah million dollars, by the time you drop all your hard earned cash in the car.lol
Well seafoam is about 10 bucks at your local auto store. Injector cleaner if you have the connector and can of cleaner, you can do it your self. research what you need. Or a mechanic should only charge about $30 dollars tops! Good luck

enragedyouth85

I'm gonna go buy some seafoam at walmart or wherever and do it myself.. seems pretty easy. **** 1/3 - 1/2 in the carb throat, turn off the car for like 10 minutes and then start it again... drive aggressively.. for like 5 miles and we should be good.

UNCLE TOM

iTrader: (1)

in your case i would go to the Auto Hobby Shop on your base with a can of SeaFoam . ask one of the people working there for some help/advice . unless things have changed since i left active duty you will get good help & advice . ( M/sgt. A.F. ret. , Acft. Maint. ) good luck .

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

If not, probably valve stem seals.

JesasaurusRex

iTrader: (3)

would be blue if it were valve stem seals, what do the plugs look like?

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

I forgot my colors this morning apparently.

Blue oil, black rich, white water.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

It's valve seals unless your losing coolant. if your not loosing coolant then in no way is it a headgasket unless its leaking oil in there. but VERY VERY VERY common is valve seals. My car does exactly what you described and its bad valve seals..and I guess technically it could be bad valve guides.

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

Maybe it's bluish/white smoke and he has multiple problems, haha.

I would think a headgasket would be constant smoke, whereas valve seals are infamous on these cars at startup.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

It's white smoke for mine too maybe a hint of blue. If it is not valve seals i'd be real suprised.

enragedyouth85

Thanks for all the info guys! What would replacing the valve seals cost me?

JesasaurusRex

iTrader: (3)

Don't just throw parts at it. If its white its water. Probably a head gasket

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

If you arent losing water/coolant/antifreeze then in no way is it water.

Replacing the valve seals are going to run you a few hundred dollars for sure.

If you have a shop you like to go to. take it there and have them inspect it.

Copchaser

iTrader: (2)

U r correct there.

My thoughts would lead me to valve seals also. You have to remember its intermittent, not everytime the car is started.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

it is EXACTLY what my car does and I dont have a headgasket problem because I do not loose coolant. Agree with me too dammit!

90IROC1

iTrader: (4)

My IROC does the same thing every time it sits for a period. You are correct 89undercovertbi!

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

im doing mine in the next couple weeks so if it takes care of it (it should) then ill post back up about it.

of course bad valve guides could cause this too. but being I dont use that much oil i dont think the valve guides are completely toast. (i should have gotten a better valve job when I rebuilt the engine)

porkyzilla

iTrader: (1)

i went through with this guy at my work on an 85 tpi i got frustrated after listening to him try to explain and i went out side only to find his white smoke had a blue tint cough cough it was bad valve guides/seals it was a low mile motor usually its no big deal, record video of the start up than post it and well give our true thoughts

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I just assumed the OP was color blind.

enragedyouth85

Well I finally made a video of my smoke, I recently ran Seafoam through it so hopefully that clears everything up..

Video

Video 2

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

deffinately a bluish tint to it. exact same thing my car does. Its valve seals and/or worn valve guides in the cylinder heads.

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

. ..er actually, what I said originally, haha.

enragedyouth85

Well so how much would you charge me to fix my valve seals? lol

OUTATIME GTA

iTrader: (2)

If that is the case, it's not killin' your car or anything, so you could always hold off, especially if you have other plans to mod the springs/retainers and more.

Since you're up north maybe you should shoot a PM/call to "3rdBird" and see what his shop in Rocklin would charge ya. I know a guy off HWY-70 in Plumas Lake that does side jobs and might give you a fair deal too.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Take it to a local shop by you. Id assume youd be paying a few hundred dollars for sure.

3rdbird can take care of it im sure. Look for him on here as OUTATIME GTA said.

And it actually isnt that bad yet. If you have major engine mods planned maybe you hold off and not spend money that isnt needed.

Like if you plan to change heads no point in putting money into these ones...etc...

enragedyouth85

Well I do have a more pressing matter with my car, the car can't be aligned because my steering column is loose. Either needs to be replaced or tightened.

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

Blue smoke probably will clear up with valve seal job., white smoke is normal. My car makes white smoke when its cold cuz of condensation. I think different exhaust systems may make it more noticable then others depending on size and material. I also have no cats.. Dunno if that contributes any...

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

No cats? you earth killer you!

enragedyouth85

I have a flow master on my car, with Cats though!

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

Its ok. My nissan is a clean dd and more then makes up for my iroc lol. I look at it like trading smog credits between my cars. Big companies can do it. So can i.

enragedyouth85

lol, my car is my daily driver and the state my car is registered in requires a smog test so I have to keep the cats if I want it on the road..

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

true dat!

BTW you did see I posted black ss 4th gen leather interior in the craigslist thread?

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

i did. cant afford it quite yet.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Awww dammit man I do all this work for you and you can't afford it? Lol jk. Sorry for the thread hijack. Now back to your regulary posting.

enragedyouth85

Haha, it's all good! The more talking the better!

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

well in that case show up june 11th at sacramento raceway, in your camaro or not for a get to gether! 4 pm til whenver you wanna leave!

enragedyouth85

Let me ask the wife is she wants to go, she will be pretty pregnant by then so we shall see. I would love to go though and hang out and BS and eat some grub. I won't be racing that day but I will drive my camaro there so yall could see it.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Sounds good!

enragedyouth85

Alright, it's game on UnderCover. The wife said she wants to go, and we will just bring the baby stuff with us incase we need to run to Roseville because of the baby. What would you like us to bring?