91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

ok so i have a 91 camaro 350 TPI speed density 700r4. just recently it has started blowing a lot of smoke it seems to be oil but its not really blue, ive had a cracked head on an old motor before so ive seen what burnt coolant looks like, this motor has about 30k miles on it. i tried replacing pcv, breather and vacuum hoses, and nothing is helping, its fine on startup and idle but once its warm and sits at a light or something thats when it really starts blowin, ill try to get a video up soon, any thoughts?

FtrSpeedy

Sounds like my old firebird when i cracked piston ring landings and warped piston rings. do a compression check.

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

Any tips on doing a compression test with shorty headers. And what should psi be? Ive only tested cylinder 1 and it was like 120

MrPackstin

iTrader: (9)

Compression tests are supposed to be done with all plugs removed and with throttle completely open. 120 is considered ok, but close to low...test them all. This sounds like valve seals...sitting at lights then when you take off it blows heavy smoke.

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

Here is a video of idle then some reving. The motor is warm. But it is cold out since I live in washington. I know there is a ton of water coming out the pipe if you watch it. But even when its super hot and dry out it doesn't blow this much smoke but it definitely has a constant little blow. It takes about 4 mins for it to start smoking after start up. I firat noticed this when I let it sit and idle on a hill when the car was facing downward. Could the oil pump have been spinning dry?

maxjivi05

Smoke looks white so that is more then likely coolant, my car had blue smoke from valves not seating properly and since I couldnt afford to fix it I tried engine repair from bars leak and reduced the smoke to almost no smoke revved, but looks like coolant to me so possible intake gasket not seated or torqued properly?

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

Gosh this sounds stupid. But I don't have a factory tpi coil bracket I cut up my v6 one and made it work and it uses the 2nd bolt from the back on intake manifold. Anytime I took the coil bracket off a little bit of coolant would seep out but I would just put it back and tighten it up and had no problems. Why would this happen all the sudden??

maxjivi05

Well those two bolts in the back on both sides and front on both sides go into the water jackets and hold your manifold down & keeps coolant in, I've always used permatex on those eight bolts to ensure they don't leak out, either way if your 2nd bolt from the back you are using isn't holding the manifold to the head to the torque it could be leaking into your firing chamber and or your oil, which both are not good, I'd pull the 1 or 2 plugs near that bolt and check to see if there is any coolant on it, if so you know where your problem is if not then it was better safe then sorry, also check your dipstick for any coolant or milky coloring.

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

Ok sounds good. I'm gonna pull my headers off and do a compression test and take a look at all the plugs once u get home...more info pics and videos coming up

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

ok got the headers off and compression and coolant test done, coolant system holds pressure, all cylinders clocked in at 150psi on the dot for all of em. i checked my oil and was definitely low, i do have a timing cover leak but it shouldnt be losing that much... so it looks like im burning coolant but loosing oil?? take a look at plug for cylinder 8, it was the only one that looked "oily" also on cylinder 8 i noticed the header bold in the far back was extremely loose, i dont know if that matters

maxjivi05

Was your coolant any lower? Plug 8 does look like it's the one burning whatever is causing all the smoke. Does it smell like oil or coolant, looks like oil but never know with carbon build up + wet always looks oily. Either way coolant = gaskets or crack / warped head, block and oil is basically the same. Is personally take a weekend and replace gaskets it should be obvious where the leak was. If you can't tell what gasket it was then it could be the heads or block. Have you had the car extremely hot?

Or if you don't want to do all that work and try a temp fix that may hold you over till you get time to do the work get some bars leak for your radiator and engine repair for the oil. I had the same issue and it stopped 99% of the smoke and has gave me time to save money to buy new heads and rebuild bearings and all.

91Camaro_RS

iTrader: (3)

it has gotten pretty hot, like once or twice, but i got it cooled down quick, freeway or blasted heater...i just dont wanna get the heads off and do gaskets and get it all together and have it be the heads cracked or block... wouldnt i have oil in coolant and vice versa if it was a head gasket tho?

maxjivi05

Head gaskets can be coolant in water coolant in firing chambers oil in firing chambers, really anything. Do you have aluminum heads or iron? If it got hot you probably at least have head gasket issues since you've got oil or coolant burning. I'd change them out if you've got the tools and the time. If not then buy that liquid stuff and see if it helps till you can fix it the right way.