New engine smokes
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New engine smokes
New 302 short block in an '86 Bronco.
Put it in, started it up and did the preliminary breakin.
No problems noted. Oil preasure is good, water temp stayed below 210.
Stopped it. Drained and replaced the oil.
Finished up a few odds and ends. Forgot to install the pcv valve and oil splashed out onto the engine and firewall. Hooked up the exhaust.
Started it back up to try and move the truck, but it won't move (tranny problems). At this time a large whitish cloud pours out the exhaust.
I shut it down. Thought maybe oil was getting past the pcv valve so I modified it.
Still getting smoke but not as severe. Starts smoking after running about a minute. Didn't run it long, just long enough to verify the smoke and try to track down an exhaust leak.
Oil on dipstick is clean. No discoloration. No odd noises from the engine.
Pulled two plugs. Both have black deposits on the insulator and white deposits on the hook thing
(the very tip).
Also, something was nesting in the exhaust. Most (all?) of it blew out, and I don't really think it's connected to the smoke, but...
My question: how concerned should I be? What should I check?
I'm too tired and ***** *** to think straight right now. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Put it in, started it up and did the preliminary breakin.
No problems noted. Oil preasure is good, water temp stayed below 210.
Stopped it. Drained and replaced the oil.
Finished up a few odds and ends. Forgot to install the pcv valve and oil splashed out onto the engine and firewall. Hooked up the exhaust.
Started it back up to try and move the truck, but it won't move (tranny problems). At this time a large whitish cloud pours out the exhaust.
I shut it down. Thought maybe oil was getting past the pcv valve so I modified it.
Still getting smoke but not as severe. Starts smoking after running about a minute. Didn't run it long, just long enough to verify the smoke and try to track down an exhaust leak.
Oil on dipstick is clean. No discoloration. No odd noises from the engine.
Pulled two plugs. Both have black deposits on the insulator and white deposits on the hook thing
(the very tip).Also, something was nesting in the exhaust. Most (all?) of it blew out, and I don't really think it's connected to the smoke, but...
My question: how concerned should I be? What should I check?
I'm too tired and ***** *** to think straight right now. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
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New engine smokes
If you have an automatic trans you may be sucking trans oil threw vac modulator line......a bad vac modulator would also answer your tranny headaches. Follow the small vac line down to your tranny, it will stop at the modulator......pull it off the modulator, if there's trans fluid leaking you've found your headache ! '86 Bronc should have a C6 trans, some of the modulators were "screw in" style" and some had a small forked bracket holding them in which was secured with a bolt. The modulators are commen items at most all parts houses and are a snap to change, some are adjustable and you can actually change your shift points (rpm) to suit your driving style! I might mention the modulator will be a small canister looking deal with one vac line and it can be found near the parting line for the trans case and extension housing (where the tranny mount area is).......well best of luck and don't forget to check your tranny fluid after the modulator change and again with engine warmed up !
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New engine smokes
O.k.
Warmed it up. Smoke doesn't start for a couple minutes.
When I'm sure the water is circulating I look at the coolant in the radiator.
A few air bubbles come up. Is that symptomatic of head gasket problem, or am I looking for something else?
Oil remains sparkling clean. I could probably bottle it back up and sell it as new.
Thanks for your patience and opinions.
If it is the head gasket, what could cause it to fail? And why clean exhaust for two minutes then smoke? (Preasure build up in the coolant?)
Warmed it up. Smoke doesn't start for a couple minutes.
When I'm sure the water is circulating I look at the coolant in the radiator.
A few air bubbles come up. Is that symptomatic of head gasket problem, or am I looking for something else?
Oil remains sparkling clean. I could probably bottle it back up and sell it as new.
Thanks for your patience and opinions.
If it is the head gasket, what could cause it to fail? And why clean exhaust for two minutes then smoke? (Preasure build up in the coolant?)
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 345
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From: oh
New engine smokes
What color is smoke? If blue its oil being sucked in usually aroumd intake manifold...If its white usually from watergetting inat hd gasket,intake,or any source. Did you have heads checked for cracks and flatness? Should be flat within .006 overall and .002 within 6" using straight edge. Does the smoke stop after getting good and warm?
I assume good shop practices were used.
LOL caddy chuck
I assume good shop practices were used.
LOL caddy chuck
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New engine smokes
Smoke is what I'd call white.
Not really sure what "blue" smoke looks like.
Definitely not black.
Only visual checks on the heads. They are very flat. No visual imperfections. Aluminum. I doubt they are cracked, but can't prove it.
Smoke started when the engine was very warm (~190). No smoke, then a large dense cloud of whitish smoke emerged.
I've only run it for short periods since then. Smoke is much reduced from that initial cloud, but engine temps are lower.
Cold engine does not smoke.
When I get the opportunity, I'll disconnect the exhaust and see if things are isolated on one side of the engine.
I'll also check the remaining plugs, and generally start tearing things down till I find a problem.
But that'll have to wait until I can afford some new gaskets (Friday).
Not really sure what "blue" smoke looks like.
Definitely not black.
Only visual checks on the heads. They are very flat. No visual imperfections. Aluminum. I doubt they are cracked, but can't prove it.
Smoke started when the engine was very warm (~190). No smoke, then a large dense cloud of whitish smoke emerged.
I've only run it for short periods since then. Smoke is much reduced from that initial cloud, but engine temps are lower.
Cold engine does not smoke.
When I get the opportunity, I'll disconnect the exhaust and see if things are isolated on one side of the engine.
I'll also check the remaining plugs, and generally start tearing things down till I find a problem.
But that'll have to wait until I can afford some new gaskets (Friday).
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New engine smokes
Well, if it is as simple as that, I'll find out when I undo the exhaust.
I'll make that my next step. It's leaking anyway, so either way I have to check it out.
Hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow. But this heat is killing me. If I didn't have so many expenses, I'd quit my job and go to work at a conveniece store. AC is an awsome fringe benefit.
I'll make that my next step. It's leaking anyway, so either way I have to check it out.
Hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow. But this heat is killing me. If I didn't have so many expenses, I'd quit my job and go to work at a conveniece store. AC is an awsome fringe benefit.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Claremore, Ok 74017
New engine smokes
I had a similiar problem when I rebuilt my motor. Ended up being a bad spark plug wire, and burning oil in the cylinder during the rebuild, Run if for a while and make sure pressure is good and see if it doesn't go away. Took alittle over 2hrs, and weeks of driving before mine stopped smoking.
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From: McCaysville,Ga
New engine smokes
i had the same problem once because of water in the exhaust pipes and mufflers. while rebuildind i left the hood off and rain and everything else got into the pipes.. heres another way to diagnose problem. after letting the engine run for awhile does it get low on oil, or anti freeze??? if it does, id say you have a gasket problem or cracked head. if it does not then i would say it is coming from the exhaust pipes having water in them. most mufflers will hold alot of water!!!! and also it wouldnt start to burn off till the motor gets warm just like you described!
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New engine smokes
Water in the exhaust? No way. This is something major.
The fact that it stopped I attribute to temporary carbon buildup sealing the leak
Now back to the tranny..., which has temporarily turned into a frozen brake caliper...
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. It's just that my luck normally doesn't work like this. If it looks like a major problem, it usually is. If it looks like a minor problem, there is usually a major problem causing it.
And that first cloud of white smoke was HUGE. I guess the water in the cat reached vapor temp and whoosh.
The fact that it stopped I attribute to temporary carbon buildup sealing the leak
Now back to the tranny..., which has temporarily turned into a frozen brake caliper...
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. It's just that my luck normally doesn't work like this. If it looks like a major problem, it usually is. If it looks like a minor problem, there is usually a major problem causing it.
And that first cloud of white smoke was HUGE. I guess the water in the cat reached vapor temp and whoosh.
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From: Detroit
New engine smokes
I am not an expert and I am just taking a guess here. You say the initial plume of white smoke was huge. Either we have a new Pope or your head gasket blew. Initially it was weak but held until coolant pressure built up and gushed into cylinder. Let it run until the coolant gets hot then let it sit. Pull the plugs and look for a wet one. Turn the car over and you might see a miniature "old faithful" as water is shot out of one of your cylinders. I just replaced a head gasket on a BMW and for some reason it blew right off the bat. I think I scratched the gasket sliding the heavy head around to line it up. The good news is it is easier to do the second time around.
Russell Mack
Russell Mack
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From: Detroit
New engine smokes
I liked..
"It's just that my luck normally doesn't work like this. If it looks like a major problem, it usually is. If it looks like a minor problem, there is usually a major problem causing it." Ahh, life at it's best.
My credo is "All you gotta do is....What can go wrong." Then the project mushrooms from there.
regards
Russell Mack
"It's just that my luck normally doesn't work like this. If it looks like a major problem, it usually is. If it looks like a minor problem, there is usually a major problem causing it." Ahh, life at it's best.
My credo is "All you gotta do is....What can go wrong." Then the project mushrooms from there.
regards
Russell Mack
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