350 Problems

i have a 1980 el camino with a 77 or so 350 in it. The car was running fine until one day it started cutting out really bad when i tried to accelerate. I replaced the spark plugs, timed the motor, cleaned the carburator, still doesnt run right. It seems like it is missing really bad, and it blows tons of white smoke out. Could it be the distributor? Any suggestions welcomed.

White smoke means burning oil, so most likely, valve seals or rings.

the valve seals are kind of worn, but that doesnt explain the bogging down and missing........

Have checked all your vacume lines?

Have you checked/replaced the fuel filter , not only the inline one but the one that is in the carb as well , where the fuel line screws into it ?

white smoke means water not oil, could be itake leaking antifreze

dmbrisket 51 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=240041) hit it right on the nose. White smoke is water. Black smoke is oil. Blown head gasket, cracked head, cracked manifold. Waters getting into the into the cylinder(s) somewhere. Get it fixed or you might be looking at a ring job also.

doesn't black smoke mean too rich and blue smoke is oil?

Posted by openheaders - 12-05-2004 at 07:00 PMdoesn't black smoke mean too rich and blue smoke is oil?

You know, black, or blue, been so long I'm not really sure. I thought, black, dark blue kind of smoke did mean burning oil. Your probably right and I don't doubt you one bit. Been a few years since I've really been hands on with this stuff. And no it's not like riding a bicycle, you do forget (lol smiles). But I do remember white smoke is water, that's for sure.

turned out to be water in the gas.....few cans of heet later and i'm back on the road

white blue can be just burn off (to rich) black is bad, black is oil, it can varry due to you could have oil and be rich because of it

and its good to hear that it was only water in the tank you did the right thing although i dont go for the heet because the outlaw stuff treats more gallons per oz, either way if i can get heet cheeper i will

If it's black or black/blue smoke. And we all agree black is oil.
Regarding a statement I have a question?

Posted by dmbrisket 51 - 12-05-2004 at 10:27 PMwhite blue can be just burn off (to rich) black is bad, black is oil, it can varry due to you could have oil and be rich because of it

If your burning oil (and of course depending upon the severity of the problem). But if your burning oil, a trail of black smoke. Which I would think must be fairly severe if you have a cloud of black smoke in your wake. Agreed?

So here's my question. How can you be rich at the same time? I mean, I would think if the problem is that severe you'd be lucky to even keep the engine running. The plugs would have to be oil fouled. The poor beast would probably barely be running, wouldn't it? So how could it be running rich also?

Unless, 2 complete seperate problems? They just both happen to occur at the sametime. Sounds like an Irish vehicle then (lol) would have to be.
Luck of the Irish.

depends on how your computer reads the oil burn off, and you are verry right if you burn rich with oil burn your not going far untill plugs are gummed up

QUOTE=Off_Road]dmbrisket 51 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=240041) hit it right on the nose. White smoke is water. Black smoke is oil. Blown head gasket, cracked head, cracked manifold. Waters getting into the into the cylinder(s) somewhere. Get it fixed or you might be looking at a ring job also.[/QUOTE]
can someone tell me what is going on with my 350?
white smoke, water in the oil
had the heads rebuilt - one was cracked
put it back together and it did the same thing. so i put an intake on it. same thing. took heads back off and had them rechecked and they were good. help!!!!!

Heavy white smoke or what we call steam is water or antifreeze in the cylinders. It has a tendincy to stay in the air a long time and taste sweet do to the glucose in the antifreeze.

Black smoke is signs of to much fuel in the cylinders caused by carb dripping into the manifold or the Purge valve diaphram broken or injectors hanging open.

Light Blueish White smoke is oil could be cause by blocked return ports in the heads or rings worn or the valve guides and seal worn or even the PCV valve spring weak.

I do beg to differ. I thought black smoke was bad myself until I verified with my brother in law (veteran mechanic) that it IS NOT. Black smoke simply means that the car is running RICH. I was getting black smoke, and I thought the engine was shot. But after getting good readings on compression of the engine (135 - 150 psi) I changed my mind. Buy a good volt/ohm meter and buy a Chilton's/Haynes manual and check the sensors. Specifically, Coolant Temp Sensor, MAP sensor, etc...


BLUE Smoke: Burning Oil
White Smoke: Water leaking into chambers/head gasket etc...
Black Smoke: Fuel Rich (fuel regulator, MAP, CTS, etc... bad)

I do beg to differ. I thought black smoke was bad myself until I verified with my brother in law (veteran mechanic) that it IS NOT. Black smoke simply means that the car is running RICH. I was getting black smoke, and I thought the engine was shot. But after getting good readings on compression of the engine (135 - 150 psi) I changed my mind. Buy a good volt/ohm meter and buy a Chilton's/Haynes manual and check the sensors. Specifically, Coolant Temp Sensor, MAP sensor, etc...


BLUE Smoke: Burning Oil
White Smoke: Water leaking into chambers/head gasket etc...
Black Smoke: Fuel Rich (fuel regulator, MAP, CTS, etc... bad)
ok here i go, blue, to a blueish black is oil, and as long as it is only at startup your ok, black like what you see from big rigs, is rich, yes it is bad, but its not a huge problem, just get it taken care of, if you let rich go to long it will over wear the engin, so dont treat it as no biggie, white or steme is condensation from the moter while cold or a bad intake gasket and your burning antifreeze, you will know if its just water vapor of coolent from the smell, it will smell nice n sweet if its coolent... tla i would say intake manifold gasket or a head gasket should fix your problem, if not do a compression check, milky oil is a tel tale sign of a bad intake gasket