90 Bonneville V6 Running Rough, Strong Gas Smell???

Got a 90 Bonneville V6 3.8L and we were out driving the other day and it started running weird. Almost like it was running on 5 cyl. We then started smelling gas real strong. Managed to get home and called a mech. assoc. of mine. He thought it sounded like the Mass Air Flow sensor. Makes sense, specially since it smelled like it was running very rich. Anyway, bought the $170.00 part and replaced. Upon replacement, tried to start. Would not start without pumping gas pedal. Once it did start, got very white smoke coming out of pipe. Was pretty heavy for a few minutes and then cleared up. It seems to run semi okay while in neutral. Once you get on the road it still sounds like it is running on 5 cyl. Well I then tried the cheap route which I should have done to begin with, changed the plugs and wires. But, still the same thing. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Sparky

I am having the exact SAME problem with mine Changed the MAF AND the throttle pos sensor, plugs and WIRES and still nothing... running like crap however mine runs worse when you hit the gas, its almost like the gas is NOT getting to the engine and vapor locking,.... cant get it above 25 mph pushing the gas... have you had recent fuel pump problems? Just replaced mine about 4 months ago.

Is the check engine light on? Try pulling the throttle body and cleaning everything with B-12 Chemtool. It sounds like it might be the fuel pressure regulator (maybe). I tried everything on my 95 ssei with no luck, it turned out to be the computer. good luck. michael

I think its a gasket, i noticed a large intake of air earlier tonight a friend who is certified agrees with me... I cant figure out what the gasket is called but the MAF is on top TPS just below and to the left is a gasket and its sucking in AIR bad....

He says Vacuum leak.

Sounds like the Idle Air Control motor, take he whole thing apart and clean everything with carb cleaner, check the gaskets. michael.

I never thought this would be such a problem! LOL i have had 3 mechanics look at it, apparently the 2 before werent very good ya know? well im still awaiting a call from the 3rd one to take me down there and see what he can do with it him self...ill post a new thread once this job is completed and the car is running in tip top again

Well I replaced the fuel pressure regulator, apparently to no avail. Still have the same rough running engine that continues to smoke. I don't know if any of you read my other post, but I am concerned that gas is getting into my oil. I checked the oil the other day and when I pulled out the dipstick, it was dripping off very quickly. It is very dilluted to the touch. Not milky, just very thin. It smells like gas is in the oil. How can that happen? I am concerned that the whole motor is going to blow up. Oh, and by the way, the check engine light has never come on during all of this. I used my code scanner and got a 12. All systems go, NOT!! I am starting to think I have a terminal problem.

Sparky

Could be the computer too... gas in the oil.. i havent heard of that happening... could it be possible?

Check for vacuum leaks around the MAF and TPS... thats where mine is...

Could be the computer too... gas in the oil.. i havent heard of that happening... could it be possible?

Check for vacuum leaks around the MAF and TPS... thats where mine is...

Is your vacuum leak coming from the gasket that you described earlier? Or are you referring to one of the lines? Can you actually hear yours sucking air through this leak? If not, how did you determine? I have checked all my lines and don't see or hear anything. Is yours also smoking? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get as much info as possible. I am starting to think it IS the computer.

Sparky

The ONLY thing different about our descriptions is the gas smell... Mine smokes from the exhaust when its started white smoke too. I can hear the air leak at a gasket on the throttle body, just the the left of the TPS. Can also see it when spraying brake cleaner fluid in that area and revving the engine ( well the best i could befor it would try to die )

Did anyone do a noid test on the injectors? Sounds like you have a dead injector (stuck open).

Could it be that? If so how do you correct it?

Did anyone do a noid test on the injectors? Sounds like you have a dead injector (stuck open).

I don't know how to preform that test. But it sounds logical. If it is stuck open, could it flood the cylinder enough for it to seep past the piston rings? Thus mixing with the oil? I would think if that were possible, that I might be seeing the symptoms of a larger problem yet to come? Anyway, any help on diagnosing the injectors would be greatly appreciated.

Sparky

P.S. I checked all of my vacuum lines, no leaks.

I justed wanted to let everyone know that I discovered what was wrong. It was the EGR valve. Part runs about $180.00 to the average joe. Make sure that you scrape all the carbon deposits out on the intake side. Use a shop vac to suck'em out. Make sure your new valve comes with a gasket. The first one I bought from O'Reilly's did not have the gasket. The one I got from AutoZone came with 2, both the same price.

Peace,
Sparky