exhaust smoke problems

I have a 1990 Olds 98 that was running great and just recently started smoking from exhaust. The smoke is white in color and the car around engine smells like gas. The engine wil run but is missing and the service engine light does not come on. Any advice for fixing would be appreciated?

Problem is either too much fuel or too week ignition(that's what I think), you need to check over all of your ignition components. Timing could be off some as well.

It wil start and idle with the smoke and then I can turn it off and then it will not start again. After trying, I saw a lot of smoke under hood and when I open it, there were flames coming from under the manifold. I put it out and I am just wondering where to start.

It wil start and idle with the smoke and then I can turn it off and then it will not start again. After trying, I saw a lot of smoke under hood and when I open it, there were flames coming from under the manifold. I put it out and I am just wondering where to start.


You need to check your ignition timing. It not starting after that is probably flooding due to unburnt fuel.

Okay, thanks for the information. I will try this.

"Ninety-Eight 1990-1993


Ignition Timing Adjustment






http://www.automotiveforums.com/autozone/images/repair_guide/printPage_icon.gif

Because the C 3 I system uses a crank sensor for est, ignition timing is not adjustable. However, positioning of the interrupter ring is very important. A clearance of 0.025 inch is required on either side of the interrupter ring."

I copied the above information from the autozone repair guide and according to this information, adjustments to the ignition timing, can't be made. Can you think of what could be causing the problems?.........Thanks Tom

"Ninety-Eight 1990-1993


Ignition Timing Adjustment






http://www.automotiveforums.com/autozone/images/repair_guide/printPage_icon.gif

Because the C 3 I system uses a crank sensor for est, ignition timing is not adjustable. However, positioning of the interrupter ring is very important. A clearance of 0.025 inch is required on either side of the interrupter ring."

I copied the above information from the autozone repair guide and according to this information, adjustments to the ignition timing, can't be made. Can you think of what could be causing the problems?.........Thanks Tom

Does your vehicle use a timing belt or timing chain? It may be possible it has jumped time if it uses a belt.

It has a timing chain.........

May not be the timing I was just thinking it might be. I would go all over the ignition components, wires, plugs, and check to see what the spark looks like as well.

May not be the timing I was just thinking it might be. I would go all over the ignition components, wires, plugs, and check to see what the spark looks like as well.


I will check that out but I am still puzzled about the excess gas, the gas smell and the white smoke coming from the exhaust??

I will check that out but I am still puzzled about the excess gas, the gas smell and the white smoke coming from the exhaust??


Not firing correctly can cause the excess gas, gas smell and white smoke, because not all the gas is getting ignited.

Makes sense, thanks for your information. One more question, would the "service engine light" come on if it wasn't firing correctly? It never came on except when the engine would stall or while turned off.....

Makes sense, thanks for your information. One more question, would the "service engine light" come on if it wasn't firing correctly? It never came on except when the engine would stall or while turned off.....


Turned out to be fuel injector that was dumping fuel so much that it was dumping gas into the manifold.

Turned out to be fuel injector that was dumping fuel so much that it was dumping gas into the manifold.


Glad you got it fixed, I figured it was either too poor spark or too much fuel.

Be a good idea to change your oil now also.

Be a good idea to change your oil now also.
Yeah, I got it changed as soon as I replaced the injector. Got another problem, what could be wrong with the cruise control....it works okay and engages but as you are traveling down the road and turns off on it's own and then it will resume back after a few seconds. Sometimes it doesn't resume it just shuts off. Any ideas?

could be a bad switch or a loose connection, assuming the light turns off.