smoking s10

[chevy_lifted_4x4]

I bought a 91 s10 a couple days ago with a 4.3. It hasnt ran since 98 and it has 180,000 miles on it. I got a new battery and added some gas and it started right up. When i first started it it smoked like hell. I ran it for about 5 minutes and it kept smoking pretty good. I changed the oil today and adjusted the timing and it runs excellent. it has a lot of power and starts right up. Its smoking alot less now. I cant really tell when its idleing but as soon as i shift in gear white smoke starts. Does this sound like a excessive blow-by or possibly valve seal problems? Im lost on this.

[corning_d3]

White smoke? Thats a sign of a blown head gasket. Does the smoke smell sweet?

[chevy_lifted_4x4]

I dont know what you mean by sweet. Pretty gagging to me.If it was a head gasket, wouldnt there be water in the oil or not necessarily? Is there any way to check for sure?

[sector95]

The color of the smoke will help tell you if it is an overly rich mixture, oil or water being burned. White smoke is typical of coolant being introduced into the combustion process. I think what is meant by "sweet smelling" is the fact that anti-freeze has a somewhat sweet smell to it (as opposed to say carb cleaner). If you suspect a leaking head gasket, one way to check for this would be to pressurize the cooling system with a tester; if the system does not hold pressure and there are no obvious system leaks, then that would be an additional clue to suspecting a blown head gasket. Also do a compression check; if a cylinder is low and you also cannot pressurize the cooling system that again could point to a bad head gasket.

A search of the forum about blown head gaskets will probably yeild some good results.

If the smoke is grey or black then you have either a rich mixture or an oil seal problem.

In general, if this were my truck and knowing it hasn't run for almost 8 years,
I would definitely give the engine a *complete* and thorough going over.

mike

[corning_d3]

It is possible to have a bad head gasket, but no coolant in the oil. Does the exhaust smell like fuel, oil, etc? Sector95 has some good advice...

[chevy_lifted_4x4]

I dont know what if this would help in diagnoising to problem but whenever I start the truck up and let it run there is always a black puddle under the tailpipe. Also I had a rug near it and I revved up the engine and after I shut it off I noticed the rug was covered with a black soot.

[MT-2500]

Another quick way to check for head gasket/cracked head is the chemical block check tester.
Most good repair shops have them and they will tell you real fast if it is leaking exhaust gas in the coolant.
Another sign of a bad head gasket is the engine running hotter than it should or a real fast heating up after warm up. Also heater not puttig out het after it gets hot.
And sometimes you can pull spark plugs and see coolant on them or in.
cylinders.
Also a engine miss on a cold start.
MT

[dave4817]

i have has 2 different s-10's blowing black soot over the years. when i really got on it, climbing hills and acelerating it would blow it the worst. replacing the oxygen sensor fixed it both times. both were 1990's with 4.3's, and the service engine soon light would go on once in a while. i dont know if this is you problem or what, but its about a 20 buck part, and easy to change, so it might be worth a try anyway.

[Cam1959]

Mine burned oil until I switched to full synthetic which someone said helped the valve seals seal again.