1995 smokes, compression good ?

[xpress60]

My wife's 95 LeSabre has 75,000 miles on it and occasionally when first started it will blow a cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. This seems to be getting worse about making more smoke but only happens about once a week or so. Compression test read 200 lbs on each cylinder within 6 compression strokes and held without leaking down for one minute. The car is not losing any oil. Replaced plugs and wires and fuel and air filters. What else can I check ?
Thanks

[Lasota]

White smoke usually indicates water being taken into the engine. Check your coolant level, the intake manifold or a head gasket may be leaking coolant into the engine.

[xpress60]

Thanks for the reply, I had thought about the head gasket but won't that show up on a compression test? Also seems like it would be more consistent with a mechanical failure like a blown gasket. This car gets used alot for short trips but only occasionally smokes.

[Jed Rule]

See threads related to coolant loss. A leaking intake will not show up on a compression test. Don't wait too long to check it.

[xpress60]

Thanks Jed, now I am really scared. Is there any way I can see that Gm tech bulletin 01-06-01-007A ? I believe my car has the "L" 3.8 vin code, the 8th digit of VIN is an "L" anyway. So the ken-co kit will not fit my car if I am reading this correctly ?

[xpress60]

The plot thickens. While removing the upper manifold last night I found AT Fluid in the throttle body ? I noticed a loss af AT fluid last week and yet found no leak. How could it get into the throttle body ?

[Jed Rule]

The bulletin only pertains to engine K. You should not have THAT problem. Are you loosing coolant? Open the radiator cap to be sure, don't just look at the overflow jar.

[Jed Rule]

Check your vacume modualtor on the transmission. It's under the air cleaner assembly. Remove the vacume hose and check for fluid. The vacume hose goes right to the throttle body. I think you found it there.

[xpress60]

Thanks for all of your help Jed. My 3.8 Litre "L" engine does have the plastic upper intake but the EGR hose is routed differently than the "K" engine. Do you think I should pull the upper intake just to be sure ? Or would that be a waste of time ? I can still return the new one I purchased yesterday. The radiator is still full. About 8 weeks since this started and I topped off all fluids then. The coolant overflow has lost about two cups. But the AT has lost over two quarts of fluid and the crankcase appears to have gained oil. The dipstick looks like good engine oil.

[Jed Rule]

I think your intake is OK. Go after that transmission modulator.