'89 C1500 smoking at startup

[Lee Blaine]

My '89 C1500 (62,000 original miles) puts out a sizeable cloud of bluish smoke first thing in the morning or if I start it after it's been sitting cold for awhile.

The intake valve seals were replaced 3 mo. ago which made little or no difference.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[broughy84]

It's the valve guides. VERY common problem on the small blocks and the 4.3L. My truck does it...most of the older ones do.

[Rbraczyk]

Yup, mine are gone, awaiting a new motor.

[sinaloa67chevy]

Valve Guide Will Cause Smoke Ive Also Seen Is Caused By Bad Pcv Valves

[lefty13lefty]

its gotta be the valve guides or pcv valves, cant think of any other solution

[ace6227]

Yep, I would also say the valve guides are wore out causing oil to leak down into the combustion chamber. So when you first start it up it burns off whatever oil leaked down into them.

[Rbraczyk]

How expensive is it to replace em, just out of curiosity?

[ace6227]

I've never replaced 'em, but I can't imagine their too expensive. Assuming you can by them by themselves without other stuff to do with the valves. I'm sure you probably can though.

[broughy84]

if you are going to do these, you need as valve grinder to get the old guides out, and while you are in there why not get new springs, keepers, and valves, they aren't that expensive. I think Jasper Engines will do a head job for $50.

[Rbraczyk]

50 bucks, you serious? is that just labor or what? WHats the type of reliablity?

[broughy84]

yeah...labor....my cousin grinds the valve seats out in their factory. He said 50 labor + parts per head, i guess i should have said that.

[Rbraczyk]

yea cause now it becomes 400 bucks
i dunno if it'll even help my truck

[broughy84]

na probably not 400...I'll find out and let ya know fer sure.

[Rbraczyk]

Thanks.

[LT1 Kayker]

I have an 89 C1500 and it burns oil pretty bad. It leaks on the downpipe right before the gutted cat, and that makes smoke, but whenever I gun it or stay at 70mph on freeway for a while white smoke POURS out of the left exhaust tip...not the right... and if I keep at it smoke starts coming out from the hood and the smoke coming out of the exhaust starts turning black. I stop when that happens so I dunno what happens after that. It runs at about 190 degrees wich isn't too hot or anything, so what would the problem be with "Ole' Whitey" (I named it.)