startup question

[bigal0043]

quick question.. when i start my 91 chevy blazer s-10 v6... alot of white smoke comes from the tailpipe just when it is started goes after the smoke has cleared it dosent do it again.. is that a normal thing??? is there something i can do to stop it from happening??
it really started happening after i got an oil change.. if extra oil is added would it cause this effect???

my father said that it was fine just extra stuff burning off... but it is not very cool lookin to have all this smoke comin out...

Alex

[sierrap615]

is it pure white smoke or does it have a gray/bluesh tint to it?

[bigal0043]

im pretty sure it is pure white... is that a good thing or not??

[xtoyotacorex]

Originally Posted by bigal0043

im pretty sure it is pure white... is that a good thing or not??

If it's alwayse in the morning it's most likely condensation, I could be wrong but I think you could use a dif viscosity of oil, that might help.

[civickiller]

its condensation in the exhaust system and the heat from the motors exhaust is burnging it out so thats why its white when you first start up but then goes away. but im assuming this is after its been sitting like when you go out in the morning, not like oh i drove to town went to a store came out started my truck adn teh white smoke was pouring out.

[bigal0043]

actually in the morning it is fine.. like ill go to a class and after like 2 hours and come out and start it it makes smoke...

[sierrap615]

if its just a little steam, like on a cold fall day(hey! its fall now! no more summer...) i wouldn't worry. any thing more then that maybe, but my bet is condensation in some form. after the engine shuts off, some condensation is formed, it may be there for two hours, but overnight it could have disipated.

but to be on the safe side, keep a eye on your coolent level.

[383PhoenixAm]

I'm just going to point something out here. My 2 cents.
Study the smoke very hard next time you see it. Make sure it is pure steam white, and not white with a tiny light bluish tinge. What you're describing sounds like valve seals. With this, small amounts of oil leak through the valves and into the cylinders when the car is off. If let to sit for a long time (or, a little longer than overnight) the oil leaking into the cylinders eventually seep through the piston rings, and out of the cylinders again. This is why when a car is started before the oil settles and seeps past the rings it blows a cloud of smoke.
If its consistant and white, though, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Do compression tests to make sure its not your head gasket giving way.

[sracing]

If it is truly white and stops after a few seconds, it is simply condensation in your exhaust system. On warm days it won't do it much at all. On cool mornings it might do it for a couple minutes.

Don't worry about it.

Jim
SR Racing

[383PhoenixAm]

He just said it doesn't do it in the mornings.

[sracing]

Ah yes, So he did. I am still betting it's condensation. (Assuming it really is white.)

Jim
SR Racing

[psychorallyfreak]

It's probably valve seals. And it probably ISN'T pure white.
I suppose you haven't gone back there and gave the cloud a smell, huh?
If it doesn't stink, it's more than likely condensation.
If it has sort of a sweet smell to it, it's coolant (shit, antifreeze. I forgot it's not summer).
If it really stinks, it's oil.
Now, quit laughing at me and do some diagnostic work with your nose!

[bigal0043]

thanks for the input guys.. it does look pretty white... but what are valve seals and how can i test to see if they are causing the problem?? someone also said to check the spark plugs to see if they have white on them i havent yet but if they did could i clean them or should i just get new ones??... oh yeah and to me it does smell like burnin oil..

[383PhoenixAm]

Valve seals.
Like it sounds, they seal the valves to prevent oil from draining to the combustion chambers in the cylinders from the heads. I don't believe there is a test for it but there aren't many other things it could be. Its not hard to replace them, but it requires compressed air and some special tools.

Also, it's not a reason to be really alarmed. The worst thing it does is burns some oil over time. Granted, it should be fixed soon, but if anything it just gives the cylinder some extra lubrication upon startup.

[e3j1c1]

A cracked block or head can cause water/antifreez to enter the cyliners. Hopefully thats not the case because it doesn't get much worse than that.