92 Sho w/ Exhaust Smoke

[Chazenabi]

Hello all. I have a 92 Sho and it seems that I have developed problem. When I start my car; I get white smoke from the exhaust. I have in the past noticed that when I get on it hard it'll spit a little, but what do expect from a 14 year old car. But now I get it everytime I start my car. I am in no way a gear head but I do know the basics. I know that it needs a valve ajustment and new plug seals, but does this go beyond that?
Please let me know, this is my first SHO and I love it. I dont want to pay big bucks for a mechanic, so if anyone out there has had this problem or knows what to do please help me.

 

[projectSHO89]

Unless you are getting white "smoke" after the engine is completely warmed, your situation is completely normal, especially in cooler weather.

Steve

 

[dpsutphin]

You have to determine if it is actual smoke (burning oil), or normal condensation (as stated by projectsho89).

If it is normal condensation, you have no problem. If it is actual burning oil, you probably have bad valve stem seals. Worn valve stem seals are a problem in most any older car, especially if it has set up for a while without being started.

I have never replaced them myself, but have had them replaced in many different cars at a car lot I used to work for. It has been a while since I had one done, but you can expect to spend $200-$500 to have it done. Perhaps one of the real mechanics on here can shed more light on an exact cost, or even a way to do it yourself.

If you live in a non-emmisions area of the country, can put up with a little smoke until the engine warms up, and don't mind adding a little oil once in a while, it really isn't a great big problem. But it is one that will only get worse, not better, until it is fixed.

 

[plethaus]

You have to determine if it is actual smoke (burning oil), or normal condensation (as stated by projectsho89).

If it is normal condensation, you have no problem. If it is actual burning oil, you probably have bad valve stem seals. Worn valve stem seals are a problem in most any older car, especially if it has set up for a while without being started.

I have never replaced them myself, but have had them replaced in many different cars at a car lot I used to work for. It has been a while since I had one done, but you can expect to spend $200-$500 to have it done. Perhaps one of the real mechanics on here can shed more light on an exact cost, or even a way to do it yourself.

If you live in a non-emmisions area of the country, can put up with a little smoke until the engine warms up, and don't mind adding a little oil once in a while, it really isn't a great big problem. But it is one that will only get worse, not better, until it is fixed.

Don't forget that WHITE smoke is often a sign of blown head gaskets... blue smoke is burning oil.

 

[dpsutphin]

Don't forget that WHITE smoke is often a sign of blown head gaskets... blue smoke is burning oil.

Good point, but blown head gaskets are usually accompanied by other maladies (water in the oil, engine running rough, etc.). If none of these things are occuring, it is probably one of the two things mentioned before.

 

[CerberuS]

Good point, but blown head gaskets are usually accompanied by other maladies (water in the oil, engine running rough, etc.). If none of these things are occuring, it is probably one of the two things mentioned before.

Yup , AND its always smoking , not only on the startup.

Like they said , Valve seals or normal condensation.

 

[Chazenabi]

Thank You!!!

I want to thank those who have answered my question. It really only happens on start up, and now that the weather is getting cooler I have noticed it more. I do notice a little when I get on it hard but it is never constant. So again thank you all for the help!!!!

 

[93rev2sev]

It will eventually foul your plugs too.

 

[AREA 91]

If you are going to do the valve adjustment yourself, you can dig in a little farther, and change the valve stem seals. You must remove the cams for this. The VS seals are fairly cheap, and easy to replace with the cams removed. I just did this on a 95 ATX a few months ago. www.shophoenixproject.com has a great "how to" guide. Dig in and enjoy. One piece of advice: Do NOT over torque the camshaft caps! They strip easily. Trust me , I know.

 

[ViPER1313]

Don't forget that WHITE smoke is often a sign of blown head gaskets... blue smoke is burning oil.

Oil smoke can be white as well - if the smoke is very faint white, doesn't smell like burnt oil and goes away when the car warms up it is condensation, which is perfectly normal. Depending on weather conditions (usually 60-70 degrees) I have seen my car put out bits of white smoke when it is fully warm as well - catalytic converters create a certain amount of water vapor when they are working properly .

 

[Paul]

Blowby gas distills & collects in the front & rear intake pleneum from the blowby gases created from STUCK piston rings. When you take off fast the rear pleneum gets sucked into the rear intake creating smoke & oil burning. When you do hard braking it gets dumped into the front intake usually making for a bad oil smell. Anyhow, take note of the oil you use and how progressivly worse it gets. If you smell somthing, its not normal. Stick your head under the rear bumper to the LF. If you separate the noxtious fumes that are emitted, Then you may be the answer to global warming. I think its oil as usual. If the pipe drips on you , it normal condesation. Nobody here at this site will agree to my judgment on stuck piston rings. This is one of the greatest production engines ever produced but they have bad crankcase ventilation and the oil control ring gets stuck first. then....

 

[thecrew2999]

white smoke could be excess gas not being burnt... put your hand next to the exhaust and smell it then determn what it is

 

[SHOsFAST]

Maybe rings?

 

[SHOWYA]

Mine does this every once in a while when i start her up. I do have new valve stem seals, they were put in when my heads were done. I was not doing this on the 3.0 block but it start shortly after the conversion to 3.2. I do have to add about 1qt of oil every month.
Because of the oil consumption im guessing i got a bad batch of valve stem seals? or maybe all the rich and lean mixtures of 'tuning' have cause them to fail?

 

[Paul]

Its oil.