Blue Smoke Blunders and Starting Sorrows

[Modemagic]

Ok ok ok.. here's the scenerio. I picked me up a decent lil' 1989 Black SHO out of a driveway that someone didn't know what they had. When I picked her up, she cranked over for quite awhile, and finally started, blowing the old blue smoke. Well, after it ran for awhile it suddenly died. I suspect it ran outta gas, but who knows for sure. I dumped a gallon in it, and tried to start it up, but haven't gotten it to start since. I have a '89 Taurus LX that has a tempermental fuel shutoff switch in the trunk. Is it possible that this is the problem with it not starting? Just my thought... but any suggestions would rock.

On to the bigger picture.... the blue smoke. Past experience tells me that this is blown head gasket(s). I also have heard rumor that it could be, but not likely an intake manifold gasket. Any thoughts?? How hard is it to do Head gaskets on this lovely motor?? I swapped a head gasket on a Cavalier once, but this ain't no Cavalier!

 

[BeatDaSHO]

blue smoke doesn't mean a blown head gasket. most likely it is oil leaking past the valve seals and piston rings. headgaskets on these cars usually don't ever fail. i would check to see if u have the three proper items to start the car; air, spark, and fuel. pull a plug wire out and crank it over. see if it has spark. check the codes with www.shotimes.com and see if any codes show.

Greg

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

i have had good results with stop-leak additives in my oil, but im sure some people will say that its a bad idea. you say you suspect you ran out of gas, is that to say your fuel guage is broken?

 

[Modemagic]

Ok, my mistake for forgetting a few details... (Bad SHO owner... bad bad bad!) The gas gauge works, but was severly low, (Like, the needle didn't move low and the handy little yellow light staring @ me), and it kind of sputtered and died. (Like u run outta gas)

Oil leaking past the valve seals and piston rings? Does that mean I need new piston rings?? Or just an intake manifold gasket?

 

[projectSHO89]

It means you need an overhaul if that is what the actual problem is. Blue smoke on intial startup after having set for awhile usually indicates the valve guide selas are leaking. This is not as extensive a project as an overhaul.

Put some more gas in there and hope your pump hasn't fried itself. Get it running, then worry about the blue smoke.

FWIW, the head gaskets in the SHO do occasionally blow, but it is not particularly common. When most head gaskets do go, you usually get white smoke (not always) and often a reduction in engine power.

Steve

<small>[ January 08, 2003, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[rangerj]

MODEMAGIC,

First, get your thumb off of the panic button!

Search the archives for "codes" stored in the cars computer, and how to get them. If there are any, it will give you a lead as to why the car will not start.

Even if the car will not start, you can do a fuel pressure test by attaching a fuel pressure guage to the schrader valve on the fuel log. When you put the key "on", but do not crank the engine, you should hear the fuel pump relay "click" on, and the pump run. The guage should read at least 30psi to 40psi. If fuel pressure is OK, then the pump should be OK.

Next, check for spark. You can use a tester for this, or unplug a plug wire and put an extra sparkplug in the wire. Then lay the wire on the engine so that the plug is grounded. Crank the engine and watch for the spark.

As for the white/blue smoke, it is most likely cracked valve seals allowing oil to leak past them into the cylinders. However, do a compression test, and a leakdown test, on each cylinder. This will tell you if the rings are worn out, or if the valves are not sealing the combustion chamber, or if the head gasket is blown.

Try unplugging, and plugging back in, every electrical connection under the hood. Then make sure that every electrical ground is clean and secure. Your "no start" problem could be as simple as a lightly corroded connection.

The SHO engine is a thing of beauty. But, the least little thing can set it off. Sound familiar?
It can be just as complicated as your significant other! rangerj

 

[projectSHO89]

It can be just as complicated as your significant other!

HAH! It's EASIER than a significant other!



Steve

 

[Modemagic]

Steve & Rangerj,

Ok, all Blue smoke aside here... I pulled the battery for a full charge, being dead and all. I have another battery laying around, (although to big to fit in the SHO, I got a set of jumper cables) and connected it to the battery terminals of the SHO. After fooling with them, I heard the chime telling me I left the keys in the ignition, so I jumped in her, slammed the clutch on the floor, and turned the key, it clicked and all power went dead, the dome lights went off, no chime, no brake lights, nothing. I fiddled with the positive cable, and door chime, dome lights, etc. come back on, so I tried to start it again. Same effect. I've read articles on battery terminals being corroded and nasty, but I cleaned them up using a wire brush. I do intend to replace them when I get it up and going.

Taking Steves advice, I'm concentrating my efforts on getting her started, but am still looking @ the big picture of the smoke. As for valve guide seals leaking... your only three hours from me, just down the highway south of me, you might just have a fellow SHO owner (with SHO on a trailer ) at your doorstep looking for guidance on a motor overhaul! lol

 

[JaySHOguy]

I can tell you one thing.... the GenI is not an easy car to jumpstart, especially if the battery is NOT in the car. Put the charged battery back in it, tighten the cables, and try starting it.

As for the smoke... how long has the car been sitting? My '89 had been parked for quite a while, until I got around to fixing it...It smoked like a 2-stroke dirtbike. The more I drive it, the less it smokes. Yes, I am sure the valve seals are shot, but my car doesn't smoke as much as it used to. Get it running good, and go from there.

 

[projectSHO89]

Jumper cable's usually cannot provide the current necessary to crank an engine from a remote battery. You're lucky nothing smoked. Normally when "jumping" a car, you leave the running car attached to the dead car for several minutes with the engine at a fast idle so that the dead battery can get a partial charge from the working alternator.

As for trailering the car down here, no problem. I'll give you my e-mail address and a cell phone #. (That's a joke with my teenage kid. Someday, that's the only way he'll find me.)

Right now my own SHO is on jackstands awaiting new idler pulleys and my daughter's ****** blew a head gasket yesterday. Busy, busy, this week (just not making any money)....

Steve

 

[Modemagic]

Steve,

Well, to my knowledge your the closest SHO owner to me thusfar. Tonight after work I'm gonna try to slap a battery in the car and see what happens. The car sat for approx. 6 months before I got my greedy hands on it. I'll keep you all updated!

Dave

 

[rangerj]

Ah, Steve,

Get out the extra plates! I think your about to get company! Heh, heh, heh, rangerj

 

[jthomas68]

Also,you`ve got to remember this is winter season,and the car has been sitting for who knows how long.When i 1st put the SHO back on teh road in the spring,it smokes for about 2 days because so much moisture has built up over the winter months in the exhaust system.It may not be that simple,but you never know.

 

[GreenBird]

Blue smoke on start-up (or idling for a few minutes) is usually valve seals. If it was the piston rings, it would smoke all the time.

I'd do the fuel filter first. If you ran out of gas, you might have clogged it with 14 years of crap that was at the bottom of your tank.