Smokes upon start (sometimes)

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Hi all,

I think this is my first post having only been registered for a few months now. I bought a ripe red '95 MTX about 3 months ago and I've been fixing the little nagging stuff. I have a question for the more experienced SHO owners out there. I have observed a strange phenomenon when I start the engine in my driveway. The car smokes upon start - quite a cloud -and it's out of the tailpipes. But, this is the only place she does it. It's always garaged and never smokes upon start there or at the parking lot at work. Overall oil usage is low, I think around a quart in 1500 but I haven't put a lot of miles on it yet. My driveway slopes moderately, maybe a 30" drop in 50 foot. I just verified the smoke - driveway linkage this weekend when I washed it. It was only outside for about a half-hour and that was enough to generate overcast when I started her up. It never smokes otherwise, anywhere else. What do you guys think might be going on? BTW, I greatly appreciate all the great info shared on this forum..

'95 Red MTX, Catless Y, 96 brake upgrade, K&N Panel filter, Kumho 225/55's, Indiglo gauges.

 

[TrueBlue]

Is there oil in the plug wells? Probably in need of a 60k and some valve seals.

 

[Gurt Diggler]

Is there oil in the plug wells? Probably in need of a 60k and some valve seals.

I agree. I am pushing month two in mine, and I KNOW I have oil in the plug wells and I have the same issue sometimes (also happens when stopping at red lights sometimes). Anyway, I'd start with checking that out. I sucked all the oil out of the well with a home made turkey baster sucker contraption and all that went away for about a week.

 

[AutoSHO]

Oil in the plug wells will absolutely not cause blue smoke out the tailpipes.

Blue smoke on startup is typically indicative of worn valve stem seals. Have you tried parking your car the other way on the slope of your driveway? It is possible that you only have one bad, but it is leaking down because of an unusual amount of oil being held there by the slope of your driveway. Does the car run rough upon startup as well?

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Chris: If a plug were not snug and the well was full, I could see some oil leaking in over time and it smoking on startup, but that would be the less likely problem and would have other symptoms.

Like Chris said though the valve guide seals (valve stem seals) could be worn and would cause the smoke. I dont get smoke on start up unless I have the car up on ramps overnight. It is not something you have to worry about unless you have other symptoms as well. Most GM v8s do this after 100 k. Its irritating to some extent, but not harmful.

 

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Thanks guys for the responses. I'm thinking what you are thinking AutoSHO. However, I haven't backed it up the driveway to find that out. And no, I don't get any rough(er) starts really. Mine always starts a little slowly but smothly since (I think) it acts like the fuel pump is a little slow to get to pressure. If I slot the key and crank it, it will seem to barely start after maybe 3 or 4 revolutions. If I wait a second after key-on to crank, it will fire up after maybe one rev. But like I say, This is the case all the time. I got a code on it last time I checked, but I'd have to scrounge around to find the numbers I wrote down. I remember it was fuel pump related though, something about circuit open - aah, but I digress. I don't seem to have trouble with fouled plugs. Thanks for the insight on the stem seals. Is that something I can do fairly easily when I take on the 60K? I'm thinking about having at that soon since the last owner reported that he did everything but the shims - and it now has 95k on it.