2.8, Smoke, Questions... long

[SimonStern]

OK, currently I have an 89 Regal with a 2.8 in it.

 

I had just put in a new trans last month (couple weeks ago actually), car was running OK for a week or so then it started running like crap, no power, dying at idle bleh :? . Towed it to the shop, replaced a spark plug wire that snapped in half and fixed a broken vacuum line (to the map or maf or whatever), drove it away and it wasn't dying at idle anymore but it wasn't running too smooth. The mechanic also tested the radiator fluid with the smog machine and said it was good. Around the same time that stuff started happening in the mornings it would blow a puff of white (with a bluish tint) smoke for a few seconds, 20 or so, but only in the morning. Drive it for a day or two like that, then I replace a bad coil, the car runs great, the next day I take it on the freeway, acceleration, power (so to speak), smoothness, it was running great. That night on the way home I hit a corner and notice a big puff of the morning smoke come out of the tail, get home and park it and don't drive it for 2 days or so. Start it up, no smoke, drive downtown no smoke, headed home I turn the corner to get on this long road up to my place and it starts spewing out smoke, then the smoke stops, further up the road it starts again, then stops (50mph road). It did that all the way home, it seems when I go 40mph or so it starts.

 

Today I started it up, huge puff of smoke for about 20 seconds or so then it's a constant small amount of smoke, I took it to the mechanic and he messes with a few things and the smoke lessens but is still there. He unplugged some vacuum thing that goes into the intake manifold I think, runs a little rougher with it disconnected, I drove it downtown again and it was fine I hit 50mph once or twice I believe and no smoke, stopped a couple places and checked while I was at it no smoke, on the way home I hit the main road again and get to around 40 and bam huge cloud again, I took side streets the rest of the way home and as long as I didn't get to 40mph there's no smoke. I sat it for about an hour and then went to the store down the street, no smoke the whole time (I didn't get to 40mph the whole trip though).

 

So, here I am, the mechanic said he couldn't tell if it was the head gasket or not yet, will be going for more tests on monday I guess. It hasn't overheated, I checked the oil and it doesn't really look like there's coolant in it, it does look burnt though and there is too much in it but that's my stupidity on that one, I have a serious oil leak so when the light came on I added oil, didn't check if it needed it, damn idiot lights are no good for us idiots lol. There's an abundance of oil in there and today my light came on AGAIN, it goes out when I add oil but now I know it's more than full it get's no more.

 

And that's my full description of the events so far, thanks for reading the novel ...

 

Could it be my head gasket as I fear or perhaps just burning that extra oil, it did start the majority of smoking I believe the day after I put the last oil in it. As I said it's mostly when it gets to around 40mph or more and generally uphill. Could it be something else perhaps? I have very limited funds so I can't do any guess work by replacing things that don't need it.[/i]

[Crazy K]

It might not hurt to change the pcv valve, or look at the breather tube that runs from the front valve cover to the air intake flexhose. These are both points where oil can get sucked into the intake. see if oil is present... etc.

 

I think a possibilty is that if there was coolant in the oil, when it gets sucked up, it's much less viscous than oil and would quickly "clear out" causing a momentary drop in pressure and turning on the oil light...

 

It sounds like you need to change your oil anyhow, Change your oil, and pour it into some clear container, ie gallon apple juice bottles or something, and let it sit... and see if you see antifreeze in it.

and let us know the result.

 

Your oil leak may be your distributor drive gear, use a flashlight to locate it and see if it is surrounded by oil. it is beneath the throttle/butterfly valve. There is a write up in FAQ.

[Prospeeder]

im thinking a severly retarded PCV valve, it randomly just smokes, then it could occasionally get stuck and spew oil into the intake to be burned, i replaced mine, and my car idles so much better, try it, cant hurt, but it will be a pain

[SimonStern]

Checked the breather tube and intake just now, both are bone dry. Not to sound "severely retarded" but where is the PCV valve? Also the oil leak has been there for a long time, most of the engine has oil on it, the next thing was to figure out where it was coming from and fix it as well as an oil change till this stuff started

 

EDIT: It was the Transmission Vacuum Modulator or something that the mechanic pulled and plugged and there was no fluid in there so that probably eliminates transmission fluid right, plus mine is just over full and a nice healthy red

[Prospeeder]

rear valve cover, gotta rock the motor forward and pull it out, it sucks, cause its extra retardedly tight, lol check the TB if you already havent for oil, mine was biulding up oil like crazy!

[Crazy K]

pcv is mounted in the center of the rear valve cover of the 3.1 to access you need to ratate the engine forward. (disconnect front mounts from radiator upper support, and use a ratchet strap to roll the engine forward) if the rubbner hose is brittle, and it will be it is best to take the upper intake off and replace the molded hose as well, and the pcv gromet gasket. the molded hose is availible as a HELP brand item for about $5. well worth it. the grommet i use has a grove that lockds into the pcv ridge to lock it down.

 

It's gotta be at least the the dist drive gear gasket, read the write up.

 

You might change the valve cover gaskets if you haven't as well someday....

 

My 3.1 with 205,000 miles never needs oil added, and i go 6000 miles between oil changes using synthetic castrol.

[Prospeeder]

dont nessesarily gotta ratche it, a strong person, or a 2x4 behind the alt and pry it farward works, and just put the bolt back trhough the smaller hold in the middle of the dogbone, should give plenty of room

[SimonStern]

OK, I'll have to check the PCV tomorrow and TB is throttle body correct? Where the flex hose from the airbox connects to right? If so I already checked and it's clean and dry.

[Prospeeder]

oh really, hmm, strange, id still replace the PCV, but if nothing else, Rings, or somting, im not sure how else oil gets burned on those motors

[Crazy K]

ratchet strap is quite easy, if you have one, and I like to remove the balck metal bracket off the radiator upper support since it's so quick to do.

[jimmy91444]

This happened to me with a Firefly. The head gasket had benn changed, and it started to smoke at speed over 80 kms. Long story short ,it ended up being the oil return hole in the new gasket was too small,the oil was not going back to the pan fast enough, and was accumulating in the valve cover , and eventualy at higher speed going into the pcv tube. I would take the valve cover off and check for oil return hole blockage.

[Supreme Cutlass]

As far as rotating the engine, I stick the bolt back in the left bracket, put a crowbar/prybar in there, and roatate it that way. It's less damaging than a 2x4 and much easier than removing brackets or a strap(IMO). I changed my PCV valve when I first got the car, twist and turn it every direction while cursing, and you should be good. If the PCV is not the problem, jimmy's idea is very probable.

[SimonStern]

OK, I just checked the PCV valve, what a PITA . The little part/blocker/whatever inside it is supposed to move freely and then go back into place right? If so mine is good to go, once I replace it and the crap I moved to get to it anyway (luv ya GM ). The head gasket hasn't been replaced at least since I've had the car, little over a year, and it just started this smoking stuff a week and a half or so ago.

 

Any other ideas, possibilities? It kinda reminds me of when my last car got flooded and water was in the oil, it smoked a lot till I cleaned out the oil and replaced the plugs, but it hasn't rained here in forever (sunny southern Ca).