Light gray smoke on startup when car sits for a day

[strikercat]

87 convt,30k miles,stock.Emits light gray smoke from both exhausts on startup if car has sat for a day or so.All help appreciated!

 

[6 Shooter]

Old age . . .

It happens to all of us.

Probably Valve Seals, I really believe a lot of sitting around isn't good for Us or Them !!!

Welcome to

 

[69MyWay]

I agree with Shooter. Believe it or not, low mile cars can generate a world of headaches on dried up, hardened, cracked, brittle engine and trans seals. I have seen it happen time and time again.

This can be curred by putting new Perfect Circle style valve stem seals on the valves. I have done it dozens of times in the car. It takes me the better part of an afternoon, a good air compressor and modified air hose to pressurize the cylinders with air in the spark plug hole. You have to pull the valve covers, and every single valve spring/retainer off one at a time (requires a special tool available at most autoparts stores). Then, you pull out the old o-ring if there is even one left, and old seal, then replace with the new style (you can get the new perfect circle style at Napa, Chevy dealer,etc).

Then, you have to readjust the valves, reseal the valve covers, and you might as well replace the spark plugs since you have them out at this time anyway.

If you do it yourself with tools (assuming you have an air compressor) it can be done for under $50. If you pay a mechanic, it may be a $300 to $400 job.

 

[strikercat]

Thanks for the replys,I'll be looking into the repairs.

 

[jstkrsn]

My 86 did the same thing, also my dad's GMC pickup. Dealer told me that the cars run too hot and fry the poor little seals. Got to keep that temperatue down.

 

[topless82vette]

striker

I had a friend with a 88 iroc camaro that did the same thing went into the dealer for warranty repairs had something to do with a egr problem, Im pretty sure it had to do with a leaking gasket .... which one I dont know

 

[MoeJr]

My 84 I just bought does it every first start up of the day. Is just the valve seals. The car only has 79 k on it so u know it sat winters. It doesn't bother me. I am always checking my fluids so it will never get low on oil.

 

[GW74]

My 74 does the same thing. I figure, with 137,000 miles on her what's the harm in lubricating the cylinder walls at start up. There is no smoke at any other time and the dipstick is always at full level. I'm going to leave it alone until it warrants repair.

 

[compyelc4]

I have a '95 with 20k. Funny thing! A couple of weeks ago I fired mine up after having set for weekend. Puff of light grey smoke on startup. Immediately cleared. I thought, oh crap, not the GM valve seal problem on this one too (every GM V8 I've owned has had this prob., but after about 75k.). You know, I have not seen a trace of smoke since then, under the same conditions. Why?

Ted

 

[Ken]

Any number of things could have caused such an occurence Ted, including the ambient temperature and humidity of your environment. Some of the fuel may have remained unburned when you shut it off, it may have been a temporary or a preliminary indication of seal leakage, a valve guide could have allowed some oil to drip past its seal, etc.

Now you're probably going to be aware of it every time you start your car and expect to see smoke! Ain't it a *****? :L

_ken

 

[compyelc4]

It shore am!