1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Does everyones 1st gen blow white smoke at start up?

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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:08 PM
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Does everyones 1st gen blow white smoke at start up?

the morning will be about 30 degrees out side,pull the choke and starts up in 1 sec. The only thing is for alittle while it would blow smoke. once the engine warms up i wont see it till the next day untill i start it up again for the first time.

is the white smoke caused because i dont pre mix?
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 05:34 PM
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That's weird, most blow green smoke for at least five min. after startup.

Just kidding. What does it smell like? That could be a coolant leak.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 06:11 PM
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smells like regular exhaust. its not sweet. Goes away once the car is warmed up. Also have horrible gas milage. 220 to the tank. could this be tied?

Recently had a card rebuild and a tune up. before that car sat for a few years not being driven.

Also i think the car is running rich, how can i lean it out a bit?
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 07:53 PM
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you mean like this ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaRBX...Q&feature=plcp
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 08:29 PM
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220 miles but how many gallons are you putting in? 10? 13?

If you're getting 22mpg (10 gallons every 220 miles) i'd say don't touch a thing, it might be running a tad lean but you're getting really good milage.

if you're pushing it to the limit and putting in 13gallons you're still getting almost 17mpg which isn't bad in the cold.

my 83 smokes on startup, not as bad as nff, but it is a white smoke and it does completely go away once warmed up.
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Old Dec 11, 2011 | 11:35 PM
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seals need to warm up and close everything off. that's why tired old 12a's need ATF to start in the morning. like an old man with viagra...
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:15 AM
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I would of said oil control seals starting to pass a little bit of oil when cold...once warmed up it's all good....nothing to worry about, just yet.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:01 PM
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Also, when its cold out and the choke is on, you will get a lot of white vapor as the
mixture is rich for the cold start. Its more noticeable on cars with carbs than, say, on
modern fuel injected cars which meter the gas better on cold starts. Its a carb thing.

Your mileage doesn't sound that bad. I'd worry about something else instead.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:08 PM
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all cars condensate from the exhaust when the engine is cold. H2O is a normal byproduct of combustion but is usually more easily visible when the air is colder and more dense.

when you breathe out of your mouth you can see the condensation from your breath, similar for cars but the exhaust eventually heats up enough to fully vaporize the water to the point that you can't see it any longer.

paranoia strikes again, this question pops up far too frequently in winter time.

oh and it isn't just a carburetor thing. FI cars do it as well, diesel, alcohol, race cars, just about anything with an internal combustion engine.

Last edited by RotaryEvolution; Dec 12, 2011 at 12:11 PM.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 04:03 PM
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Here is my theory on this:

Even brand new coolant seals aren't perfect and will seep a little bit. Add 25 years and a whole bunch of miles, and they will seep a little bit more. While the car is hot and running, any seepage will burn up as it enters the system.

But once you shut the car off, the coolant is still hot and is still under pressure, but the engine isn't running. So, you get a bit of a buildup of that seepage that gets burned off all at once when you start her up the next day.



.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 07:18 PM
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there's water in the exhaust system that's turing into steam with the heat of the exhaust. normal.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Take-7
seals need to warm up and close everything off. that's why tired old 12a's need ATF to start in the morning. like an old man with viagra...


lol thats the funniest thing ive ever heard.....perfect comparision sorry old men

and yes my car is a legit smoker, it puts regular 2 pack a day people to shame
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 04:59 AM
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Heres a vid. when it used to be hot outside i didnt even notice the smoke....

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i2...a/9793dc02.mp4

Last edited by Touring; Dec 13, 2011 at 05:26 AM.
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 11:10 AM
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seriously....

look at the other cars on the road. do you think they're all burning oil and coolant as well?

exception would be nff who looks to have a bad water seal, which would put out clouds of smoke year round.
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Old Dec 13, 2011 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Kentetsu
Here is my theory on this:

Even brand new coolant seals aren't perfect and will seep a little bit. Add 25 years and a whole bunch of miles, and they will seep a little bit more. While the car is hot and running, any seepage will burn up as it enters the system.

But once you shut the car off, the coolant is still hot and is still under pressure, but the engine isn't running. So, you get a bit of a buildup of that seepage that gets burned off all at once when you start her up the next day.



.
Brand new seals won't seep. The cooling system in the motor I built held 15 psi of air for three weeks straight. Then installed it. used seals with thousands of heat cycles are another story. they're just rubber afterall.
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 07:29 AM
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My 85 with no emissions blows white smoke on start up on cold mornings. I only have 60k on my engine and get about 22-25 mph. The smoke goes away when it warms up so I'm not worked about it.
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Karack
seriously....

look at the other cars on the road. do you think they're all burning oil and coolant as well?

exception would be nff who looks to have a bad water seal, which would put out clouds of smoke year round.
my car dosent smoke all the time. just in the cold at startup ... that and i was running LOOOTS of oil in the mix.
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 05:40 PM
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if i dont put the choke on and just go it dosent blow smoke. must be that the choke is causing a little rich mixture
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Old Dec 14, 2011 | 11:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Touring
if i dont put the choke on and just go it dosent blow smoke. must be that the choke is causing a little rich mixture
LOL uh thats the whole point of the choke. to cut the air down so it runs rich to get it to start easier i havent actualy tried to start my car without a choke.... i think it would die in this weather i shall try later.... hopefully i dont flood the car. that'd be a ******* pain.
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by DriveFast7
there's water in the exhaust system that's turing into steam with the heat of the exhaust. normal.
^+1

Ad choke to that because of cold weather and you'll have smoke. I think when it starts to give large clouds of white smoke then you have engine damage.

I have an example for you to look at. Last winter i went out to start my FB which stood still for some time. If you look from 1.55 minute you see white smoke.....if it's like this you have nothing to worry about: http://youtu.be/EzI2jdYxpIk

BTW, door and fender are painted now

Marc
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 08:14 AM
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its been so damn long since i even saw my 7 run that who know what will come out of the tail pipe when i start it! though, my car doesnt currently have an engine. or a tail pipe... Smoke on start up = normal.
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by cshaw07
its been so damn long since i even saw my 7 run that who know what will come out of the tail pipe when i start it!
Squirrels
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by DivinDriver
Squirrels
lol i read this in the middle of religion class and just cracked up laughing and got stares....
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 01:42 PM
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It can be very helpful just like in spyhunter...This can be achieved by running a oil injection to your exhaust manifold.

Now we have a good use for the OMP.



Also hi to everyone in Grand Rapids I lived there two years...Middle/High School. 7th/11th.
Attached Thumbnails Does everyones 1st gen blow white smoke at start up?-spyhuntersmokescreen.jpg  
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Old Dec 16, 2011 | 07:44 PM
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Full size upright restored Spyhunter video games can be had for $1500.00. I've been looking lately. Bring it Santa!
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