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

Normal or not, white smoke?

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Old Dec 11, 2017 | 07:53 PM
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Normal or not, white smoke?

I think this is the longest the car has sat. Left my car at the airport for 3 weeks while traveling and when I started it, there was so much white smoke I couldn't even see to backup. Left it running as I was afraid to shut it down due to flooding. Eventually it stopped and seems to run normal. After I drove it home stopped and let cool down and restarted and no smoke.

After sitting for a week at the most, I get a bit of blue smoke, but that is normal.

Coolant level is fine and no water in the oil. The car only has 63k on the original engine. Thanks
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Old Dec 11, 2017 | 08:47 PM
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What did it smell like? Check coolant level closely after it gets completely cold again.

Do you have cold start assist?

Its been cold enough that it may have kicked in and squirted antifreeze into your I take. On the SAs it has to be zero degrees for this but for the FBs the temp is higher for triggering it I think.
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Old Dec 11, 2017 | 08:50 PM
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Maybe could have been condensation build up in the exhaust system...My FD sat for 6 months while I was deployed to Iraq and it started up with no smoke. Make sure you check that your engine is getting good oil pressure. Do you by chance run pre-mixed gas?
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Old Dec 12, 2017 | 05:05 PM
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hey bRotard
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This happens on mine, it smokes white on warmup for a bit and then about a minute in it starts to clear up. No problems with my engine, as far as I know, and coolant levels don't really change (I might have a slow leak somewhere though). I always thought it was kind of normal, but I can't be sure.

Hope you get some useful advice, I know mine wasn't too helpful but I thought I'd share my same experience as well!
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Old Dec 12, 2017 | 05:05 PM
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No cold start assist, I think that was the first mod I did 😛. No smell and I have the right mixture. No water in the oil and the coolant level was down 3oz. After overnight cool down. Filled it up drove it hard and will see what it looks like tomorrow. Took out all the plugs and nothing odd there. Hopefully a 1 time thing and just the 7 being mad the she sat so long....
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 07:14 PM
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Seems to be losing minor amount of coolant. Strong pressure in the radiator, thinking it might be the intake manifold o-rings, but nothing leaking externally, so a bit perplexed. I can't imagine what it takes to remove the intake with all the factory stuff on there. Have to try and research any videos on this.
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 08:17 PM
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The intake o-rings failing can't pressurize the cooling system. The intake isn't under pressure.

Taking the intake/carb off isn't that hard. I like to take the intake/carb/rat's nest off as one assembly. You'll need a new intake gasket along with two o-rings.
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 11:04 PM
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The intake is under vacuum, however. If you're loosing coolant slowly, and it's ot on your garage floor, then it's coming out the tailpipe as vapor. The sweet smell of exhaust will tell you what you need to know. If it's the intake manifold O-rings, at least that's an easy fix, vs. it being coolant seals. The fact that it's leaking coolant now means it should be addressed.
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Old Dec 14, 2017 | 09:04 AM
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Thanks for all the input. I'm gonna drive it for the next week and then it will sit for another 2 weeks while I travel. I'll look with my borscope in the housings as best I can hand spinning the rotors to see if i find coolant. If I don't see anything, I'll go ahead and replace the o-rings and at least rule that in or out. If it's the internal seals, I guess I've got a large paper weight...
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Old Dec 15, 2017 | 06:56 AM
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It just means a rebuild is in the works at some point. You can try AlumaSeal in the coolant. It sometimes clears up things like this. Definitely fix the orings leaking, its pretty easy to do.
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Old Dec 15, 2017 | 11:17 AM
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The worst part is the engine has never run this well and any tinkering with the intake will probably screw that up.
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Old Dec 17, 2017 | 03:05 PM
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Since I'm doing the intake, the car came with an extra water pump and I bought a new thermostat. Gonna do all of it since I have to drain the radiator. Has anyone used Purple Ice? A friend gave me several bottles and have never tried it. Usually not a fan of additives, but temperatures are so important with these cars. Thanks
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Old Dec 18, 2017 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Ckforker
The worst part is the engine has never run this well and any tinkering with the intake will probably screw that up.
Then don't tinker with it!

I've used Amsoil Coolant additive with their HD coolant in the RX-8 (which is notorious for running extremely hot) and it always kept the temps right around 180, couldn't ask for much better. No idea if that was due to the additive or not though, just replying to your comment.
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