chrismothaFwalt

So I've been having a little problem with my 88 gxl. There's a very noticeable misfire at idle and every now and then when I shut her off after driving a while then turn her back on ill get a nice puff of white smoke out the back end.
Here's the newest issue: when I got back from the holidays I went to start her and it sounded to me like there was only one rotor actually running after about a minute everything went back to the norm (misfire included)

So here's what I've tried already; adjust idle/tps, change spark plugs/wires, grabbed new (used) coil packs, and I just did a compression test and both rotors were over 85psi for all three pumps. I noticed when I pulled the spark plugs out that they were pretty dirty and I also noticed that after I ran the compression test, the fittings got the tester had what looked like carbon flakes on the inside of them

I have no clue where to turn to next. Any help would be appreciated. Maybe I missed something while I did all of it, I just don't know at this point

lduley

iTrader: (1)

Sounds exactly like what mines doing, are you losing antifreeze without any leaks?

chrismothaFwalt

I am losing antifreeze but it's coming from the radiator. Just a slow leak right now

lduley

iTrader: (1)

Well your compression is on the low side (last i checked mine was 90psi) so its getting tired, but mine is slowly ingesting coolant because it has a bad coolant seal and it does the exact same thing yours does, misfires for a bit than clears up and runs fine

Top off your coolant and leave the coolant neck cap off and let it idle and see if you get bubbles (has to get warmed up, so give it a good 20 mins idleing). I have a feeling you will

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

let the car sit overnight and pull the EGI fuse, crank the engine a few seconds then pull out the leadings, if either are wet it is most likely burning coolant according to your symptoms and the engine will need to be rebuilt.

unless the car has sentimental value it sounds like RIP

chrismothaFwalt

Thanks I'll give both of those a shot.

chrismothaFwalt

So I tried both of those. I didn't get any fluid on the leading a but I did get a little air in the system. I did some searching on here and found the thread about "fixing" the seal with alumaseal. I never had an issue with the car smoking while I was driving it but I gave it a shot and she seams to be running a tad bit better. I noticed when I went to put the alumaseal into the system that my coolant was still completely full. I haven't put any in there in a couple months. It is getting colder here so that could be why it's not burning it up anymore. On the other hand I still have a bad misfire to try to solve. Any suggestions?

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Good luck with that stuff(heard some stories on that stuff) but honestly your just putting a bandaid around your sliced throat.
You can have good compression but still have a bad coolant seal,and that is what you are encountering.
Coolant will enter OR some compression will escape to the cooling system depending on how hot and pressurized the system is.
If the engine is turned off the system will bleed coolant into the compression chamber and when hot it can put air into the cooling system.
When coolant enters the compression chamber then when you start it the engine will burn off the coolant and show it..as white smoke.

chrismothaFwalt

Alright thanks. It sounds like I'm just gonna run with it for a few months. I'm planning on doing a swap when I get back from deployment so there's no point in rebuilding it before I leave.