Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2002 09:14:49 -0400
From: "Richard Linzell" <TrexamUSA@aol.com>
Subject: A Cloud of white smoke on start up

Hi all,

My 79 recently started to blow a huge cloud of white smoke on cold
startup.
I know that I have some vacuum hose leaks (working on them)but this is to
much. It stops smoking and runs fine after a minute or so. Its interesting
that it doesn't start smoking immediatly upon startup as it runs smoke
free for a few seconds before the billowing starts. It could be a couple
of things ie. blown out cold start inject, auxillary air valve but some of
you may have see this before, and I really haven't lifted the hood yet to
sort it out. Your thoughts?

Thanks

Richard


From: Dan [dbrindle@kondratyev.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 2:00 AM
To: 928
Subject: [928] RE: A Cloud of white smoke on start up


Richard,

Glen is right.  White smoke on start up is a classic sign of a blown head
gasket.  Before I'd start tearing into the engine I would look elsewhere.
You did not say if the car has been over heated recently or that it
overheats after driving a while.  If it does then head gasket is a place to
look.

What you did say is the car is a 79.  The 79 has the CIS injection system.
The CIS uses the coolant to heat one of the breather tubes.  If you look at
the back of the head on the left side of the engine there is a small water
hose running from there up to the bottom of a large breather hose.  There is
a metal tube running through the breather connected to another hose toward
the front of the engine and running the right side of the engine.

I noticed when I was going through my 78 that the cooling system was very
clean with the exception of the pipe running to the overflow / filler tank
and this cooling tube.  It is possible for this one to rust through and
cause coolant to be sucked into the intake system.

You can by pass the tube through the breather by connecting a hose from the
back of the left head to the right side of the engine or just plug both ends
of the of the hose connecting to the breather tube so no water flows.

Dan the Pod Guy
Portia's Parts