Smoke/steam on startup

[Oren09]

Well first off, I get lots of smoke/steam coming from everywhere on startup and for awhile afterwards.
Here's a video of the engine compartment:

Is this a leaky exhaust pipe, or is something else going on?
Also, I'm having bad valve clatter, which is why I zoomed into the head, but you can't hear it on the video.

Also also, well after warmup, like after driving for a bit, my idle drops really low. It feels as though the engine is about to die. It has quite a hiccup or stumble sometimes. It runs fine once you give it some gas, though.

[Pu241]

Nice video,helps a lot!

I'm guessing, you'll have to check to see if it is the problem.
But get the car up on ramps and it is an easy check and you get a chance at another video!

The connection between the down pipe and the front of the cat converter breaks fairly regularly.
Generally, it's flange that has broke loose from the pipe from a failed weld.

[Flyin4stroke]

how are the fluids? Are you loosing any oil or coolant? The valve tick and smoke sounds like it may be leaking oil maybe onto the exhaust

[Pu241]

Yeah, good idea to see if your losing fluids, but given the color and volume of the smoke/steam I'm still betting exhaust.
My VC gaskets need replacing bad, project for this week, and it smokes but nothing like that!
Valve tick is likely HLA's not getting oil.

Oren09, what weight oil you using and what are the temp in your area.
A lower viscosity oil may help get oil into the HLA's, but me thinks you just may have crud in the oil passages so using a oil additive like Seafoam, Marvel Mystery Oil, Rislo(sp) in the oil just before an oil change might help too.
Keep us informed as to what you find.

[Oren09]

Thanks for the replies guys. I love helpful forums.
I lent the car to a friend of my mom a month ago and just got it back late last week. It was running worse than I remember and we checked the oil, it was down 2 quarts.
The ticking softened a bit after that.
I'm not sure what type/weight oil is in it, as I've had the car for just under 3K miles and haven't done a change yet. I will be putting Seafoam in the intake, crankcase,and fuel tank soon. Once I get the damn sending unit out (one completely stripped screw remaining) and fill the tank back up. (The gauge stops working at 1/2)

I'll do an oil change pretty soon, probably when I do one for my truck. I'm leaving for Texas on the 10th and returning in the 20s. 4000 miles round trip. At least I'm running Mobile 1 Full Synthetic and WIX filters in my Rambeast
Anyway, the car needs the timing cover gasket replaced because part of it is sticking out. Not sure about the valve cover, but I'll probably do it while I'm in there as well. Here is a pic shortly after soaking the engine in a grease cleaner and power washing it:


I will jack up the car and attempt an exhaust video when mom's friend removes his car from the concrete part of my driveway.

[Tim]

The timing covers tend to warp on these engines, and I've found it normal to have the gasket stick out a bit. Replacing the gasket probably won't do much.


-Tim

[Oren09]

^ Much like the intake plenum gasket on Dodge Magnum V8 engines.. lol.
I'll play musical cars tomorrow to get Rustiva parked on the concrete and jack it up. I need to get a good look underneath it anyway. I want to check the suspension closer (I have bad steering wheel shudder between 65-75), see the condition of the shifter bushings (if any exist still), and have a heart attack upon examining the exhaust.

On a side note, I rolled over to 180,000.0 miles today while going to Idaho:

Also, I saw what I believe is an Aspire sitting in side yard just outside of Troy, MT, if anyone in the area is interested.

[Oren09]

I put some Seafoam in the gas tank, in the crankcase, and also ran some through the brake booster vacuum hose.
Lots of smoke everywhere. I'm sure my exhaust system is pretty bad. I'll jack up the car later once the lug bolts are loosened (I need to rotate my tires, front is at 5/32 rear 11/32).
Is this PCV or EGR?
I pulled it out and puffs of air were coming out of it in rhythm with the engine and it smelled like exhaust. Very weird if its PCV..

[wybnrml]

I put some Seafoam in the gas tank, in the crankcase, and also ran some through the brake booster vacuum hose.
Lots of smoke everywhere. I'm sure my exhaust system is pretty bad. I'll jack up the car later once the lug bolts are loosened (I need to rotate my tires, front is at 5/32 rear 1/32).
Is this PCV or EGR?
I pulled it out and puffs of air were coming out of it in rhythm with the engine and it smelled like exhaust. Very weird if its PCV..

Yep, thats the PCV, it usually puffs out there.

[batstiva]

I put some Seafoam in the gas tank, in the crankcase, and also ran some through the brake booster vacuum hose.
Lots of smoke everywhere. I'm sure my exhaust system is pretty bad. I'll jack up the car later once the lug bolts are loosened (I need to rotate my tires, front is at 5/32 rear 11/32).
Is this PCV or EGR?
I pulled it out and puffs of air were coming out of it in rhythm with the engine and it smelled like exhaust. Very weird if its PCV..

It would be weird if you felt nothing when you pulled that out. You should have puffs of air from the PCV, and vacuum from the hole in the VC.
You were two quarts low, and topped it off. Has it lost oil since then?
If so, how often do you have to top it off. Thinking you have a combination of a possible exhaust leak, and oil dripping down on the pipe. Tho, on a cold start up, I would think the pipe would have to heat a bit longer to start smoking.

[Oren09]

The oil hasn't dropped since then.
My truck's PCV doesn't do that..
Also, the car stalls when you remove the PCV valve from the hose or remove the brake booster hose... It loves vacuum, lol. Most engines I've encountered just stumble then idle up..
I'll change the oil soon. Bought the stuff today, but havn't done it yet.
I think the steam is just the regular steam from cold engines when its cold outside.
Its been between 30-50 degrees. My truck makes a lot of smoke/steam when cold, but it all comes out of the tailpipe.
What does an exhaust replacement on these cars cost? Including the cat. Unless I could get away without one... this car is ODBI and Montana doesn't do inspections...
Neither me nor my mom could get the lug bolts off... My four way doesn't go small enough (smallest is 11/16 and the car has 9/16 bolts). I think I need a breaker bar..

[GenevaDirt]

Neither me nor my mom could get the lug bolts off... My four way doesn't go small enough (smallest is 11/16 and the car has 9/16 bolts). I think I need a breaker bar..

I use a breaker bar....but the bolt is a 14mm ...not 9/16. Make sure you use the right socket so you do not round off the head of the bolt.

[Oren09]

Oh, ok. 9/16 fit very snug, though. Took a bit of fight to get the socket off the bolt.
Might be the rust and dirt.
The local ACE didn't have any breaker bars in stock today. I'll try again in a few days.

By the way, the idle seems to have smoothed out a bit after the Seafoam. We'll see how its doing tomorrow.

[grey]

The oil hasn't dropped since then.
My truck's PCV doesn't do that..
Also, the car stalls when you remove the PCV valve from the hose or remove the brake booster hose... It loves vacuum, lol. Most engines I've encountered just stumble then idle up..
I'll change the oil soon. Bought the stuff today, but havn't done it yet.
I think the steam is just the regular steam from cold engines when its cold outside.
Its been between 30-50 degrees. My truck makes a lot of smoke/steam when cold, but it all comes out of the tailpipe.
What does an exhaust replacement on these cars cost? Including the cat. Unless I could get away without one... this car is ODBI and Montana doesn't do inspections...
Neither me nor my mom could get the lug bolts off... My four way doesn't go small enough (smallest is 11/16 and the car has 9/16 bolts). I think I need a breaker bar..

I would not worry about steam on startup if you are not losing fluids. Alot of good running cars do it...same with the stall on vacuum leak, normal


i know these lack alot of frills, but really...should be a lug wrench with the jack, no?

[Oren09]

Nope. There isn't one. And the jack is all rusted, too.