[tessio68]

Just had my 200 cid engine totally rebuilt pistons, bearings,gaskets etc. but still getting white smoke on start up. Is this normal or might there be another cause. Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

[tripleblack]

Does the smoke smell like anti-freeze?

[tessio68]

more of a fuel smell

[tripleblack]

Check the tune, plugs, timing, that sort of thing, but allow at least 200 miles for a break in period after the overhaul.

If it does this ONLY on startup, it might indicate a small leak somewhere. If the heads were not rebuilt at the same time, it might indicate a seal leaking some oil into the chamber while the car sits, which has to then be burned off when you start the car.

Needless to say, a minor amount of smoke WOULD be normal.

[tessio68]

I was going to check the timing anyway because it seems to idle rough stopped at a traffic light. The Heads were rebuilt and evrything else is new. BUt I'll pull the plugs to make sure theres no oil on them. Thanks.

[cushman350]

A wild guess, but first, is the trans an automatic? If it is, see what blocking off the vacuum to the modulator valve does to the idle. If found idle smooths, then it might be sucking tranny fluid into intake. Just guessing.

[PaulS]

With the engine shut off just pull the vacuum line at the vacuum modulator - if there is oil in the line then replace the modulator.

[tessio68]

This is an automatic transmission

[PaulS]

Check the modulator hose for oil. My bet is that you will find traces (or more) of ATF in the line. When you do the cure for the white smoke is to replace the leaking modulator. ATF burns with white smoke and it is more common than you might think to have a leak in the modulator.

[tripleblack]

Yep, I have to agree, that makes lots of sense. It might also be expected that it was doing this for a while before the engine overhaul, but that the engine was smoking or burning enough oil to mask this seperate issue. This sometimes happens with older cars, you fix one problem and reveal another...

[tessio68]

Modulator hose is fine no traces of oil found in the atf line. now what?

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by tessio68

Modulator hose is fine no traces of oil found in the atf line. now what?

Steve,
How long does the engine smoke? Is it possible that it is just steam from moisture in the air that disapears when the engine and exhaust is warmed up?

[tessio68]

could be. the smoke stops when the car is warmed so that might be the case.