i need help (smoking/runs rough) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dr_erni · 12-30-2002, 11:27 PM

this truck just seems to keep on getting worse the longer i own it heheh...

it started doing this recently...

after it warms up and everything... it still smokes out of the left side (looking from the back forward) the smoke doesn't seem to stay a certain color, sometimes blue, sometimes white, sometimes it doesn't smoke at all...

When i'm at a stop in gear, it idles pretty rough and takes off rough also.

Could you give me some pointers, other then "take it to the junkyard"

thanx

J-Spec C10 · 12-31-2002, 05:28 PM

do you have dual exhaust? where is the smoke coming from? is the oil or coolant level dropping?

dr_erni · 12-31-2002, 05:45 PM

it's dual exhaust...

it smokes out of the left hand side (from the drivers point of view)
the oil/coolant seems to stay.... although after about 1000 km i have had to add almost a quart of oil...

i'm thinking i should replace the head gasket?

when i was going to work today, it ran really rough and smoked a lot... but on the way back it didn't.

**swervin ervin** · 12-31-2002, 07:21 PM

This could be many things. I would guess at maybe some bad rings causing the smoking on one side. Of course it could the carb flooding on one side. How do your plugs look? This is usually a pretty good indication of what's going on inside the engine. If they are wet with oil or gas, it will foul them out and cause a rough running engine.

dr_erni · 12-31-2002, 09:54 PM

ugh... i REALLY hope it's not the rings.

i noticed tonight that the temp seems to fluctuate somewhat, and the engine surges somewhat.

once i'm stopped though, it feels like it's not running on all cylinders.

I was kinda hoping it was the head gasket or something like that.

How hard is it to change the head gasket? and do i need any special tools?

i will check the plugs tomorrow...i'll post the pics once i get them

gchemist · 12-31-2002, 10:04 PM

If the engine idles rough you probably have a fouled plug. Change them and see if you notice a change. Plugs are cheap to preplace. I replace mine every 6 months due to oil burning on three cylinders.

pkbinplano · 01-01-2003, 10:09 AM

Don't forget about bad / loose plug wires. Seen that before also

dr_erni · 01-01-2003, 12:15 PM

first of all, Happy New Year!!!

thank you for helping me out here... i will replace the plugs today... a question though, would bad plugs make it smoke?

12-30-2002, 11:27 PM	#1
dr_erni Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 12	i need help (smoking/runs rough) this truck just seems to keep on getting worse the longer i own it heheh... it started doing this recently... after it warms up and everything... it still smokes out of the left side (looking from the back forward) the smoke doesn't seem to stay a certain color, sometimes blue, sometimes white, sometimes it doesn't smoke at all... When i'm at a stop in gear, it idles pretty rough and takes off rough also. Could you give me some pointers, other then "take it to the junkyard" thanx

12-31-2002, 05:28 PM	#2
J-Spec C10 Whats this wire for?.... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 378	do you have dual exhaust? where is the smoke coming from? is the oil or coolant level dropping? __________________ Kyle CANADIAN CONNECTION '82 C10 Resto-Custom--> * 2 1/4" manifold back dual exhaust with Hooker Aerochambers & High Flow Cats Taylor Ignition Wires Centerline 15" Telstars with 32"x10" mudders

12-31-2002, 07:21 PM	#4
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	This could be many things. I would guess at maybe some bad rings causing the smoking on one side. Of course it could the carb flooding on one side. How do your plugs look? This is usually a pretty good indication of what's going on inside the engine. If they are wet with oil or gas, it will foul them out and cause a rough running engine. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

12-31-2002, 09:54 PM	#5
dr_erni Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 12	ugh... i REALLY hope it's not the rings. i noticed tonight that the temp seems to fluctuate somewhat, and the engine surges somewhat. once i'm stopped though, it feels like it's not running on all cylinders. I was kinda hoping it was the head gasket or something like that. How hard is it to change the head gasket? and do i need any special tools? i will check the plugs tomorrow...i'll post the pics once i get them Last edited by dr_erni; 12-31-2002 at 09:58 PM.

12-31-2002, 10:04 PM	#6
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	If the engine idles rough you probably have a fouled plug. Change them and see if you notice a change. Plugs are cheap to preplace. I replace mine every 6 months due to oil burning on three cylinders. __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos

12-31-2002, 05:45 PM	#3
dr_erni Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 12	it's dual exhaust... it smokes out of the left hand side (from the drivers point of view) the oil/coolant seems to stay.... although after about 1000 km i have had to add almost a quart of oil... i'm thinking i should replace the head gasket? when i was going to work today, it ran really rough and smoked a lot... but on the way back it didn't.

01-01-2003, 10:09 AM	#7
pkbinplano pkbinplano Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 370	Don't forget about bad / loose plug wires. Seen that before also __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...7496&members=1 84 chevy silverado aka The Bananna Boat

01-01-2003, 12:15 PM	#8
dr_erni Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 12	first of all, Happy New Year!!! thank you for helping me out here... i will replace the plugs today... a question though, would bad plugs make it smoke?



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