White Smoke - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

justtime520 · 03-06-2009, 02:32 PM

My truck has a 350 but occasionally smokes a puff of white smoke. the smoke is not constant. does the carb need to be rebuilt/tuned. i check the oil and coolant and they are not mixed at all. Any thing will help thanks

texanidiot25 · 03-06-2009, 02:41 PM

If the white smoke has a blueish tint to it then your burning oil. Usually a sign of bad piston rings or valve seals..

Sometimes though it's just steam/condensation blowing out of the pipes, but that is a solid white steam.

Senator350 · 03-06-2009, 02:43 PM

white smoke is usually steam. it could be coolant, but if it's not consistant then it might just be condensation in your exhaust from the cooling cycle

justtime520 · 03-06-2009, 02:47 PM

i was thinking about changing the head gaskets just for the sake of it. not sure if that with fix it.

justtime520 · 03-06-2009, 02:49 PM

I watched the exhaust at its smoking from the driver side pipe

ChevLoRay · 03-06-2009, 03:42 PM

I don't know about you, but I'd have to see a lot more of it on a consistent basis before I pulled the heads and changed the head gaskets for the heck of it. That's a lot of work and just one of many ways to waste money if there is no justification for the job. There are ways to check for head gasket issues that will point to a blown head gasket, if that is the problem. Compression tests are another tool. But, to arbitrarily pull the heads to replace the gaskets? Not saying it is foolish, but......I'd have to have some strong incentive to want to do that for a puff of white smoke on occasions.

Smoking from an engine can be diagnosed by the old school methods. Blue smoke is oil-related. Black smoke is fuel-related. White smoke is water-related. As stated in a prior post, condensation is suspected. As dry as your air is in AZ, and from what I recall when I was stationed at D-M, condensation isn't going to be around very long. If you aren't driving your vehicle for at least 10-15 miles, it isn't warming up properly and condensation is going to exist in your exhaust system until the parts have warmed up enough to cause it to evaporate.

I think you are making something out of nothing....but, it's your truck.

texanidiot25 · 03-06-2009, 03:45 PM

What sort of smoke is it? Pure white, or white with a blueish tint?

justtime520 · 03-06-2009, 04:04 PM

your probably right chevloray, im going to far with out checking the basics. the smoke is white but not that thick its not blueish just kind of foggy white and it happens when at idle every now and then when i gas it at higher speeds

cdowns · 03-06-2009, 04:12 PM

condensation fuel additives 40year old engines add up to some smoke//get used to it

stllookn · 03-06-2009, 04:13 PM

Do a compression check first as someone mentioned, then take it to a reliable repair shop that has the coolant analyzers. They will check for exhaust components in the coolant that can be another good indication that you may have a head gasket going. They (not a car dealership) will usually do the coolant check for free.

03-06-2009, 02:32 PM	#1
justtime520 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 187	White Smoke My truck has a 350 but occasionally smokes a puff of white smoke. the smoke is not constant. does the carb need to be rebuilt/tuned. i check the oil and coolant and they are not mixed at all. Any thing will help thanks

03-06-2009, 02:41 PM	#2
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: White Smoke If the white smoke has a blueish tint to it then your burning oil. Usually a sign of bad piston rings or valve seals.. Sometimes though it's just steam/condensation blowing out of the pipes, but that is a solid white steam. Last edited by texanidiot25; 03-06-2009 at 02:42 PM.

03-06-2009, 02:43 PM	#3
Senator350 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 522	Re: White Smoke white smoke is usually steam. it could be coolant, but if it's not consistant then it might just be condensation in your exhaust from the cooling cycle __________________ RN U OVR

03-06-2009, 02:47 PM	#4
justtime520 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 187	Re: White Smoke i was thinking about changing the head gaskets just for the sake of it. not sure if that with fix it.

03-06-2009, 02:49 PM	#5
justtime520 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 187	Re: White Smoke I watched the exhaust at its smoking from the driver side pipe

03-06-2009, 03:42 PM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: White Smoke I don't know about you, but I'd have to see a lot more of it on a consistent basis before I pulled the heads and changed the head gaskets for the heck of it. That's a lot of work and just one of many ways to waste money if there is no justification for the job. There are ways to check for head gasket issues that will point to a blown head gasket, if that is the problem. Compression tests are another tool. But, to arbitrarily pull the heads to replace the gaskets? Not saying it is foolish, but......I'd have to have some strong incentive to want to do that for a puff of white smoke on occasions. Smoking from an engine can be diagnosed by the old school methods. Blue smoke is oil-related. Black smoke is fuel-related. White smoke is water-related. As stated in a prior post, condensation is suspected. As dry as your air is in AZ, and from what I recall when I was stationed at D-M, condensation isn't going to be around very long. If you aren't driving your vehicle for at least 10-15 miles, it isn't warming up properly and condensation is going to exist in your exhaust system until the parts have warmed up enough to cause it to evaporate. I think you are making something out of nothing....but, it's your truck. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

03-06-2009, 03:45 PM	#7
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: White Smoke What sort of smoke is it? Pure white, or white with a blueish tint?

03-06-2009, 04:04 PM	#8
justtime520 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 187	Re: White Smoke your probably right chevloray, im going to far with out checking the basics. the smoke is white but not that thick its not blueish just kind of foggy white and it happens when at idle every now and then when i gas it at higher speeds

03-06-2009, 04:12 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: White Smoke condensation fuel additives 40year old engines add up to some smoke//get used to it __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-06-2009, 04:13 PM	#10
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: White Smoke Do a compression check first as someone mentioned, then take it to a reliable repair shop that has the coolant analyzers. They will check for exhaust components in the coolant that can be another good indication that you may have a head gasket going. They (not a car dealership) will usually do the coolant check for free. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)



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