Quite a bit of smoke from the valve cover

ct1979 · 03-10-2008, 07:23 AM

Its kind of whitish gray coming out of the vent on the valve cover, any thoughts on this? Is it bad sign? Nothing to worry about? Its a '69 350 and i'm sure it would benifit from a rebuild but I need to make it last as long as I can due to finances.

Thanks

Warhead · 03-10-2008, 08:20 AM

How much is a lot of smoke???
White/ grayish??
Is there any milk-like sludge with it?
Does the thing have air bubbleing in the radiator?
Does it lose water?

Last as LONG as it can???
FINANCES?
Sounds like running it into the ground.- JMO
Have someone look at it locally, not on here, REALLY.

Oldsguy · 03-10-2008, 08:21 AM

White to gray smoke could be water vapor. Check your oil, does it look like a chocolate milkshake? If it does, you may have a coolant to oil leak someplace, perhaps a head gasket or crack in the head. If you can remove the valve cover and inspect it, look for a soft milky residue on the inside surfaces of the cover to confirm it. Good luck and hope it isn't it, a cracked head is bad news.

ct1979 · 03-10-2008, 10:00 AM

No there hasn't been any water leaking and the oil is clean and the radiator doesnt bubble. I don't plan on running it into the ground, but I do need to drive it to work to make the money to rebuild it. The vacuum pressure is really smooth and even and its still pretty strong. When I do get to that point i'm going to have to do the transmission as well.

Oldsguy · 03-10-2008, 01:10 PM

If it isn't water vapor then it may simply be smoke from an old/tired engine. The engine may be burning some oil. When do you notice this smoke? How much is there? How long does it linger if after you turn the engine off? Are you using oil abnormally?

03-10-2008, 07:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
ct1979 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 25	Quite a bit of smoke from the valve cover Its kind of whitish gray coming out of the vent on the valve cover, any thoughts on this? Is it bad sign? Nothing to worry about? Its a '69 350 and i'm sure it would benifit from a rebuild but I need to make it last as long as I can due to finances. Thanks

03-10-2008, 08:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,132	White to gray smoke could be water vapor. Check your oil, does it look like a chocolate milkshake? If it does, you may have a coolant to oil leak someplace, perhaps a head gasket or crack in the head. If you can remove the valve cover and inspect it, look for a soft milky residue on the inside surfaces of the cover to confirm it. Good luck and hope it isn't it, a cracked head is bad news. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

03-10-2008, 01:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,132	If it isn't water vapor then it may simply be smoke from an old/tired engine. The engine may be burning some oil. When do you notice this smoke? How much is there? How long does it linger if after you turn the engine off? Are you using oil abnormally? __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
smoke from carb	1973_442	Big Blocks	7	12-15-2007 05:13 PM
303 or 324 valve cover	66442ragtop	Parts Wanted	0	11-25-2007 10:55 AM
Replacing valve cover gaskets	dallas6778	Small Blocks	7	11-20-2007 10:04 AM
Valve cover gasket R/R	and1stp	Other	3	09-26-2006 04:43 PM
Need OLDSMOBILE ROCKET valve cover decals for 371	J'ville	Parts Wanted	5	08-28-2006 05:21 PM

03-10-2008, 08:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Warhead Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 91	How much is a lot of smoke??? White/ grayish?? Is there any milk-like sludge with it? Does the thing have air bubbleing in the radiator? Does it lose water? Last as LONG as it can??? FINANCES? Sounds like running it into the ground.- JMO Have someone look at it locally, not on here, REALLY.

03-10-2008, 10:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
ct1979 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 25	No there hasn't been any water leaking and the oil is clean and the radiator doesnt bubble. I don't plan on running it into the ground, but I do need to drive it to work to make the money to rebuild it. The vacuum pressure is really smooth and even and its still pretty strong. When I do get to that point i'm going to have to do the transmission as well.