454 just took up smoking

[Cracker]

As I'm heating up the pipes just prior to going to the smog station I come out side to see the 454 is puffing smoke. It is faint (can't really say it's blue) but it stinks. :unsure: I suppose it won't pass the visual inspection now.

[Nosmog73]

but it stinks. :unsure: I suppose it won't pass the visual inspection now.

Bet it is the cat.. :chaz:

[Cracker]

I think the system is pretty new. :uh oh:

[Cracker]

It periodically throws a code as well as has a rough idle.

The smoke is blue.

I just changed the oil and added some Smoke-B-Gone which is essentially a thickener.

Do you still think it's the cat?

[jays68yak]

If you can use a paper clip to get the check engine light to flash I have a list of the codes at home.

[daddysblazer74]

I heard if it smells like rotten eggs its the cat.

[Nosmog73]

I heard if it smells like rotten eggs its the cat.

Ditto which is why I said the cat..but dont take my word.. :2thumbs:

[jays68yak]

on my 94, it never smelled other then like it was running rich (which is still does) and my cat was bad. Also if in fact the new truck also has a bad cat, I never noticed a bad smell.

Or maybe my ass smells so bad that I never noticed it.

[Cracker]

I could have a smelly ass too because I smell no sulfur from the exhaust.

I added another bottle of smoke stopper. So far so good. Wish me luck. :flipoff2:

[Nosmog73]

on my 94, it never smelled other then like it was running rich (which is still does) and my cat was bad. Also if in fact the new truck also has a bad cat, I never noticed a bad smell.

Or maybe my ass smells so bad that I never noticed it.

Was Jerry in your truck cracker... :chaz: :p

[jays68yak]

He was in mine, now I see why his dog rides with her head out the window. :chaz:

[Cracker]

FAILED.

About 4x too high at idle for hydrocarbons and 2x the level for carbon monoxide.


Now what? I suppose a cat, how about spark plugs?

[bggrnchvy]

Fresh plugs are a start, blue smoke means oil is making its way to the chamber either via the rings or the valve guid seals typically. DO you have decent compression? Maybe try a leak down test?

Carbon monoxide means its running rich, plugs might help, cap and rotor replacement could aslo be helping with poor spark resulting in incomplete burn.

Hydrocarbons are unburnt fuel as well, possible coming from poor compression or just another byproduct of poor spark.

[Cracker]

Thanks, I just did some reading up on it. Could be spark plugs, could be something bigger in the ignition system. I'm going to go pull plug wires to see if I can narrow it down to a cylinder. Now's the time when I wish it was a 4cylinder. :p


And the smoking is gone- I guess it's down to bad breath.

[bggrnchvy]

In the future just run 20w-50 in the motor, rings are probably well worn resulting in your blue smoke with 5/10w-30/40.

[Cracker]

I'm in the process of changing the plugs/wires. When I went to check them several wire connectors were stuck on the plugs. One wire was shocking me even though it was connected. :blink: Some of the plugs were very corroded. I already got the new cap/rotor installed now I'm squeezing my hands trying to get the plugs replaced.

[bggrnchvy]

Put some dielectric grease on the spark plug ends so they don't get stuck next time and some anti-sieze on the threads, makes everything that much easier next time.

[Cracker]

I'm finished with the cap/rotor/wire/plug install. It idles better but is it enough???

[Tony Somethingoranother]

When you take it in again, drive the thing in 2nd, keep the revs up, and don't shut it off while you are waiting. Keep reving the motor while you are waiting to wake up the cat, and keep it woken up. Put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator as well, it will make the engine run hotter and cleaner. Not sure if snorting a bottle of seafoam will help you pass emissions, but it will clean up the internals, and put on a cool smoke show for your neighbors and tree huggers to enjoy. Use the correct grade of fuel for your truck, and get it from Chevron. Pass smog in a bottle wouldn't hurt either I would imagine. Thats it for the dirty tricks I know, aside from fixing anything to make it run better.

[CaptainInsano]

FAILED.

About 4x too high at idle for hydrocarbons and 2x the level for carbon monoxide.


Now what? I suppose a cat, how about spark plugs?

whats the mileage? If over 100k you could very well need a new cat. Also make sure it is the right size cat or it won't work right. If the engine has been running rich for awhile that can ruin the cat too. Cats suck, but I suppose they do help the environment air quality.

[Cracker]

Did the Seafoam thing a few weeks ago, I did it at night. :p

The truck was pretty hot too, I drove 7 miles on the freeway, let it idle for 20 minutes while I ate then drove another 7 miles. While I was in line waiting to be smogged I let it idle. I still missed the marks by quite a margin.

Truck had 114K when the odometer stopped working.

[Tony Somethingoranother]

The truck was pretty hot too, I drove 7 miles on the freeway, let it idle for 20 minutes while I ate then drove another 7 miles. While I was in line waiting to be smogged I let it idle.

Your cat was still asleep. You need to make the engine work for its money!! Letting it idle will allow the cat to cool off. You need fuel to light it off and keep it lit. When you get it to run better, and you take it back in, drive it in a lower gear, keep the revs up, get it hot, and keep it there. Dont let it sit idleing Your cat *might* have enough life left in it to pass one more time. Otherwise, save your re-retest money and get a new cat put on, once you get it running better :D

[Cracker]

I had a diagnostic run today just because all the mechanical stuff that's going on. It was a good thing too because I learned that I have a custom 7 cylinder 7.4L. :uh oh: Supposedly the cat is good.

[IceMan]

I had a diagnostic run today just because all the mechanical stuff that's going on. It was a good thing too because I learned that I have a custom 7 cylinder 7.4L. :uh oh: Supposedly the cat is good.

That would do it.
I had the same problem when I tried to smog my chalet, ran it hard untill I used up all the old fuel, ran a couple of sea foam and then took it to smog, it failed the first pass he went at it again and passed it.
It was running pretty smooth by the time it finished smog. :pimp2:
It had a slight miss on idle before. :2thumbs:

[CaptainInsano]

I had a diagnostic run today just because all the mechanical stuff that's going on. It was a good thing too because I learned that I have a custom 7 cylinder 7.4L. :uh oh: Supposedly the cat is good.

ek!

[crewcabroller]

So whats the problem? No spark? Bad compression? Bad valve?

[Cracker]

So whats the problem? No spark? Bad compression? Bad valve?

Bad as in zero compression? Yes. Otherwise Geoffi knows shizzat bout internal combustion other than CH2O + O2 = CO2 + H20.

[jays68yak]

I meet someone tonight that has an butt load of bbc heads.

[crewcabroller]

If it truly has zero compression then it's got a big leak somewhere, leakdown test isn't going to do much but show you which end it's coming from. Hook an air compressor up to the sparkplug hole and see if air comes from the crankcase, intake, or exhaust and go from there. Smell any gas in the oil?

If it's the intake or exhaust, I'd pull the valve cover and watch the valve train while it's running to look for simple things first. Believe it or not we once had a camaro come in that had zero compression on a cylinder. We pulled the valve cover and found one intake valve stuck open. Pulled the head and there was a nut (nuts and bolts kind) stuck in the valve between it and the head that someone dropped in the intake. Hey, it could happen :p

[Cracker]

So it passed after $290. They said they did this and that but it runs exactly the same. I wonder if they did nothing and used another car. :blink:

[Tony Somethingoranother]

So it passed after $290. They said they did this and that but it runs exactly the same. I wonder if they did nothing and used another car. :blink:

Heh, who cares for two years right??

[bggrnchvy]

So you still have an 8 cylinder 7.4L turned 7 cylinder 6.5L, but you passed SMOG $290 lighter in the wallet?

What are you planning to do about the motor as its supposed to be the tow rig?

[Cracker]

Heh, who cares for two years right??

One year here. :(

So you still have an 8 cylinder 7.4L turned 7 cylinder 6.5L, but you passed SMOG $290 lighter in the wallet?

What are you planning to do about the motor as its supposed to be the tow rig?

It runs strong at speed but has a rough idle which is probably the 7 cylinder thing. But who knows, I'm skeptical of corner mechanics. Its destiny is uncertain.

[Tony Somethingoranother]

Sounds like its time for a BFE P.O. box to register your truck to.

[crewcabroller]

In a while you can bring it to my place and we can check the engine out with the in house ASE master engine overhaul and machine specialist :rolleyes:

[Cracker]

In a while you can bring it to my place and we can check the engine out with the in house ASE master engine overhaul and machine specialist :rolleyes:

Thanks.

Beavis- I can use my address, I do have passing paperwork so registration here won't be a problem. I just don't want to deal with this on a yearly basis so I don't know my plans yet.

My '98 is registered in CA and it doesn't require smog based on the county BUT the truck has to pass smog to initially be able to be registered there.

[Ryan B.]

In a while you can bring it to my place and we can check the engine out with the in house ASE master engine overhaul and machine specialist :rolleyes:

... just make sure that i'll be down there that weekend.

oh and i'm not certified yet. :flipoff2:

[Cracker]

... just make sure that i'll be down there that weekend.

oh and i'm not certified yet. :flipoff2:

Make sure you read the chapter on Cat/Cummins swaps and if you have time extended --> crew cab morphology.

[crewcabroller]

Mmm mechanically injected 8.3 cummins powered crewcab tow rig with 10 speed trans.... :pimp1:

You would be my hero.

[Cracker]

Make sure you read the chapter on Cat/Cummins swaps and if you have time extended --> crew cab morphology.

Strangely when I typed that I had not yet found this-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-GMC-3500-HD-Street-Legal-Monster-Truck_W0QQitemZ150075878277QQihZ005QQcategoryZ9098 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Ryan B.]

Mmm mechanically injected 8.3 cummins powered crewcab tow rig with 10 speed trans.... :pimp1:

You would be my hero.

How might one find said 8.3 and a 10 speed??

[crewcabroller]

Ebay's easiest.

[Ryan B.]

what do they come in?
hp/tq output, stock/modded?

[crewcabroller]

Eh, come in a lot of diesel pusher motorhomes, school busses, delivery trucks, etc.

Stock HP is 260 I think with around 600ish ft/lbs torque.

Just a few clicks and less than a hundred bucks and your at 500hp and 1200 ft/lbs... You can make the same power with a 5.9 but your more reliable with the 8.3 since it can handle the abuse better. So instead of making big power at the top of the capability of a 5.9 your in the middle of the capability of an 8.3.

You could also grab the allison auto that comes behind them, it's a real allison, not one of those stupid cheasy ones in the chevy trucks.

[IceMan]

Make sure you read the chapter on Cat/Cummins swaps and if you have time extended --> crew cab morphology.

Strangely when I typed that I had not yet found this-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-GMC-3500-HD-Street-Legal-Monster-Truck_W0QQitemZ150075878277QQihZ005QQcategoryZ9098 2QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So I am not too far off by wanting to graft a blazer back half onto a crew cab long bed. :pimp2:
Look for that one in the future, when I get a job again :pain: