Need help with smoke out of tailpipes

[t3intercooled]

Alright everyone, over the past couple months i have been trying to diagnose the smoke out of my tailpipes. I think its coolant, yet everyone else thinks it smells like and looks like oil.

I had a motor rebuilt, probably 5-10K on new motor since 06. I checked and replaced the PCV with a AC Delco one. Intake gasket is the valley pan style. The Oil level doesn't go down significantly while driving, it goes down very slightly due to the notorious rear main seal leaking.

Now if someone can let me know if this is normal, I pulled the plugs, 1 is a greyish color, 4 are a light brown color and one is black, but there is no sludge or residue on the tips of any. Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't black mean it is running rich.... And what do the other colors "normally" mean?

As for my coolant when I change my oil there is no coolant mixed with the oil so if there is coolant getting in its a drop here or there which if i am correct even a drop can cause a lot of smoke. I fill my resivior, which is the one that comes with the razor's alky kit, mark it with a magic marker and it takes about 1-3 weeks or so to empty the resivior, and I do not notice any leaks of coolant. Has anyone had luck with coolant tabs for minor leaks, I got some from GM.

Any help with this is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance to all who reply.

 

[t3intercooled]

Can anyone help me with this....

 

[TwinyTwin]

what color is the smoke coming out the tail pipes?

 

[zeus87gn]

Good morning,

Surprised noone has chimed in. Here's my thoughts...

If you have to keep filling the overflow bottle with coolant, you are loosing it somewhere. This should not be happening. What color is the smoke out of the tailpipe and what does it smell like? Is it white looking and does it stink sweet? Classic sign of coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. It doesn't have to be leaking into the crankcase to be doing this. Might be time to do a leakdown test to confirm. If the head gasket is leaking, you will get air bubbles out the radiator.

If you have a leaking rear main seal on a rebuilt engine, I would correct that problem. You're past any warranty, so you are on your own there. It will soak down the underside of your vehicle (ask me how I know).

Your plugs tell a story. It sounds to me like you don't have the RJC plate and your cylinders aren't running evenly. I may be wrong here.

 

[t3intercooled]

Good morning,

Surprised noone has chimed in. Here's my thoughts...

If you have to keep filling the overflow bottle with coolant, you are loosing it somewhere. This should not be happening. What color is the smoke out of the tailpipe and what does it smell like? Is it white looking and does it stink sweet? Classic sign of coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. It doesn't have to be leaking into the crankcase to be doing this. Might be time to do a leakdown test to confirm. If the head gasket is leaking, you will get air bubbles out the radiator.

If you have a leaking rear main seal on a rebuilt engine, I would correct that problem. You're past any warranty, so you are on your own there. It will soak down the underside of your vehicle (ask me how I know).

Your plugs tell a story. It sounds to me like you don't have the RJC plate and your cylinders aren't running evenly. I may be wrong here.

The smoke to me looks white, but to other people it looks a little blue, but they think it smells like oil including various mechanics I have brought it too. As for the bubbles my father and i removed the radiator cap when it was hot and their was foamy type of bubbles in the radiator, however people keep saying it smells like oil.

I do have the correct RJC power plate for the 70mm throttle and plenum.

 

[49-blues]

try some coolant sealer-seems like a water leak-maybe head gasket.

 

[zeus87gn]

The smoke to me looks white, but to other people it looks a little blue, but they think it smells like oil including various mechanics I have brought it too. As for the bubbles my father and i removed the radiator cap when it was hot and their was foamy type of bubbles in the radiator, however people keep saying it smells like oil.

I do have the correct RJC power plate for the 70mm throttle and plenum.

Different things smell different to different people. If it's just a pinhole leak, it could fool you. The foamyness in the rad may be a sign. Time to do that leakdown test. IMO, coolant sealers get you by but dont' solve the problem. They are a bandaid. If you ahve a head gasket leaking it should be changed.