Cam replaced...now up in Smoke

Hi All...
I've a 350 chevy...has less than 20k on the build...original owner installed a Comp Cam...
took it in to replace some gaskets on the transmission and valve cover...and the mechanic found concern with a lifter...So he took the intake off...and discovered a cupped lifter...and continued and found a totally worn lobe on the cam...now sure how that happens..but seems it does...
So he replaced the cam..with another Comp Cam...same specs...and got things all back together yesterday...

...it (the engine) sounds WAY less grouchy...and seems to be running smoother...SoI take it for a drive this morn...up towards Saint Augustin p***...and the cab fills with smoke...and I notice a trail of smoke about a half mile behind me...kinda greyish white...no particular smell...it's not antifreeze...and didnt smell like oil really...pulled over..to look for pooling puddles of oil...or something..and found nothing...so I drive back down 70...and head towards Hatch (the Chili festival is this weekend) and about 20 mles up the road..it does it again...cab fills with smoke..and there's a smoke trail behind me...
not really smelling like anything...neither antifreeze, oil, nor wires burning...but definately getting a grey\white smoke

take it back to the house...park it..and wait for puddles to form...but nothing...

any ideas?


thanks

 

Could be a leaky head gasket letting water into one of the cylinders. That makes for a nice white smoke trail. If you have dual exhaust, is it coming from one side or both?

 

Cant really tell...which side...the cab fills...and Ive got a snail trail following me...there doesnt seem to be an odor...i thought it was fog at first...but it was just around me...sadly...

 

on the cam issue--- are you using high zinc oil??

 

I would check all the fluids after the engine cools...

What ever is low that's where you head...

I would think fluid slingin off the tq converter onto exhaust, if he pulled the ****** to do the front seal I hope he got the converter in all the way...

Cam wore because someone over-tightened the rocker, probably why it runs smoother now as well

 

yes...high zinc...was watching and asking questions as he was going...luckly..he's a patient man

 

thought of that too...checked oil levels...right to the line...checked radiator levels...topped off...checked transmission ...all checked out...just can't think of what i might be missing...

 

If you have an automatic trans with a vacuum modulator it could be a bad (leaky) diaphragm in the modulator which allows A/T fluid to get ****ed into the intake. I had that happen and it makes a heck of a smoke show.

 

it is an auto transmission...a chevy 400r I think...I'll check that...thanks

 

could even be brake line sprung a leak...

 

im not getting any puddling when parked tho...and I don't seem to be losing any brake pressure at the pedal

 

My vote is for some kind of trans leak. Get under there with a good light. And gl***es if your over 40.

 

yup...that's sounding like a direction...and sporting the tri-focals...it's like looking through the eyes of a fly

thanks guys

 

****** cooler? Maybe a worn hose or line near the exhaust
I would think that if the cab fills with smoke its an external engine leak.barring a non leaking exhaust system.

 

Don't overthink the problem,back track all of the repairs that were just completed,
first thing comes to mind is the gasket seal or R.T.V. on the rear of the intake manifold.

 

both yours and harpo1313...great ideas to look for...

but weird..the smoke appears...the plume out the back and in the cab...and then dissipates...
I was concerned to continue driving..to see if I got a 2nd instance in a row...
but Ive convinced my mechanic to go on a short road trip...

wonderful guy to do this on his holiday weekend...

 

Take a ride in a Hotrod on a holiday weekend. Who wouldn't....

 

Head gasket. Any petroleum-based product burning will have an odor.

 

either a bad va***e module on the trans or valve cover gasket leaking on to exhaust manifold A bad module allows auto trans fluid into the intake manifold and gives you a dense white smoke....out the tailpipe which would logically NOT be able to migrate forward into the cab. Oil leak on to the exhaust manifold during driving (especially if you have a bit of blow by or positive crankcase pressure) will put smoke under the vehicle and allow smoke into the cab if you have open holes into the cab.

 

Meaning a valve cover gasket or intake gasket

 

I haven't read that you have removed the spark plugs.Please do so.If they are all the same tan-ish colour,you aren't pulling coolant into the cylinders [let's forget the antifreeze smell for now]or oil.[you'll know that smell]If you are happy with how the plugs look,you can now look elsewhere for the source.

 

Possible lot's of things..... No "sweet" smell? are you running anti-freeze?
Simple to start with- pull the vacuum line for the modulator at the engine and see if there's atf in it....If so- problem solved. If not,take a good look around underside Good luck- Post the outcome.

 

Was the engine cleaned of all the metal filings from the worn cam?If not maybe the screen on the oil pump is clogging causing low oil flow.The pistons are over-heating.That can cause white smoke.

 

the oil was changed...including the filter...i believe he flushed it..and replaced it with the zinc and oil. he told me to run that for about 1000 miles..then another oil change including filter...I think he put a high powered magnet in the pan as well...to see if anything collects...
my oil pressure seems stable..and it's actually running cooler than before the wore cam replacement...

 

You said you just had the trans. worked on. Is it possible that the trans. was overfilled and is puking some fluid out the dipstick/fill tube?

 

the transmission was leaking...small baubles of fluid on the pan bolts...this was what I originally took in in for...
so the transmission was only taken apart at the pan...filter replaced while it was open...and resealed...no real work...tho he did find the speedometer gear housing wallowed out a bit...so that's been ordered and is to be replaced when it comes in...

 

Doesn't take much burning trans fluid to lay down a nice white hazy cloud. Since it fills the interior, I'm thinking external leak as opposed to ruptured diaphram which would go out the tail-pipe and cause a very HEAVY white cloud. Trans fluid on the exhaust pipes.

 

^^^^^ This got me to thinking some...... Been a while since i've had a th400. But,as I recall- didn't you have to run them a lil lower on fluid because if it showed in the middle of the hatch marks,expansion would occur, and spit out the vent tube? When I started out turning the wrench,that was the rule.... Lol-yes I worked on customers cars with 400's.

Only other thing I can think of..... possibly a ruptured diaphram,but depends on where the pipes exit.If it's out the back,then no. But,if under said car/truck,it could vortex undernieth....
Make any sense?, or am I blowing white smoke?

 

I'm curious what the problem is.

 

Sweet...ok...after kidnapping my mechanic...he's determined excessive transmission fluid...exiting thru an overflow and blowing all over the underside of the car...but only when I got it up to a higher rpm...causing more heat...tho I did check the stick...the first time it blew smoke...seems the dipstick maybe isn't registering properly or something...it's an aftermarket Teflon thing... Not sure why this didn't happen before the cam replacement...but indeed the mechanic changed the gasket and filter on the transmission...so easily it could have been overfilled...
tho...this is all theory...as I hafta wait 'till it cools down to drain some fluid...

but thank's to all you guys for your help...you guys are incredible...your knowledge...is invaluable...


thanks