Chevy S-10 smoke?

Question

a 99 s-10 v6 smokes a little sometimes, but not all the time, none of the fluid seems to be leaking out onto the ground and the fluid levels have not changed. The temperature is staying normal.

No, there isn't any oil spilled on it. It is due for an oil change, so I would have noticed the smoke before now. Also, if the head was cracked, the fluid levels would be decreasing, which I already said wasn't the case

The smoke doesn't happen all that often. It happened like a month ago, then stopped until yesterday. Then, while I was driving down the highway, I noticed some smoke in the rear view. Once I got to my destination, I checked under the hood and sure enough it was smoking a bit, not too much but some. I had to go do something so I didn't get a detailed check in, but when I drove home, there was no smoke at all.

Answer 1

i own a repair shop and you have a 4.3 vortec in that one,it probably needs valve stem seals put in it,after they get a few miles on them they need replacing i own a 95 model ,and those are really good vehicles,id keep a check on the all fluid levels in it to make sure,but that's probably all it needs i get them all the time needing those seals,and its not to bad of a job,but it is one you need to let a good repair shop handle,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 2

Your question didn't mention the color of the smoke. Excessive fuel being burned usually causes black smoke with an odor of gas. Excessive oil consumption has a dark bluish tint. Engine coolant causes white smoke that can have a slightly sweet odor. Transmission fluid also causes white smoke with an odor of trans fluid. Even barke fluid can get into an engine through a defective master cylinder/brake booster combination. Check all of your vehicle fluid levels to determine which level is dropping to determine what is ending up in your exhaust. Your question said no fluid levels are dropping, but the loss may be quite slow as even a small amount of fluid in a combustion chamber that doesn't belong there will cause exhaust smoke.

Answer 3

Every vehicle is likely to show a small amount of white smoke when first started, especially on cold mornings. As long as the smoke disappears as the engine warms up, there is no need to worry. It's the result of cold fuel and steam as the manifold heats up, and the white is actually the steam burning off. There's a more serious problem if your vehicle continues to emit white smoke after it is fully warmed up. This indicates the presence of either water or coolant – antifreeze – in the combustion chamber. Since these substances are not supposed to be burned during internal combustion, they can cause serious problems with your engine -- often indicating a damaged head gasket -- that are costly to repair. The odor of the smoke can indicate if you have a coolant leak. If antifreeze is present in the combustion chamber, the white smoke will have a sweet smell. Also check your oil. Milky oil indicates the presence of coolant but can also mean nothing; heavy humidity can cause moisture to form in the crankcase, resulting in a similar symptom. Do not attempt to drive your car if the oil looks more like a milkshake than motor oil, as this is a sign of excessive water or coolant in the oil. Water coming from the tail pipe is usually nothing to be concerned about. It indicates condensation buildup, or is the byproduct of the steam when first starting the vehicle. Most exhaust systems dispel small amounts of water through the tail pipe. Water from the muffler itself is also a normal occurrence, and is likely coming from the weep hole. This water is a byproduct of the catalytic converter, which helps control the vehicle's emissions. When you say you have oil on ALL the plugs, do you mean on the outside of the plug, or when you remove them you have oil on the tips of the plugs? If you have oil on the tips of ALL your plugs, you have a problem. You need to run a compression check on all cylinders. Once you have the compression reading at its maximum, watch the dial to slowly fall. If it does, you have a leak in the cylinder. To find out if it is the rings, squirt some oil in the cylinder and run another compression check. If the compression then holds steady, your problem is your rings. The oil will temporarily seal around your rings which will hold your compression from dropping.

Answer 4

Does this happen only when it is cold outside, and only when it is first running until the engine warms up? If so, it might just be normal condensation.

Does this happen only when you first start it or when you are climbing a hill? If so, the motor could be getting a little tired, the piston rings or valve guide seals may be worn, or you may have a small leak in the head gasket.

Does the truck have a lot (more than 120K) of miles on it? It may just be worn out. Especially if the truck has been used rough.

Answer 5

i been workin on cars for 12 yrs now i say the best thing to do is change the oil use a good oil like quaker state higher mileage 10 w 30 and run some good fuel cleaner in the tank make sure airfilter and pcv value is good and clean it should help alot

Answer 6

You might just have a little oil spilled on the motor...did it smoke after changing the oil in it?

Answer 7

valve seals are getting dryed out and the oil is running past the guides and getting on the valves.

Answer 8

Sound like you have a cracked head.