New-to-me 5.3 oil burner...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Danny3737

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2016
Posts
1,382
Reaction score
2,041
You sure it's smoke and not steam? Engines and exhaust pipes get water inside them from the moisture in the air condensing when they cool off and sit overnight. The condensation is heated to steam and blown out the exhaust during warm-up. Actually, when it's first started, you'll have sooty water dripping out of the tailpipe.


Agree. White smoke is water getting into the combustion chamber by either bad head gaskets or a cracked head. Those don't get better on their own
 

iamdub

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Posts
20,712
Reaction score
44,431
Location
Li'l Weezyana
Agree. White smoke is water getting into the combustion chamber by either bad head gaskets or a cracked head. Those don't get better on their own

Yeah, if it constantly puffs white, then you have a problem! A little steam (smoke means there's a fire and something is burning) at startup then goes away is normal. Of course, if it actually is smoke and it has a slightly blue tint to it, then it's burnt oil and likely from leaking valve seals.
 
OP
OP
ACM

ACM

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Posts
40
Reaction score
30
Location
Denver, CO
Yeah, if it constantly puffs white, then you have a problem! A little steam (smoke means there's a fire and something is burning) at startup then goes away is normal. Of course, if it actually is smoke and it has a slightly blue tint to it, then it's burnt oil and likely from leaking valve seals.
It's hard to tell - especially as the weather is getting colder here in Colorado - whether it's moisture/steam, or smoke. It definitely does have a bit of a sweet smell to it.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 

iamdub

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Posts
20,712
Reaction score
44,431
Location
Li'l Weezyana
It's hard to tell - especially as the weather is getting colder here in Colorado - whether it's moisture/steam, or smoke. It definitely does have a bit of a sweet smell to it.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Smoke slowly dissipates and can build up if in an enclosed area such as a garage. Steam quickly dissipates and vanishes. If you park in a garage and wanna know for sure if it's smoke or steam, leave the garage closed and run the car for a minute or two. If it gets smoky in appearance with a burnt oil smell, then it's smoke from burnt oil and likely just worn valve seals. If it just smells like regular exhaust but isn't smoky in appearance, then it's steam and could just be normal condensation burning off.

Sweet smell is coolant burning. Do you have to add coolant periodically? You may have a blown head gasket or cracked head. It may not be bad enough yet to show coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant, but it still needs to be monitored and diagnosed.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
128,785
Posts
1,805,362
Members
91,764
Latest member
tomcoop
Top