Smoking left bank on 428

keithw · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 06:21 AM

Went to a parade today and my 428 CR started smoking out the left sidepipe. Finally had to pull out of line. While cruising along the smoking stopped. Never smoked again all the way back to the shop.

This also happened at the Tulsa Shelby event when we weren't racing. Never smoked on the track.

What the heck might this be?

Keith

Cobra #42 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 06:40 AM

Keith, I saw the smoke and was wondering what were the guages saying ? If I was guessing, maybe a head gasket. It wasn't pumping alot of smoke but there is a problem. Was it only one side ?

keithw · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 06:49 AM

Gauges were normal according to Bob my friend who was driving. Temp never got over 190. Oil pressure 30 to 60lbs. Yes, it's only on the left side.

Keith

Cobra #42 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 07:40 AM

Keith, If it was a valve stem seal it would be worse at startup usually then taper off. Guages OK, that means that you are not pressurizing the cooling system. If it had a broken ring it would smoke all the time. I'll have to think a little more on this one. Thanks, db

speed220mph · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2003, 08:15 AM

This will be a process of elimination: First, was it black or blue smoke, i.e., unburned fuel or oil, respectively? Next should be done right after the engine smokes again. Pull the plugs on the left side, keeping them in order. Inspect them while the plugs lined up together so there will be contrasting appearances. Look for black dry deposits or wet and oily ones. This will narrow down which cylinder(s) is the culprit and whether it's a fuel-sytem problem or an oiling condition. Got to stop there and wait for an answer so we can procede with a solution . . . got to find the souce of the smoke first.

Steve Jones · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2003, 11:30 AM

Keith,

You've probably blown an Intake Manifold Gasket. Due to the design of the FE engine, the head/intake manifold mating surface is inside the valve cover. Oil that is pumped up to the rocker shafts (and there is a lot of it) drains back into the lifter gallery right across some of the head/intake mating surfaces. If the intake gasket fails, vacuum in the intake manifold can suck oil into the passage and result in a lot of smoke from one side of the engine. I think this is especially common on aluminum heads that have not been periodically re-torqued. A good quality gasket is also manditory.

The good news is it's not an expensive fix.

Steve

Clois Harlan · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2003, 11:38 AM

Keith,

As you know I saw the smoke in Tulsa and it was very slight and appeared to be oil. It seemed to stop as soon as it started. I spoke to my machinist about this and his first instinct was an intake gasket not sealing. He said he would re-checK the torque before he took anything apart.

Good luck.

Clois

Traveller · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2003, 01:35 PM

I'm with Steve and Clois.

Intake gasket.

One way to quickly check for valve seal failure is to look at your valve cover breather.

If its clean, keep thinking intake gasket.

keithw · #9 (**permalink**) 07-07-2003, 05:20 PM

Thanks folks for the responses. I agree it is probably the intake manifold gasket. I'll pull off the intake manifold and let you all know.

Thanks again,

Keith