As you may remember, I had borrowed this van from my parents for a few months last year and did some work on it. Well, they went off and bought a 2004 Roadtrek that has a better sleeping arrangement so they ended up giving me the old one.

I just drove it back home over about 600 km and it has suddenly started blowing huge amounts of smoke out of the exhaust. My parents recently got back from a 10,000 km run and did not have any oil burning so it is quite a surprise. I've done some searching and the 318's appear to have an intake plenum problem so I guess I'll tear into that. It's a bit depressing to see a giant cloud of smoke backing into the driveway but at least the thing was free and should have another 10 years left in it.

One question I have is, is there anybody who makes a patch panel to go between the rear passenger wheel well and the double doors? There is a bit of rot there and I'd like to tackle it before it travels up past the bottom 8 inches of the body.

Cheers, Steve

 

You sure it's oil burning and not coolant?

 

White or BLack smoke?

 

my thoughts too...


usually lots of smoke - white - head gasket

 

It is blue smoke. I got a cloud backing into the driveway and the exhaust actually has a blue tint as it is idling. It really blows blue when you hit the gas in Park.

Whatever happened developed fast. We were driving the van yesterday and could smell the exhaust while putting through a parking lot but didn't see anything. The idle is also a little rough now, I was thinking of picking up a timing light but it is all likely to be related. There's still lots of power...had it up to 90 mph today.

The van was hot from an 8 hour run when we got back so I did not open the radiator. The oil was down 1/3 and looked good but I did not check before I left so I am not sure how much was burned. I will check the radiator tomorrow, I did hear something odd coming from the heater core area at one point but didn't make a note of it at the time.

Steve

 

90 ona 91 will definetly cause issues 0-o

 

No mercy from me, I don't mind fixing what I break. Today I determined the coolant is not bubling which is nice. I also found that the air breather on the passenger side valve cover was full of dead bugs that I had to shake out. I imagine this is not normal?
Steve

 

May wanna do a compression/leak down test.

Could just use a good tune-up.

http://www.rustrepair.com/DODGE-71-V...ELS-REPAIR.HTM
81-78-55-RH ?

http://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/bas...e%29&year=1991
338-50AR ?

 

Nice, Item 55 is the one. I will bring the old one in to colour match the paint and then caulk the new one in to place. The van isn't unibody so that's as far as I will take that repair since the top seam is the only visible part of the repair when the running boards are on.

I believe there is more going on than needing a tune up. The air filter does need a change but it's just dirty, not oily. I guess I will do a compression test this weekend. Does this van give codes for specific cylinder misfires? I do not recall anymore.

Thanks, Steve

 

Nope sure isn't. In fact it's been know to cause excessive oil burning.