Just picked up my 89 Blazer s10 4.3L. It was smoking really bad when I first got it. White smoke. After about a week of driving it has got better. Now it just smokes at random mostly at start up in the morning. Just one big puff then stops. Sometimes if I floor it will do it too. But not all the time. The motor sounds strong does not make any funny noises at idle or under a load. Im loosing more then half a quart every 100 miles. Could a leaking intake manifold gasket cause this? Valve seals? Or should I do a compression test for the rings?

 

the smoke at start up is "normal". I will call it normal since both of my 4.3's do it. its just the valve seals worn. BUT i dont think they would cause it to burn a quart that fast. You may have a leak. check the valve covers and oil cooler lines. they like leaking. How many miles are on it?

 

The mileage is unknown because the cluster was swapped out. Going from the title and taking in count how many years they owned it I would say 250k give or take.

 

The rings may be a little tired. Take the truck to a car wash and pressure wash the heck out of the bottom end etc,drive it for a day or so or let it idle for a hour. Look for leaks.

if there is no leaks its time for a rebuild. Oils gotten expensive to top off. If you top off a half every 100 miles then thats $60 for 3k miles ($4 a quart) which should be a 15.00 oil change. that ish adds up.

 

Yea your right. Lucky I work at a shop so I always have extra oil hanging around. I still need to fix it tho. I mite just do a rebuild. I looked up the kit to do it not to much money.

 

Man before doing a rebuild on a v6,id buy some v8 mounts for $50 bucks,and 350 tbi from the pull it yard for 200 and throw her in. Get some taurus fans for $30 and have a v8 blazer. everythings a direct fit. the wiring harness etc too! Just change out the tiny black chip in the pcm with the chip from a v8 donor and rollllll.

 

Yea that could be a option one day. Just have to find a affordable 350. Where can I get $50 mounts?