Smoky startup after sitting

[delco1946]

What causes a rough idle and Smokey start up after sitting for 3+ weeks? My 55 crown Victoria starts every time all the time but if I let it sit for over 3 weeks and start it, it has a lopsided idle and when I turn around lots of white smoke. Is there a way to address this? The car is in great shape with a non original 292. I don’t know if what the odometer says is for that particular engine or the car, it reads almost 100k.

[40cpe]

White smoke usually indicates moisture in the cylinder. The rough idle could be moisture on the affected cylinder's plug until it clears out. It shouldn't take 3 weeks for it to occur, however. Is the cooling system loosing any coolant? Is the smoke from both sides of the exhaust? I would pull the spark plugs after it has set for the required time and see if there is moisture on any of them. I hope there is another answer, good luck and let us know what you find.

PS: You might pressurize the system to 16# or so and see if it holds pressure. If it doesn't, it might push more coolant into the affected cylinder (if that is the problem) to speed up diagnosis.

[delco1946]

I’ve never noticed it loosing coolant. I’ll take a look at the plugs sometime to see what’s going on. Thanks

[KULTULZ]

My 55 crown Victoria starts every time all the time but if I let it sit for over 3 weeks and start it, it has a lopsided idle and when I turn around lots of white smoke.

Does it just do it after a long shut-down? Is it smoke, water vapor or smell heavily of gasoline? Does the idle improve after warm-up?

It may be a defective/mis-adjusted choke. It may be an internal coolant leak, weak ignition or bad gasoline.

Pulling the plugs and reading them should give a clue -

[delco1946]

I drive my car frequently so I dont get to experience it often, only 3 times maybe over the last 2 years, but it continues to run rough for several minutes (at least), almost sounds like it wants to stall out but doesnt. I get impatient and just start driving it to increase the rpms and get past the issue. As far as the smell.... hmmmm.... i cant be too positive due to the infrequency. It certainly smells more than just water vapor. The spark plugs could be ancient for all i know, ive never looked since acquiring the car 2 years ago and i havent really had a reason to. (shame on me i know). We're due for rain for the next week and my storage place is too tight to work in so it might be a couple weeks before i can report back.

[KULTULZ]

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The spark plugs could be ancient for all i know, ive never looked since acquiring the car 2 years ago and i havent really had a reason to. (shame on me i know).

SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!



You have to have a good state of tune (incl valve adjustment). What I forgot to say, does the smell of gasoline seem heavy when first started and you are standing behind the car? You also have to consider valve seals if it smokes @ first start.

[mercman from oz]

That is a handy guide on how to determine what the problem is with fouled and damaged Spark Plugs