HIGH idle, white smoke.

[RedTurtle]

Hello anyone, everyone.

I am a first time poster, apologies if I miss any formalities.

Anyways here's my trouble:

 

I am the owner of a 1987 Comanche, base model SporTruck 2x4, 2.5L AMC engine.

It is experiencing a HIGH idle speed upon cranking, and it does not go down. It is not equipped with a RPM gauge, so I'm not sure the specs on the idle speed. The person following me said white smoke was pouring from my exhaust, and it smelled terrible.

 

I have a basic knowledge of engine work/maintenance, and immediately checked my vacuum hoses (the ones I knew how to locate.) Keep in mind my whole knowledge is limited. I had a spare PCV valve and made a quick swap, with no avail. I unhooked the hoses from the top of the valve cover and blew them out with my mouth, checked the air filter, checked the little valve on the back of the air intake box, and ran it with various hoses unhooked and there was still suction. I don't know how strong the suction is supposed to be, but it was roughly the same as me sucking through a straw and putting my finger over the other end of the straw, if that helps as a description. The coolant was low, and I topped that off. When driving, the idle returns somewhat to normal when I shift into gear, but it is still abnormally high. It is parked and I did not drive it far when it started acting up. I understand it could be related to the throttle body, but that damn thing looks like predators head with all that stuff coming in and out of it.

 

Someone told me that on their Comanche that when something went wrong with their brake system it affected their idle. I do know I have a bad brake solenoid in one of my wheels, but that's ridiculous to speculate as being the problem.

 

OTHER RELATABLE ISSUES include:

A terrible oil leak in the rear engine seal. I put in 1Q of oil a week, as well as Lucas oil additive because it seems to help it run smoother and leak slower. Here's where I probably @#$%ed up. I stopped and got gas, saw I needed oil, only thing at the store was full synthetic. The internet said it would be fine to mix them, but that I may just have to changed my oil sooner. I figure, hell, I practically change it every month. So I buy it, put it in my truck, and go on my way. So, did I screw up by having conventional, Lucas, and synthetic all in my engine at the same time? If that is the case, can I just change the oil and be okay?

 

Anyways, I'm going back tomorrow and seeing what I can do to get it in shape. Ill be performing an oil change, and for the hell of it I might flush the radiator....because it was cloudy and nasty in the reservoir.

 

Ill post some pictures of my engine as soon as I figure out how...I'm not a big internet user, my apologies.

[cruiser54]

Make sure your intake manifold bolts are snug and also check the vacuum hoses below the throttle body.

[64 Cheyenne]

Blue smoke from exhaust = burning oil, rings etc

Black smoke = too much fuel, bad carb, injector ect

White smoke with accompanying burned paint smell = coolant getting in combustion chamber.

[HOrnbrod]

White smoke with accompanying burned paint smell = coolant getting in combustion chamber.

 

Especially with the coolant being low and looking cloudy and nasty in the reservoir. Sounds like a head gasket problem. The first thing I would do is get the coolant tested for the presence of hydrocarbons. A radiator shop can do that. Also check you oil when you change it to see if it looks like a milkshake.