New LS1 owner - engine problems
New LS1 owner - engine problems Finally I've received the car I was wanting for a long time 
98' Firebird, manual, bought from one of users of the forum.
However it has few engine problems. First, it doesn't idle without pressing gas pedal until engine is fully warmed up. Annoying, but not lethal.
Second, engine works bad under acceleration when not fully warmed up.
And what I don't like most, when standing still and revving, car shakes badly, although engine doesn't miss or smth. Especially at 2500rpm car is shaking really bad, vibration is terrible.
Car was said to have cams, it has headers and magnaflow.
Please tell me your opinions, where to start... This is my first american car and I'm a bit disappointed
98' Firebird, manual, bought from one of users of the forum.However it has few engine problems. First, it doesn't idle without pressing gas pedal until engine is fully warmed up. Annoying, but not lethal.
Second, engine works bad under acceleration when not fully warmed up.
And what I don't like most, when standing still and revving, car shakes badly, although engine doesn't miss or smth. Especially at 2500rpm car is shaking really bad, vibration is terrible.
Car was said to have cams, it has headers and magnaflow.
Please tell me your opinions, where to start... This is my first american car and I'm a bit disappointed
well dont be dissapointed because it's an american car. i've put 44k miles on mine and i have only had a handful of small problems, luckily i was able to fix them myself.
to the problem, is the car throwing any codes? if so, post up what they are. and if the light isnt on, check and see if it comes on when you first turn the key. all of the lights come on for a brief period when the key is turned.
to the problem, is the car throwing any codes? if so, post up what they are. and if the light isnt on, check and see if it comes on when you first turn the key. all of the lights come on for a brief period when the key is turned.
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TECH Regular
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by Vetal
Grey color. I think it's oil, because:
a) looks like oil smoke
b) it goes away when the car is warmed up
a) looks like oil smoke
b) it goes away when the car is warmed up
Oil burns blue. Fuel burns blackish. It would also go away when the car enters closed loop and the car of course can idle on its own. You need a TUNE, man.
I still think that it is burnt oil smell that you can feel... It's not unburnt petrol. In a couple of weeks I'll put my wideband and see what is happening when cold starting.
Yes maybe it's a bad tune. Generally, what is changed in tune when installing cam to allow car to idle normally? ignition advance change? mixture change?
Yes maybe it's a bad tune. Generally, what is changed in tune when installing cam to allow car to idle normally? ignition advance change? mixture change?
First give us a list of all the modifications...be specific about cam size, whether supporting mods were done with it (springs, chain etc) and all of the details.
Secondly has it been tuned?
Secondly has it been tuned?
Previous owner said it was tuned.
Here is one more piece of info from him:
"I have new valve seals coming...i get a little smoke on deceleration, but it was dead even at 140 across all 8 cylinders when i had a compression test done last month..."
I'll post cam spec a bit later
Here is one more piece of info from him:
"I have new valve seals coming...i get a little smoke on deceleration, but it was dead even at 140 across all 8 cylinders when i had a compression test done last month..."
I'll post cam spec a bit later
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Originally Posted by Vetal
Small update - when first started, engine puts out clouds of smoke, probably oil smoke...
It also explains the puff of smoke on start-up.
Do a spark plug change and see if it starts and idles nice the first time.
When you cruise at say 45mph down the road, than you stomp the gas pedal to the floor, do you get a huge cloud of smoke, and than as you keep accelerating it clears up? Thats bad valve seals in the heads. I had this, I had the heads rebuilt and it was 100% cured.
.