Restart issues following body shop stay

[zztot]

81 SC was in body shop for 1.5 year…..( slow burn)…
At start up lots of smoke but seemed to go away…..was parked nose down at the time.
Arrived at home on trailer ….On start up…….smoking like crazy ….tail down.
Apparently shop didn’t turn over during stay.
Have ideas but looking for solid advice on what needs to be done……no disrespect, but not speculative stuff, I have that angle covered 😏.

[76FJ55]

You do realize that every response you get will be speculative right?

I speculate that you have oil in the exhaust and until you get the system fully up to temp for long enough to burn it all out it is likely to reoccur.

Check fluid levels and if the oil pressure and temps are good and the engine sounds and performs normally, I would take it out on the road and put some miles in to see if that will burn out any contaminates left behind from storage.

[zztot]

You’re right…. I plead lack of good and sense.
Seems you hit right on a solution that is logical.
I don’t believe there is serious issue ( hopefully) and will go through process.
Thanks

[ryans65]

start with fresh fuel

[zztot]

Yep…
Good news is car has non ethanol fuel…….but understand it still loses potency.

[zztot]

Two things have been suggested…
Marvel Miracle oil and sea foam for cleaning fuel components.

[PeteKz]

ANd a third thing: After you put fresh gas and some fuel systems cleaner in it, go drive the snot out of it.

[zztot]

Amen!

[pmax]

Consider yourself lucky if it hasn't puked oil on your driveway.

These need to be driven regularly.

[AFB24911S]

I put mine up for what ended up being a year to rebuild the suspension, brakes, axles, and a few other things. I put a few drops of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder through the spark plug holes, cranked it over by hand, drained the old gas and filled with new, and drove it.

I just watched a great video on fuel additives and their merits that was on the PCA YouTube channel. It's very long, but the TL;DR is that fuel additives with PEA are good for cleaning things like injectors and small ports.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvkK-dShtM0&t=2672s

[TeeJayHoward]

I have heard that it's pretty common to have a smokeshow for the first few minutes after a long period not driving. It definitely happens to my '81 SC. As long as you have enough oil pressure (and enough oil), I'd drive it around and see if it goes away.

[EC900]

Bit of oil can seep past worn valve guides (+50k mile range) into a cylinder or two after an extended period. The white/bluish tinted smoke will burn of the oil in five minutes. Very common, annoying as is embarrassing, but the more you drive the less accumulates.
A pure white smoke could be from some water forming in the oil tank from temperature swings while in storage, boils off after reaching operating temperature. That’s why it’s best to drive a few miles and allow condensation to burn off rather than quick starts overwinter storage. If water is in the gas tank a white vapor would be more visible on chilly days and may idle rough.
I always use an injector cleaner additive+stabilizer.

[zztot]

Thanks for all the info.
Have a plan..