Engine trouble

[Chris Codd]

My daily driver '64 Cadillac deVille emitted some white smoke from the engine on start up today and stalled out. Now it will not idle and stalls when I take my foot off of the gas. All of the fluids seem fine, and I have not fiddled with the carburetor anytime recently. It appears that I have a leak from the passenger side valve cover as well. I'll be posting a link to a video as soon as it finishes uploading. Any ideas?

[Chris Codd]

I agree Russ. All that gunk and grime returning so quickly must be a sign. I'll order the rebuild kit and go pick up some carburetor cleaner tomorrow. I'd like to have this car running top notch. 

[Chris Codd]

After putting fresh gas with lead additive, it was running perfectly with no hesitation last night until I had to come to a hard stop at a red light going downhill. Now it's back at it again! It runs fine with my foot on the gas but feels like it is about to stall when it's in gear and stopped. 

[David Thomas]

Good deal! Glad it was something simple. Hard to tell by the short video sound, but it sure sounded like it was popping back through the intake.

Thanks for letting us know what you found.

[Chris Codd]

I did a thorough cleaning on the carburetor tonight and it is idling again, but I need to finish adjusting the air to fuel ratio because I think I can get it running a little better. It has a little suction when I put my hand over it. I'll check out the points tomorrow. This might be a good time to upgrade to an electronic ignition. 

[Chris Codd]

I just took this photo today. I last cleaned the carburetor about 3 weeks ago. Tony, I haven't had a tune up in 7 years, but I have not really had any carb trouble up until now. The car has 51,000 (believed original) miles. I can't check the suction on the carb because today it refused to idle unless I was on the gas. The car was driving fine one minute, and the next time I tried to start the car it was barely running. David, I don't have a timing light, but I might be able to borrow one from a friend and use it If I can get the car to idle. Would all this gunk be a clear sign of the carb spitting up? Thanks for all the answers guys. 

[David Thomas]

Sounds like it is spitting back through the carburetor. Have you put a vacuum gauge on it? What is the gauge doing with it idling? Have you ever changed the timing gear and chain? It could have jumped time and the cam is out of time causing it to spit back through the carburetor. Put a timing light on it and see if the timing has changed. If it has, I bet the timing chain has jumped a tooth or two. If not you may have some/a intake valve(s) sticking. At the exhaust pipe outlet, hold your hand close over the opening, does it suck your palm back to the pipe? Sticky/stuck exhaust valve. Do a compression check.

HTH, David

[Chris Codd]

https://vimeo.com/71706886

Sorry for the horrible video quality, but this is how it's currently running and the engine stalls every time that I try and give it gas.