1991 Chevy S-10 POOR POOR POOR Milage

ELEYARMS

MEMBER
1991 CHEVROLET S-10
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
94,000 MILES

Car idles roughly, blows white smoke when initially starting up, and extremely poor milage, probably less than 10 mpg. From previous answers, the white smoke sounds like a anti-freeze leak. How to confirm? It was last tuned up around 20,000 miles ago. Where should I start?

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Are you having to add coolant? Oil?

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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 AT 6:04 PM

ELEYARMS

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5 POSTS

I just topped up the anti-freeze but it didn't need much. Oil seems to be holding steady.

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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 AT 6:50 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
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Could I assume you take short drives mostly?

A 91 with less than a hundred thousand miles points to that. But may be wrong.

IF I am right, that means the engine may not come to temperature enough to heat up the exhaust and moisture may lay in there. If this happen excessive moisture will lay in the exhaust and produce the white smoke as it heats. A constant rich scenrio not only burns fuel but carbons up the front o2 and converter. Combined, this makes for poor miliage.

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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 AT 7:38 PM

ELEYARMS

MEMBER
5 POSTS

We got the car from my dad who did not do too much driving. Now my daughter drives it 5 miles each way to commute to work. I used the car this week and drove it back and forth 60 miles each way and it still started up with a dirty white smoke. 3 trips (360 miles) cost me about $80 in gas. So, where do you think I should start?

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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 AT 9:15 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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80 dollars divided by $4/gal is 20 gallons.

360 miles divided by 20 gallons is 18 miles to the gallon.

Sound about right?

IF so, take a look here:
https://www.2carpros.com/forum/gas-mileage-tips-vf650.html