Goat-v

Just like title reads, after suburban sits for a bit it blows out a very nice size cloud of white smoke. Smoke only last a few seconds. We just bought this thing last year and have been having some oil consumption problems too. Not sure if both are related. Anyone have any clue what it could be. Thanks in advance.

intheburbs

Blue smoke is burned oil. White smoke is burned coolant.

My guess would be a head gasket leak. Probably a small enough leak so as to not show up as white smoke all the time when the engine is running, but once the engine is off, it pools a little in one cylinder because the cooling system is still pressurized for a while after shutdown.

Do you regularly check the coolant level? Do you find yourself having to add coolant occasionally?

73shark

A cheap way to diagnose/temp. fix is to add some Bar's Stop Leak to the coolant. It is hard to do since they eliminated the radiator cap but could probably add by removing the upper hose.

tech2

maybe bar's stop leak is different. You can tell every car that has stop leak added to the system. All the coolant hoses are swelled, soft and have a oily film seeping through them. I would never want that stuff circulating in my cooling system. It could be a cheap fix but definitely a compromise.

73shark

Never had any of those problems with it. I probably wouldn't use it on a newer truck though. All my uses were on older used cars when the kids were growing up.

bird

Bars is great stuff. Were these hoses on old cars that needed BARS? Everything on my last car(300k+ lumina) was swelled, I used BARS twice. I know the swelling was there BEFORE I added BARS.

my 2¢

hicksvilleshick

check coolant. I agree sounds like you've got some getting into a cylinder.

however,

if the smoke smells like oil vs coolant, with your consumption issue, it could be oil seepage past the valve guides...

cj1

Check coolant for exhaust gasses and VV. Personally an additive to fix a head gasket leak would be my last option.

Regarding the oil consumption, is this an AFM engine? If so search known problems on 2007 Suburban.

Chevrolet Customer Service

Hi Goat-v,

I’m sorry to hear of this concern that you experience when starting your Suburban. I am not properly trained to offer technical advice, but I will be glad to look further into your concern. Feel free to send us a private message referencing this thread if we can be of any extra assistance. Thank you.

Kristen A.
Chevrolet Customer Care

Goat-v

I'm in the process of getting it looked at. Will update once I hear back. Thanks for replies and insight.