Well, here's how it goes.... I just returned from being stationed overseas in Japan for 2 1/2 years, so while I was gone my car was in storage. Anyway, I picked up the car on Wednesday and it was running fine. Same with Thursday and Friday. So, Saturday comes and I was driving it around but I noticed that after driving for about 30-45 minutes, the car had used maybe 1/4 tank of gas (and I was Granny driving it). So, later that day I try to go out and the car won't start. It cranks but won't turn over. I checked everything in the engine to make sure nothing was unplugged but no go. After trying to start it a few more times it eventually starts, but it's idling REALLY rough (sounds like a non-catted Subaru, if you've ever heard one), I have to keep my foot on the throttle to keep it from dying and also it smells like gas inside the cabin and greyish-white smoke is coming from the exhaust. Like I said it was in storage for a while but they kept maintenance on it, and it ran fine up until yesterday. Anyone with similar experience that could help me out? Thanks.

-D. Hill

Carbon build-up maybe? You could try getting some sea-foam from your local parts store. Put some of that in the brake booster line while the cars idling and see if the white smoke gets thicker. That'll blow out any carbon deposits. I'd also check all my fluid levels and colors/gaskets. It's been sitting for quite a while.


98 Cavalier
2200 OHV
"It's a rolls... rolls down one hill and up the next"

The smell of gas would mean unused gas during combustion. Try new plugs for one.

Cheap... and it may help.

That or the gas that was in your tank was starting to go bad (Gel up), and you used whats was good in it! Might wanna use a fuel clearner too.




now DIE!