How to Troubleshoot a 350 Small Block
The 350 small block engine is one of the most popular engine designs ever created by Chevrolet. These engines are powerful and relatively reliable. With age, however, come engine problems. Parts fail, eventually, and must be replaced. Some of the most common issues with the 350 small block come from the high internal compression. But before fixing anything, and certainly before buying a lot of expensive components, you should troubleshoot the engine to determine the exact problem.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Start the engine. Open the hood and examine the coolant level in the coolant reservoir tank; if it's low, you may have a compression leak. Check the tailpipe emissions after the Chevy has warmed up. If the emissions from the tailpipe are white in color and have a sweet smell to them, then you are burning engine coolant. This is caused primarily by a leaking or blown head gasket, which must be replaced.
-
2
Check for oil leaks. Pull one of the engine spark plug wires out of the top of the engine. Grab hold of the plug and wiggle it while pulling up on it. Check for oil on the bottom of the plug. With the engine running, check for blue-colored smoke. If you notice any of these issues, there is an oil leak in the engine. This can be caused by oil blowing by the piston rings. If there is oil on the spark plug, however, the most likely culprit is a failure of the 350's valve cover seal.
-
-
3
Check for pinging; listen to the engine as it runs. The 350 small block is a high-compression engine. If you aren't using high-octane fuel, the engine may misfire, causing premature detonation. This will present itself as a pinging noise that can be very audible.
-
4
Listen for a ticking sound. Over time, the valve guides and lifters on the 350 may end up sticking. This is a normal part of the engine getting old. When this happens, you must have them cleaned or replaced.
-
1
