Smoggy 85

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1EseInCali

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 18, 2021
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So, I wound up with an 85 (Conquista I believe) with a stock 3-speed trans and a 5L/305/V8 w/ 216k (+) miles on it.

There are issues, especially with smog - something the PO let me know was a gamble. Something to do with the EGR valve. Took it for smog check today. It failed. Tech gave me some pointers on things to fix.

Went to the auto parts store today and picked up the pieces needed. But the tech also recommended I flush the engine and do an oil change, then fill the Elky with 0W-20. The reasoning is the car is old and the engine needs to be cleared of crud and will run better on the 20 oil.

I checked around on the flush and everyone I spoke with says NO. No to the flush and no to the 0w-20. Wondering thoughts on this?
 

oldsmobile joe

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2015
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need to see the smog report.
no to 0-20 oil. yes to 5w-30 or 10w-30. maybe substitute a quart of dexron 3 atf because its high detergent. no to the flush till we know more. a flush is used to remove sludgy oil deposits from engine internals. is your engine sludgy? see dexron 3 suggestion.
maybe a combustion chamber cleaner, maybe.
 
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1EseInCali

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 18, 2021
9
10
3
need to see the smog report.
no to 0-20 oil. yes to 5w-30 or 10w-30. maybe substitute a quart of dexron 3 atf because its high detergent. no to the flush till we know more. a flush is used to remove sludgy oil deposits from engine internals. is your engine sludgy? see dexron 3 suggestion.
maybe a combustion chamber cleaner, maybe.
This is the Smog report from today. As you can see multiple.issues here. The EGR pigtail was disconnected and the EGR valve had an improvised seeper valve put in place by the PO, both as stop gap measures to have the car run and deal with Smog.

One of the vacuum lines was unhooked but I've since reconnected it (sorta, since it's broken). The heat tube was broken off and I have since purchased another. The fuel line was also old and brittle but I bought a new one. Both of those items I plan on replacing tomorrow.

The things that need to be fixed are the timing and the other items on here. Don't know much about them so will probably head to another shop tomorrow to see about dealing with them.
 

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1EseInCali

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 18, 2021
9
10
3
The PO had some issues prior as shown in the below attachments.

PO somehow rigged it to pass because in Jan 2020 it passed. 🤷
 

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Clone TIE Pilot

Comic Book Super Hero
Aug 14, 2011
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Galaxy far far away
By 85, the EGR vacuum supply line has a computer operated control solenoid. It is very common for G bodies to be screwed up by PO hacks and Jerry rigging.
 

ck80

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Feb 18, 2014
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If you can read the label well on your fan shroud it gives a map to where every hose and tube runs under the hood. It cost me less than $50 to buy all new rubber hoses to change every inch of the soft part on my firebird lg4 305. Many were cracked and brittle.

As you change those you come across broken connectors that were plugged with golf tees and other nonsense.

What I would do is start line by line and swap everything. If you hit a bad connection or something out of place it's fixable.

Then, when everything goes where it's supposed to and is doing what it ought to do, see where things stand. Make sure your timing is set right, and your ignition is tuned up (plugs/wires/rotor) to cut down on unburnt HCs. Check the O2 sensor and the air tube running to the cat if it has one for the style currently equipped.

Meantime: fresh 10-30 or 10-40 oil, and add a zddp product so you don't wipe a camshaft lobe. Your lg4 is NOT a roller cam and you'll kill the engine using almost any off the shelf motor oils unless you're into diesel ranges.

Run a few tanks of gas through the car. Higher quality/higher test. If you're going to valero/El cheapo type places you get an inferior product to sunoco/mobile type ones.
 
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