Originally Posted by Jack None

I just got back from a long trip (4k) through the cold. Now that I'm back I'm getting the following symptoms. None were apparent before the trip. It's around 45-60F here in LA.

• Slightly rougher idle
• Slightly harder cold starts (cranking a second longer than I'm used to, and maybe a sputter or two)
• Some WHITE smoke for the first 10 seconds or so.

Here are some possible culprits. Yes, I should have had a plugin and proper oil, and I should not have used ether.

• About half dozen starts in 10-20 degree F weather, without block heating and with 15W-40 oil. These starts required lots (maybe 8-12) cranking attempts, but the car finally started. After starting, there would be a bit of BLACK smoke, and these starts made black stains on the pavement under the exhaust. I was not happy to see this.
• One start in 15-below F weather. I had to call a tow truck. We jumpered to the tow truck, and used two squirts (only) of ether. The ether may not have been necessary. When it finally did start, it had been a while since the ether had been applied. I did not hear or feel anything strange from the ether. The car ran fine for the rest of the trip.
• Yes, I run on veg. I'd done around 15k on veg before this trip, with none of the symptoms I described. I purged carefully on the trip, and never ran veg below 80C. (Maybe even 90C.)
• Less than 1000 miles before the trip, I did a valve adjustment. Maybe I messed it up? Or maybe I need to re-adjust, if e.g. it had been way too long since the previous adjustment?

What do the great minds here think?

I'll check compression soon, first I have to hit HF for the tester. I wish I had a before shot, but I don't. I also plan to check the valves. I can also check blow-by tonight. Before the trip, there was a little blow-by but it seemed not too bad for a 300k+ engine.