It might be smoking from a head gasket issue. We did discuss that possibility some time back .

 

Thanks for the link. I found them both in eBay from sellers in Arizona which claim they can be here by wednesday-Friday so I went that route. A nearby dealership has the gasket but I figure I would not waste it on a rusted bolt. Its leaking a tiny-tiny bit, but I can keep an eye on it and it's easy enough to get to. I'm not driving it super hard anyway right now (2500 rpm max)

So if the head gasket has any leaks, it would mess with the fuel-air ratio and cause a bad mix? Or something like that? Any other way to tell without taking the head off? Lol. Could it be a tune or tune-up instead? Or???

 

A bad mix from the head gasket allowing oil into the combustion chamber, it could be the valve stem seals also allowing oil past them on the intake valves.

You could add a 1/2 quart of Marvel Mystery oil to the engine oil and drive it until your next oil change, that will help clean up the oil gallery’s.

Have you checked the coolant level? To burp the coolant ?

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...-system-60614/

 

Coolant level is still good.

Got home after a 40 minute drive and it sounded like a diesel when I pulled into the yard. Gave it some gas and it was fine again. But acted like it was going to die.

Stuck my head into the engine bay and heard some sizzling/crackling from what I believe is the coolant line to the turbo which connects next to the coolant fill cap...

Any ideas? Ran fine before I got home.

 

How's the oil level now?

 

Just checked this morning. Its about 4 inches past the little metal end. Didn't wipe it off though...

I did add another quart as suggested by my father...perhaps this was not a good idea. Can this vehicle get damaged from this? Drove less than 20 miles after the extra quart was added.

 

It's not hurt by that but don't drive it anymore without making it correct.

 

After the engine work and possibly of stuff or coolant dripping into the oil pan, I change oil again after 2,000 miles, in this case I suggest you change the oil and filter, just to be on the safe side.

 

Just swapped the plugs. Checked the oil filter. Is this normal for 50 miles? I'm gonna guess that the sludge has mixed with the new oil. I didn't drive it very hard. 3k rpm. Got up to 207°F.

What's the easiest way to drain the fuel? Or should I just top it off with new fuel? What octane should I put into this thing?

And lastly, what else besides spark plugs constitutes a "tune-up"?

I still need to pull the "check gas cap" CEL for exact codes...but I would rather spend some $$$ and just buy every possible part and get it over with. Anything that would help. I'm gonna assume nothing was ever done on this car and do everything.

 

Precisely the reason I suggested change the oil and filter.
Did you install a new AC Delco 131-158 thermostat and change the Dexcool?
You should run premium (91 to 93) to get the maximum advantage of the available boost and optimum ignition timing for best performance. Midgrade won't damage the engine, as the knock sensor will retard timing. (This is the short version answer).