Have a 1988 Chevy 1500 with a 5

Tiny
JAKEDRAKENBERG
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 195,000 MILES
Have a 1988 chevy 1500 with a 5.7 350 in it. Driving down highway at 70mph. Started losing power more and more the farther I went. (This is all in 30 miles) I eventually had it to the floor to keep moving and than smoke started coming out the back end of the truck. Oil pressure dropped extremely and as soon as I pulled up to a stop light it shut down immediately. After 30 minutes. It started right up as long as I kept it above an idle. No knocks or squeals of any kind and had good oil pressure again. Drove it 3 miles and everything happeded again. 30 minutes later I repeated the process and everything happened again. What could that be? Anyone?
Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 10:04 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
How long since a tune-up? Any applicable trouble codes? You should be able to check mil codes, yourself. What color was smoke, if black, check fuel system. It might have been trying to flood?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
JAKEDRAKENBERG
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I just bought it from a private party a week or so prior. Oil is fresh and is at the right level. The check engine light was randomly coming on while it ran good but that I believe was just the oxygen sensor. The smoke was white or grey I believe. Hard to tell driving down the freeway. What do you mean by trouble codes? How do I check mil codes? Thanks for your help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
You use a jumper wire between A & B terminals at the datalink connector. Turn key just till dash lites come on, no further. The mil lamp on the dash starts flashing, you count the flashes to get the codes. Your looking for two digit codes.

If smoke was white, maybe coolant getting into the cylinders? Are you losing coolant?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Here is datalink connector.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
JAKEDRAKENBERG
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I did check the coolant and it has went down alot from being full before this happended. If thats the case and I am getting coolant in the cylinders, is it pointless to fix and bring it to the junk yard or what are your thoughts. I have $800 in it and its a very nice truck until this happened. What would you do and what would I be looking at to fix it. Thanks for all your help
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Might be a bad gasket, or the head / block is cracked. Can you do a compression test on the cylinders?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 AT 12:25 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Oil Low Pressure Content

Oil Pressure Low
GUIDE
Oil Pressure Low
Engine oil is used to cool and lubricate bearing and machined surfaces. Without oil pressure an engine will experience extreme internal engine damage due to heat caused by...
VIEW MORE