Corvair Forum

I have a 110 with powerglide that blows clouds of white smoke for about a minute. After that it’s fine! Engine sounds and runs great. I don’t have any info as to what was done in the past to this engine.
Could someone give me a rundown list of the most to least likely things to check or test? At what point would it be worth getting it rebuilt?


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Four years ago when I got my 64 the white smoke was there, bad modulator valve. It was sucking trans fluid through the vacuum balance tube, goes right into the intake on both carbs. Failed diaphragm in the modulator valve. That would the first thing I would look for.

I was thinking the same thing. Here is some supplemental information...

The vacuum modulator on the right side of the Powerglide automatic transmission has a limited lifespan.

Clark's Corvair Parts wrote:If your modulator is more than 10 years old, you are really on borrowed time. The inner reinforced rubber diaphragm is really VERY THIN (0.017-0.019) and is weakened by hot PG fluid and constant flexing.

http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... w_page=135


If you suspect that automatic transmission fluid may be drawn into the engine via the vacuum modulator, you can raise the car and place it on jack stands, and then crawl underneath to inspect the vacuum modulator. Try disconnecting the rubber hose that connects to the vacuum modulator and check it for oil content inside the hose. The hose should be dry and the vacuum modulator should not be allowing transmission fluid to pass from the transmission to the vacuum hose.

THANKS! I’ll let you know if that’s the fix!


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The modulator was changed and it still smoked. Now it has finally stopped puffing! Mechanic doesn’t know why.


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Perhaps some residual oil that was causing the smoke (from the vacuum modulator?) remained in the vacuum line and system and took time to burn off after the repair had been made.

bbodie52 wrote: Perhaps some residual oil that was causing the smoke (from the vacuum modulator?) remained in the vacuum line and system and took time to burn off after the repair had been made.

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bbodie52 wrote: Perhaps some residual oil that was causing the smoke (from the vacuum modulator?) remained in the vacuum line and system and took time to burn off after the repair had been made.

I hope that’s what it was! Kinda stumped him too!


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