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Tue Oct 07, 2025 4:50 pm

Greetings. My 1976 FI sedan will start and run if I push the gas pedal but will not idle unless pedal is depressed. I have adjusted the AFM and the TS 2 sensor is in spec. New s boot, new vacuum lines have been installed.

I did a smoke test and discovered lots of smoke coming from behind the pulley. Is this normal? I suspect not. My pulley is aftermarket, and the threads are inconsistent and seem very flimsy and poor quality. Should I replace pulley?

Again, the engine seems to have an air leak and these seems to be consistent with that assumption.

Suggestions appreciated.

Tue Oct 07, 2025 5:19 pm

There is "seal" behind the pulley. It's a oil slinger wit ha reverse reverse thread on the pulley to push the oil back.

What you see is expected.

Wed Oct 08, 2025 1:32 pm

Thanks for the response. To confirm the smoke coming out from that area is not a concern as far as my mystery air leak.

One point I didn't mention is there is no oil leaking from that area and that there is no seal as this is not a sand rail set-up.

Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:56 pm

There is a dished shaped oil slinger but not a physical seal at the crank snout. As seen in Glenn's photo. If you park on a severe incline, nose up there's a chance oil can leak from the front of the pulley area. The face of the pulley you see is actually considered the rear.

As a confirmation, unless you have a "sand seal" there is no actual seal in this area.

While the engine is running, air is actually drawn "into" the case from this location via the pulley grooves. The only reason oil would leak from here is if the internal pressure of the case exceeds the ventilation system. Then oil will exit from here.

Make sense?

Wed Oct 08, 2025 5:23 pm

Yes.

Thanks for the details.

I will fire up my smoke machine and continue my search for leaks.

Regards.

Fri Oct 10, 2025 4:34 am

Conclusion: engine starts and idles.

I closed the air adjustment screw on the AFM and opened the adjusting screw on the throttle body a couple of turns. Engine idled and more adjustment to the throttle body screw brought it up to the appropriate idle.