Hello,

My question is, what's the starting procedure using the "knob," or more
properly, does use of the "knob" contribute to the cutting down of
smoke upon startup?

Here's why I ask: I drive the car every day now. It's fun to drive and
gets so much better mileage than my 89. I've never used the choke/knob
until the last few days because the car started and ran without it, no
matter what the temp. It smokes a good bit upon cold start, but hot or
warm starts no smoke at all. So I would cloud the driveway in the
morning, but could come and go all day after that with no smoke.

The smoke dropped off considerable after leaving the driveway and is
pretty much disappeared in a block. On cars I've owned that leaked oil
down the valve guides when sitting, this smoke would occur on every
startup, even a trip inside the grocery store. But that's not the case
here.

The last few days I've been pulling out the so-called "choke" knob, and
the smoking seems almost non-existent! But that could be coincidental
with a bit warmer temps. I pull out the knob, start the car, back out
with the knob out, push it in and take off without filling the
neighborhood with smoke. I'd like to know if this is the way the
"choke" is supposed to be used, or if it's a no-no.

Any experience like this? Everywhere I read anything about the "choke"
know only serves to confuse me more, none of it seems to agree, the
discussion in bentley seems counterintuitive..

Also, a side question: I've done everything I could do myself (new
head, thermostat, injector pump, seals) and most everything on the
engine is dry as a bone and working great. But there's still a small
nagging leak at the flywheel-end seal. I don't really have the
facilities to pull the engine ( could if the situation were dire
enough, but don't want to deal with the mess) and wondering what the
expected rate would be for having a shop do this task if anyone has
done it recently.

Thanks,

Jim