I noticed Mum'* car was sputtering, especially when increasing engine speed. I took the plugs out and cleaned them and checked the gap and replaced them. I did not get seafoam (wow, $9 a bottle) for the fuel put had some carb cleaner additive and added that to the less than 1/4 full tank. I thought I would see if that would help and not have to drain the tank. Today the car seemed to be sputtering worst. I was letting the engine warm and was going to drive it up and down the driveway for a bit. I suddenly noticed blue smoke pouring from the exhaust and got very concern. I went back to the exhaust and noticed something fly out of the exhaust pipe. I turned the engine off and went to investigate and noticed a part of a burnt acorn shell. I noticed the exhaust had a woody burn smell to it. It seems that the mice have gotten into the exhaust pipe. The more I work on Mum'* car, the more it seems that it is not going to be a solution to my lack of transport (I really should not have let the car sat like I did, but hindsight is always perfect vision).

I am also thinking that the carb is going to need a kit in it. A good soaking and blow out and a kit installed. I noticed smoke from the engine; an oil leak somewhere, only smokes after the exhaust gets hot.

So it is possible that the muffler is blocked? I know mufflers have baffles, can mice get inside, they can go through some small holes. The blue smoke seemed to have stopped and I noticed only a few more burn acorn shells shooting out. I suppose the muffler should be pulled off and tap both ends against a plank and see what falls out? I know it will be a real PITA to get that muffler off.

Stuff a banana in the tailpipe, romp on the gas and hope for the best.

All kidding aside. Sounds like you do have a nest inside the exhaust. At least you now have a story to tell youngins.

Is that still old gas inside the tank? If so, get rid of it. No sense continuing to suck old gas and crap into the carb.

Carb, rip it off, open it up, drop it in a coffee can full of kerosene. Soak for a week.

Now that I think about it, burned acorns only means one thing, those bad boys are WAYYY up the exhaust. Exhaust gas shouldn't be getting that HOT inside the muffler to cause wood to start burning. But, thats IMO.

Acorn shells are fairly thin, the ones that got push out were charred black. I will see about siphoning out the tank and putting some fresh fuel in it.

Decided not to pull the muffler. The exhaust is not restricted and I have not seen any more smoke out the pipe. What little trash the mice may have pulled in will just burn away and be blown out. If there was a lot of trash in it, it would have been smoking today after I drove the car up and down the driveway a few times. I did not see any smoke although I could smell a bit of that woody smoke smell. I think it will be fine to just leave the muffler in place and let anything that is left just burn out.

You did give them a 30 day notice prior to evicting them right? RIGHT? Just kidding! Hopefully they had renters insurance. LOL.

I am sure they took a quick exit the first time I started the car.