99 z71 purge valve
 

My 99 1500 z71 have the check engine light on and it reads p1441 and the guy told me to replace the purge valve but it's not a nececity just yet. All my buddy's say I blow black smoke when i first take off when I start it. Could the purge valve be the cause and should I get right on it? Thanks

Not a huge rush... it's just an emissions thing. But your truck IS running a little rich now, hens the smoke on take off.

I have a few concerns here, typically I see purge valves causing lean conditions because the engine vacuum sucks the gas tank into a vacuum, and pulls more air in through the normally open vent valve.

If you have black smoke, make sure it isn't oil. Look in the intake, check your oil, make sure your plugs aren't fowling. Purge valves are cheap and easy, I'd replace it. Lean is more harmful than rich, if you're running rich, I would definitely look into it. A purge valve isn't absolutely mission critical to the operation of the vehicle, but I'd get it taken care of.