white smoke after driving hard

[x628x]

i noticed after driving today and last night that there is some white smoke coming from the front of my engine, but i cant tell where, cuz theres a heat shield there. its around the exhaust manifold. theres also some oil i think on the heat shield and the dipstick had popped out a little. is this just the dipstick popping out and some oil shooting out or not? it runs fine, no overheating, etc. theres also a funny smell, but i dont know what it is, except that its not coolant. im thinkin its burned oil.

i searched for this but couldnt really find much, so if this has been answered already, could someone tell me where?

thanks

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by x628x

...
and the dipstick had popped out a little. is this just the dipstick popping out and some oil shooting out or not? it runs fine, no overheating, etc. theres also a funny smell, but i dont know what it is, except that its not coolant. im thinkin its burned oil.

i searched for this but couldnt really find much, so if this has been answered already, could someone tell me where?

It probably does exist in a hundred places but the search engine doesn't like you. (kidding)

Yes, when the dipstick pops out it will blow oil everywhere. Clean it off, and if it keeps happening then you can either replace the dipstick or take other measures including tying it down so it can't. It's usually caused by engine wear and blow-by which doesn't get removed fast enough to relieve the pressures so this is the easiest path. This usally happens when playing stop-light grand prix... ahem ahem!

Cheers,
GTM

 

[x628x]

Originally posted by GTM
It probably does exist in a hundred places but the search engine doesn't like you. (kidding)

Yes, when the dipstick pops out it will blow oil everywhere. Clean it off, and if it keeps happening then you can either replace the dipstick or take other measures including tying it down so it can't. It's usually caused by engine wear and blow-by which doesn't get removed fast enough to relieve the pressures so this is the easiest path. This usally happens when playing stop-light grand prix... ahem ahem!

Cheers,
GTM

well i havent been able to find any stoplight races yet but i just practice launching sometimes when theres no cars around. so its just the dipstick you think?

and yes, im convinced the search engine doesnt like me. its always giving me results that are not remotely close to what im looking for

i guess ill go to satan the stealer tomorrow after school and see what they want for a new dipstick

 

[DSMfirewall]

First off check out your PCV Valve, that is the most likely cause of the dipstick being pushed out. All of your blowby will go through the PCV Valve and back into the intake if everything is working properly, if it isn't, all of that pressure is looking for a place to go, and luckily it found the dipstick. Your bad valve will lead to numerous seals going out if enough pressure is built up inside the crankcase. If you need help testing the Valve just reply back with the motor you have and ill send some pics and ways to check.

 

[x628x]

wheres the PCV valve and what do i need to do to check it? i have the 2.0L turbo engine.

thanks

 

[DSMfirewall]

On the firewall side of the valve cover, and on the left (passenger) side there will be what looks like a extended nut with a hose on the back of it.

Remove the hose, and then un thread the PCV valve out.

Now hook the hose back up, and start the car, if you place your thumb over the hole, you should feel a vacuum against your finger.

If you dont, get a stick or nail or such that will fit in the hole that your just put your finger over. you should be able to feel a plunger move, if not the valve is plugged and you may be able to free it up.

If the plunger moves but you have no vacuum, you most likely have a plugged hose, so just remove it and clean it.

If you have normal vacuum on it, I wouldnt rod the piss out of your car anymore, cause you have some serious blow by and will be looking into rebuilding the motor soon.

If you are still confused I can send some pics.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by DSMfirewall
On the firewall side of the valve cover, and on the left (passenger) side there will be what looks like a extended nut with a hose on the back of it.
...
If you are still confused I can send some pics.

I didn't want to get into the subject since it has been covered so many times.

I like "Berryman's Chemtool"(sp?) PCV valve and carb choke cleaner. It's a very corrosive flamable solvent that you can use to start cars with, not quite as bad as ether. The 99¢ stores have some similar products but may not be quite as good.

Watch the sticks and nails, you don't need them falling into wrong places or breaking off only to work themselves into a bad situation.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[tt281gt]

I had the same problem...white smoke coming from the manifold area but mine was coolant... i couldn't find the source. After 2 days of mild smoking here and there sometimes one of the hoses that runs under the manifold finaly opened up more that it left a small puddle of water. Found the source and replaced it.

 

[dope96clipse]

hey i had a simular problem on my gst it turned out to be the oil return like for the turbo its an easy fix an easy thing to figure out if its leaking or not

 

[x628x]

it was just the oil that shot out from where the dipstick was burning from the engine heat. i ghettod (duct tape) the dipstick till i can get a new one and its better for now

 

[DSMfirewall]

Not such a great idea, you will just pressurize the crankcase and it will blow out a seal, you should really check your pcv valve.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by DSMfirewall
Not such a great idea, you will just pressurize the crankcase and it will blow out a seal, you should really check your pcv valve.

If I may, so as to not have urban legends. In all probability you did not mean would litteraly push the seal from it's bored / machined hole. Rather that it would leak the pressure past the lip taking gasses and a little oil with it.

In the tens of thousands of engines I've seen, can only remember once where a crancase explosion from a hole in piston blew the seals completely out. And that was a carburated engine when it was possible to have excess gasoline flooding the engine. Ah the good old days of 11.0 heads on Jags and extended reach Champion spark plugs.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[DSMfirewall]

Naw, I wasn't really saying that it would in fact push a rear main out or something, but would escape throught the path of least resistance, suchas a bad seal that it could push the pressure out of. I have never seen a seal actually blow out, but i have seen lots of seals leak due to pressure. Especially seals like axel seals where the breathers can clog easily.

And if you think im a complete moron, just say so and I wont post again, i wasn't trying to mislead anyone.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by DSMfirewall
...

And if you think im a complete moron, just say so and I wont post again, i wasn't trying to mislead anyone.

Not at all, wasn't my point. It is possible to read all over the internet about "blown seals" and for someone who doesn't know they might take it litteraly that some seal had actually popped out.

My apologies if that was the way it came across, wasn't intentional dig at you. That's not who I am. Okay?

I sometimes get fussy about certain things like backfire and afterfire getting used interchangeably... makes a big difference when trying to figure out if they mean an explosion in the intake or an explosion in the exhaust.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[x628x]

the PCV valve is fine it was because of the old dipstick shooting out but i got a new one

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by x628x
the PCV valve is fine it was because of the old dipstick shooting out but i got a new one

Another case marked SOLVED!

Just so you know, there have been reports this does not solve the problem. As your engine wears you get more blowby past the piston rings. Many a time I've though the PCV valve was not adequate but it would take some pretty accurate gauge to measure crancase pressure in the 1/2 lb range. You could try putting a small "O" ring on the rubber seat. Others safety wire them in, yet another fix is to crimp the tube.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[x628x]

Originally posted by DSMfirewall
On the firewall side of the valve cover, and on the left (passenger) side there will be what looks like a extended nut with a hose on the back of it.

Remove the hose, and then un thread the PCV valve out.

Now hook the hose back up, and start the car, if you place your thumb over the hole, you should feel a vacuum against your finger.

If you dont, get a stick or nail or such that will fit in the hole that your just put your finger over. you should be able to feel a plunger move, if not the valve is plugged and you may be able to free it up.

If the plunger moves but you have no vacuum, you most likely have a plugged hose, so just remove it and clean it.

If you have normal vacuum on it, I wouldnt rod the piss out of your car anymore, cause you have some serious blow by and will be looking into rebuilding the motor soon.

If you are still confused I can send some pics.

could you send some pics?

thanks