Have you noticed any changes in the idling? Any codes?

update: i just remembered we tried changing the oil however the filter i got was to small so we didnt but oil spilled everywhere could the oil filter be overflowing?


and no no codes show up and on start up it idels to 2k than drops down to 1

I'm not sure what causes it to idle so low, but mine does the same thing. I have to keep a foot on the gas keeping it at 1500 or higher for it to not smoke. I'm trying to find the problem. When I do, I'll let you know.

That's white smoke coming out the exhaust. Coolant burning, not oil. I would suspect a headgasket failure letting coolant into the combustion chamber. Don't know why it only does it on launch though.

As I said, if I keep the rpms up on mine, it doesn't smoke. Not sure if it's a head gasket. It may be running lean on low idles.

Could this be your rings ?

If it is a bad head gasket, check if your mixing oil and water, check through the oil filler cap, it will be milky if your mixing

Coolant getting into his turbo, or the water cooling section of his oil filter mount got crushed when doing the filter change.

Bet that oil is all but milky gray from the mix of coolant and oil.

Yes, I would drain oil ASAP before causing damage to the engine/turbo and determine if it is mixing from that point

If he's got water in the oil, wouldn't the smoke be constant? It's only smoking at launch, then stops.

Its the turbo check for play thats how mine was when it went. it would be fine when i first started going doing normal driving, if i made boost then after i got out of boost came the smoke show! then i would stop and a ton of smoke then would clear i would go again and nothing again. then it got so bad it always smoked then i replaced the turbo problem solved!

Ethanol is hygroscopic and miscible meaning it both absorbs water and mixes well with it. That kinda looks like water and if it's not your h/g you can check the fiav if you haven't removed it. Is the coolant low at all, im thinking (hoping) it's water in the gas.

Silver gryffon said:

As I said, if I keep the rpms up on mine, it doesn't smoke. Not sure if it's a head gasket. It may be running lean on low idles.

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I wonder if your problem has to do with the difference between coolant jacket pressure and cylinder pressure at idle vs 1500+ RPM. By that I mean maybe at idle the cylinder pressure is low enough that the coolant can enter the combustion chamber and burn as white smoke. Above 1500 RPM the cylinder pressure is high enough to keep the coolant out. Does that make sense? I would do a coolant pressure test to try to rule out a blown head gasket.

Bad seal on turbo. Only takes a tiny bit for a sh*tload of smoke.

Silver gryffon said:

I'm not sure what causes it to idle so low, but mine does the same thing. I have to keep a foot on the gas keeping it at 1500 or higher for it to not smoke. I'm trying to find the problem. When I do, I'll let you know.

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Well if my theory that coolant is only getting into the combustion chamber at low cylinder pressure is correct this also explains the low idle. Car is choking on coolant in one or more cylinders at idle. I understand the blue smoke from a blown turbo (been there done that) but if we're dealing with white smoke we have a coolant issue, not oil.

Well, that may help us both solve our problem. I've got to tear mine apart and rebuild it, anyway. Guess I'll take care of pressure tests while I'm at it. Thanks. I'll check the turbo, too. Just in case.

Silver gryffon said:

Well, that may help us both solve our problem. I've got to tear mine apart and rebuild it, anyway. Guess I'll take care of pressure tests while I'm at it. Thanks. I'll check the turbo, too. Just in case.

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Just be sure to do your coolant pressure tests BEFORE you drain coolant, pull the motor etc. or you will lose the opportunity to properly diagnose the problem. I'm pretty sure AutoZone or Advanced have coolant pressure testers in their "Lend a tool" program.

A blown turbo will be obvious once you have it off. Shaft play and oily residue are bad signs

Ok, thanks for the tip on where to get the tester. It's probably not my turbo, since it looks fine, just a little dusty.

Silver gryffon said:

Ok, thanks for the tip on where to get the tester. It's probably not my turbo, since it looks fine, just a little dusty.

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You can pick up a tester at your local advance auto. I have the same problem with my 97 gst. But it's the rings on 1 and 3.