Well, I had babied the car for the first 250 miles over the past month, still got another 250 to go. I decided to try and give it a pull, and hit 17 psi for the first time on this setup today. MBC is set for 19 from the previous motor/turbo. This setup hadnt seen over the accidently 5 psi before though. Anyways, boy did it pull like hell. However, when I shifted, I got one gigantic cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. I'm assuming this is bad? It hasn't been dyno tuned, just basic tuned for the break in. It hasnt smoked before, not on 5 psi, not daily driving, not on idle. Could it be anything besides my rings not seating yet?

I'm wondering why you decided to seat the rings by taking it easy. I've always heard the best way to do it is to drive it hard.

Most of the shops around here advised me to keep it under 4k and off boost for the first 500 miles, to make sure it seats right. I've heard so many different ways of "breaking it in" But needless, I still have a giant white cloud of smoke.

do you have white smoke during start up / idle? Are you running a cat? What type of headgasket are you using? I know once I got rid of my cat I had quite a bit of white smoke at start up ( especially on cold days ), but also a little bit under boost ( not a lot at all though ). Generally white smoke is coolant being burned which is why I asked about the head gasket. How is your coolant level? I broke in my engine the drive it like you stole it way and it worked great for me. I'm also not a fan of babying it for the first 500 miles. Good luck.

No white smoke at all other than that. I'm using a cometic head gasket. No cat, 3" turbo back from the actual turbo outlet (meaning 3" o2 housing also). The head gasket is a 3 layer metal one. I've reused it. It was on the car, it got driven 2-3 miles, then the head came back off, went right back on, using the same gasket. It's metal. The head wasnt even on long enough to do anything anyways.

The clound, to me, almost seems to be a shat load of unburnt fuel.

That would be black smoke

Well, I am running 950's...

There was no knock either though, or at least none I could hear

could be a leaky head gasket. did you have the head surfaced and the block decked? those pesky metal head gaskets *require* a perfect mating surface. look at it this way, at least your valves and combustion chamber get a good steam cleaning do a leakdown to ease your mind.

Colossus said:

No white smoke at all other than that. I'm using a cometic head gasket. No cat, 3" turbo back from the actual turbo outlet (meaning 3" o2 housing also). The head gasket is a 3 layer metal one. I've reused it. It was on the car, it got driven 2-3 miles, then the head came back off, went right back on, using the same gasket. It's metal. The head wasnt even on long enough to do anything anyways.

Click to expand...

You can't re-use a head gasket. It's not the running for 2-3 miles that would make a difference it's that it's been torqued down and crushed and now released and torqued down again. It's gonna leak.

Honestly your going to be pulling your HG again shortly and doing a new HG. I'll wait to see the post on it. And do yourslef a favour, DONT just tighten down your head studs to try and fix the problem...

Yes, both the head and the block were decked and surfaced. I wouldn't think a triple thick metal gasket would have a problem being reused, but it's a waste of money to have it on there for a whole 3 miles, then pay $90 for another one. That's some bullshit. Hopefully it won't resort to that, but I've got another 240 miles until I can be positive it's not my rings.

Colossus said:

Yes, both the head and the block were decked and surfaced. I wouldn't think a triple thick metal gasket would have a problem being reused, but it's a waste of money to have it on there for a whole 3 miles, then pay $90 for another one. That's some bullshit. Hopefully it won't resort to that, but I've got another 240 miles until I can be positive it's not my rings.

Click to expand...

and by then you might be replacing bearings. do a leakdown.

Listen to these guys, they are giving you good advice. These aftermarket HGs on the market are to allow you to run higher boost without worrying if the HG is going to give out, not be reusable. Like DSMJIM said once you torque the head down, game over. If you have to remove the head again before cranking the engine you will be buying a new HG. Simple as that. Continuing to drive the car like this will cost a whole hell of a lot more than just a $90 HG. I'm done ranting.

Brian

I understand. But it's also going to have to hold for another 230 miles before it gets replaced. It seems fine driving casually, since I can't boost or go over 4K right now anyways, so it sees nothing but vacuum to begin with. Looks like the car's going to have one last good shop time. HG replacement, FPR install, then back to me for tranny rebuild and clutch, then to the dyno. Grrr. These projects become so money consuming, but thanks for the help!