Alternative cause to white smoke out of exhaust?

[davo345]

The truth is, I am not at all convinced my head gasket is blown. Compression is still there, radiator is not low on coolant, no water in the oil, and no oil in the overflow tank.

The only things which are symptoms is the whitish smoke every now and then at higher RPMs and the fact that the overflow tank is a bit low (it's right above the minimum level).

Other than that, I am not convinced it is, so could someone please either convince me that it is indeed my HG, or could you give me an alternate scenario to this.

Thanks .

 

[turboConcepts]

mine does it to but only after i had the engine overhaulded by my uncle..... i took it back and told him and he says its comon but it aint the head gasket , cuz thats wut i though it was... so i hope i helped

 

[miamieclipse]

white smoke out the exhaust? White smoke is coolant being burnt, did u add some somewhere and spill any perhaps?

 

[davo345]

mine does it to but only after i had the engine overhaulded by my uncle..... i took it back and told him and he says its comon but it aint the head gasket , cuz thats wut i though it was... so i hope i helped

It's common? Why didn't it do it before?

It has to be caused by something if not the head gasket....any ideas?

 

[davo345]

white smoke out the exhaust? White smoke is coolant being burnt, did u add some somewhere and spill any perhaps?

I haven't added coolant in a while, so no. I checked the coolant level today, and it's normal. I popped the coolant cap off the coolant hose and it came overflowing out, and no oil mixed in it. So that's not an issue from what i can see.

 

[NOSNUSE]

White smoke is also a lean condition, check your O2 voltage at WOT.

 

[davo345]

White smoke is also a lean condition, check your O2 voltage at WOT.

I am definately rich.

Any other ideas?

 

[kaoticdeath]

here is a thought and just a thought but if your turbo is water cooled to could it be have a slight crack on the inside of the housing and as it heats up at higher rpm,s the crack expands leting coolent into you exhaust hence the white smoke again just a thought but if it was me i would yank the turbo and check it cause its cheaper to replace the exhaust housing now than the whole turbo later also if this would happen to be the problem it could have been caused by not having a turbo timer again this is just a random though cause i have no idea what im talking about according to some people

 

[kaoticdeath]

btw davo where you at in md

 

[davo345]

here is a thought and just a thought but if your turbo is water cooled to could it be have a slight crack on the inside of the housing and as it heats up at higher rpm,s the crack expands leting coolent into you exhaust hence the white smoke again just a thought but if it was me i would yank the turbo and check it cause its cheaper to replace the exhaust housing now than the whole turbo later also if this would happen to be the problem it could have been caused by not having a turbo timer again this is just a random though cause i have no idea what im talking about according to some people

A good idea, but i have a t3/t4 hybrid, so only oil-cooled .

keep 'em coming....

 

[NOSNUSE]

What is your O2 voltage at WOT when it starts to smoke?

 

[davo345]

What is your O2 voltage at WOT when it starts to smoke?

I don't know the exact voltage, as I only have the Autometer a/f ratio gauge, but I am pretty sure it is deep in the green.

 

[NOSNUSE]

I say run a compression check to see if maybe the head gasket might be blow, then hook up a voltmeter to your O2 sensor and see what your actual volts are, I don't trust the A/F gauges at all.

 

[Thunderskull]

You're saying that it only does it at high revs. This is going to be when cylinder pressures and coolent temps (inside the engine) are at their highest. You may have a very small gap in your headgasket that remains closed most of the time but under extreme pressure opens up. That would explain why you aren't losing a lot of coolent and why it does it only at high revs. You might want to pull the head off the block and check it. Also, did you rebuild the engine recently, and what type of head gasket are you using?

 

[davo345]

You're saying that it only does it at high revs. This is going to be when cylinder pressures and coolent temps (inside the engine) are at their highest. You may have a very small gap in your headgasket that remains closed most of the time but under extreme pressure opens up. That would explain why you aren't losing a lot of coolent and why it does it only at high revs. You might want to pull the head off the block and check it. Also, did you rebuild the engine recently, and what type of head gasket are you using?

Definately a plausible theory.

I haven't rebuilt the motor at all. As for the type of HG, I am honestly not sure because i havent changed it in the 30k miles that i've had the vehicle. But if I were to guess, I would think stock or a Felpro replacement HG.

How long does it take to take the head off?

 

[davo345]

I say run a compression check to see if maybe the head gasket might be blow, then hook up a voltmeter to your O2 sensor and see what your actual volts are, I don't trust the A/F gauges at all.

Compression is seemingly OK. I am not sure how to run a compression check myself.

When checking the O2 voltage, do I splice the wires and just intercect with the voltmeter?

 

[Thunderskull]

Definately a plausible theory.

I haven't rebuilt the motor at all. As for the type of HG, I am honestly not sure because i havent changed it in the 30k miles that i've had the vehicle. But if I were to guess, I would think stock or a Felpro replacement HG.

How long does it take to take the head off?

The thing is, a compression check may not show you the problem since it's likely only happening under boost. I'd say take a Saturday and do it at your leisure. It will take a good chunk of the day, especially if you've never done it before. You might want to get a new headgasket while you're at it. I doubt a stock headgasket would take the boost well over a long period of time. You may have a head gasket that is about to have a serious failure. I'm not sure if anybody makes multilayered steel headgaskets for the n/a 2nd gens.

Good luck

 

[davo345]

The thing is, a compression check may not show you the problem since it's likely only happening under boost. I'd say take a Saturday and do it at your leisure. It will take a good chunk of the day, especially if you've never done it before. You might want to get a new headgasket while you're at it. I doubt a stock headgasket would take the boost well over a long period of time. You may have a head gasket that is about to have a serious failure. I'm not sure if anybody makes multilayered steel headgaskets for the n/a 2nd gens.

Good luck

What exactly is involved in removing the head? Step by step would be preferable, if you have the time .

Thanks.

 

[Thunderskull]

It's not going to be easy. I recommend you get the service manual. You can get a copy off ebay for less than $10.00. It will detail all the steps you need. I'm not aware of any vfaqs for removing the head, and a walkthrough would take forever to type here considering all the things that need to be done to remove the head. In addition, I have a 4g63, and while I could walk you through it, I know I'd miss something. You would be better off with the service manual. Also, you need to get on the forums for your local Club DSM chapter. Many of the folks there will come over and work on your car. Usually all they want in return is some beer.

 

[davo345]

It's not going to be easy. I recommend you get the service manual. You can get a copy off ebay for less than $10.00. It will detail all the steps you need. I'm not aware of any vfaqs for removing the head, and a walkthrough would take forever to type here considering all the things that need to be done to remove the head. In addition, I have a 4g63, and while I could walk you through it, I know I'd miss something. You would be better off with the service manual. Also, you need to get on the forums for your local Club DSM chapter. Many of the folks there will come over and work on your car. Usually all they want in return is some beer.

I just ordered the service manual off Ebay.

I am a little intimidated .

 

[davo345]

I just took her for a drive. I can't seem to see the smoke at all when I am in the car, so it can't be billowing.

When I pulled into Walmart, I just wanted to see if I could create the smoke by just revving it. So I had my gf rev it up to 4-5k and it only seemed to smoke when she let off and the RPMs started to drop for a second or two. Not when the actual revving was going on.

Does this sounds strange to any of you?

 

[wafflez66]

mine was blowing a lot of white smoke, but my heads were good, it turned out to be the valve seals.

 

[Twizzle]

turbo seals?

 

[Thunderskull]

I was wondering about the turbo seals too. If it was valve stem seals, it would smoke under idle. Usually it would smoke in the beginning at idle and eventually all the time if it was valve stem seals. But, this all depends on correctly identifying if the smoke is coolent or oil related. You might want to take a whiff of your exhaust while it's smoking to see if it smells like coolent or oil. Did it start doing this immediately after you installed the turbo kit? And, does it smoke when you shift?

 

[davo345]

I was wondering about the turbo seals too. If it was valve stem seals, it would smoke under idle. Usually it would smoke in the beginning at idle and eventually all the time if it was valve stem seals. But, this all depends on correctly identifying if the smoke is coolent or oil related. You might want to take a whiff of your exhaust while it's smoking to see if it smells like coolent or oil. Did it start doing this immediately after you installed the turbo kit? And, does it smoke when you shift?

The turbo seals? But my turbo is only oil cooled.

It didn't start smoking immidiately after I installed the turbo kit.

I did smell the exhaust, and it smelled wattered down and sweet.