Another potential DSM

[4G Power]

I found another potential DSM for me to pickup-- a red '97 GSX with 150k miles. As far as the ad describes/pictures I can tell it has a 6 Bolt swap, front mount, a 16g, walbro 255, crower 272's, v3 link, etc. it seems the owner doesn't know much about the car.

On to the real question, he said the car was smoking white smoke. He said it just had the motor rebuilt though. He bought another 16G and put it on, and it still smokes. He called a shop and was told it was the head gasket. So he wants to sell it.

Now I'm thinking before I buy it, I'm going to compression test it. This should tell me if it needs a new head gasket. I'm also going to see if there is coolant in the oil. What else should I check, if the head gasket is not the problem? He describes it as it smokes on startup and increases. I was thinking valve seals or Pcv system?

Help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Cdc1221]

White smoke definitely signifies burning coolant. Also, while a compression test will be a good idea, it mainly justs tells you what the rings look like and if valves are making a good seal. A leakdown test will not only tell you if the cc is leaking, but where its leaking, ie intake or exhaust valves, hg, rings, or a combination of the three.

 

[4G Power]

White smoke definitely signifies burning coolant. Also, while a compression test will be a good idea, it mainly justs tells you what the rings look like and if valves are making a good seal. A leakdown test will not only tell you if the cc is leaking, but where its leaking, ie intake or exhaust valves, hg, rings, or a combination of the three.

I'm going tomorrow to look at the car.. And I can't really bring my compressor with me. Any idea how to do a leakdown/inspect the HG some other way? I'm just going to be in the guys yard I can't really tear it apart.

 

[Cdc1221]

Just my opinion but regardless of if the headgasket is gone, i wouldnt give him anymore than i would for a car WITH a blown hg, as you will have time into it just in diagnosis. But chances are it is because there is nowhere else in a 4g63 for the coolant to get into the combustion chamber. And thats really the only cause for white smoke, aka steam

 

[4G Power]

Alright so I went and looked at it today. Started up, ran great. Smoked a little then started puffing more out. After a visual inspection I saw oil above exhaust manifold gasket so I took the manifold off. There was tons of oil in the exhaust ports. So this is why it's smoking.. I couldn't see any visible signs of a bad HG, but didn't leakdown test it due to no tester. I was wondering could the PCV be bad? I didn't get to take it off and shake it but the vacuum end that goes into the manifold had a bit of oil on it. I don't think it's the valve seals either because it would only smoke on startup right? Plus it has a fresh rebuild so the valves/HG shouldn't be bad already.. Any ideas on what it could be? It's a LOT of oil in the exhaust ports and smoking

 

[undefined0000]

Aren't there oil gullies that go through some of the stud-holes?

 

[4G Power]

I was thinking there was a hole or something of the like that accidently happened when it was machined but I couldn't find anything around there.
Also, the breather (the little nipple thing) on the left side of the VC had a vaccum line that ran to the actual intake on the turbo. I've never seen this done?

 

[undefined0000]

That's the stock setup if I'm understanding correctly. Vacuum on that side helps get fresh air and push the CC pressure out. Can easily be replaced with a breather filter (Most people do that) I personally just have a hose that hangs there .

 

[4G Power]

Ah alright. Well there has to be something I'm overlooking.. I wish I had a leakdown tester. I guess if I do a compression test I can see if the valve seals are bad but I highly doubt it as they're new..

 

[undefined0000]

Is it overheating? I've never seen white smoke for oil. I usually smell the exhaust to see what it is.

 

[PrimerPLus]

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Like mine? Yes that's normal.
If the smoke coming out is white then that's coolant/water.
Oil is blue smoke.
If they installed the headgasket wrong or didn't torque or they overheated the engine it's possible the headgasket is cracked.
Take out the plugs and look in every cylinder for coolant. Do this after you start it then shut it down. Also check the plugs to see if they're wet and smell like coolant. I would not pay anymore for it then I would a car with a known blown headgasket. If you want to tear it down and inspect it all that's fine but don't pay too much. But it sounds like you will need to pull the head and get it inspected.

 

[undefined0000]

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Like mine? Yes that's normal.
If the smoke coming out is white then that's coolant/water.
Oil is blue smoke.
If they installed the headgasket wrong or didn't torque or they overheated the engine it's possible the headgasket is cracked.
Take out the plugs and look in every cylinder for coolant. Do this after you start it then shut it down. Also check the plugs to see if they're wet and smell like coolant. I would not pay anymore for it then I would a car with a known blown headgasket. If you want to tear it down and inspect it all that's fine but don't pay too much. But it sounds like you will need to pull the head and get it inspected.

That is so clean. Its making me hungry.

 

[PrimerPLus]

Lol thanks! I have made changes since I took that. I need to update my build profile

 

[Cdc1221]

That's the stock setup if I'm understanding correctly. Vacuum on that side helps get fresh air and push the CC pressure out. Can easily be replaced with a breather filter (Most people do that) I personally just have a hose that hangs there .

That hose needs to be hooked up to the intake preturbo. Its what pulls cc pressure when the car is under + mani pressure(boost), which is when the pcv system is most needed. Without it, cc pressure will rise and i dont believe i need to explain the rest. As to the op, its possible that the hg job was botched and the oil ports are pushing oil past the gasket into the comb chambers. Or maybe it has seized or broken rings

Ah alright. Well there has to be something I'm overlooking.. I wish I had a leakdown tester. I guess if I do a compression test I can see if the valve seals are bad but I highly doubt it as they're new..

A comp test wont show bad seals. It will show if the rings are worn, blown hg, or bad valve seating. The seals are behind the valve head and all they do is keep oil from going from the head to the comb chamber

 

[undefined0000]

Lol thanks! I have made changes since I took that. I need to update my build profile

Please do. I love clean bays. It motivates me. My bay is a pile of poo (well oil)

That hose needs to be hooked up to the intake preturbo. Its what pulls cc pressure when the car is under + mani pressure(boost), which is when the pcv system is most needed. Without it, cc pressure will rise and i dont believe i need to explain the rest. As to the op, its possible that the hg job was botched and the oil ports are pushing oil past the gasket into the comb chambers. Or maybe it has seized or broken rings

I was close enough. I did my reading .

 

[4G Power]

Alright thanks. Also the smoke is blue, the owner just said it was white. But if there's nothing I can check or have overlooked, and the only possibilities are already mentioned, that's all I need to know. Thanks for the help!

 

[undefined0000]

Team does it again.

 

[tylersmith2014]

after he rebuilt the head how long did he drive iit? its takes a couple hundred miles till the head settles in and the smoke goes away

 

[4G Power]

after he rebuilt the head how long did he drive iit? its takes a couple hundred miles till the head settles in and the smoke goes away

I'm not to sure but I've rebuilt the head on of my other DSM's and it never smoked this much. Plus I can see the oil in the exhaust ports and coming out around the exhaust manifold gasket.

One thing that puzzles me-- if it was a bad headgasket or seals, why does it have oil coming out of all 4 exhaust ports?
Also, he said when he purchased it he was told the turbo was going bad. So he's replaced it 3 times in the last 3000 miles or so, as each one he replaced it still smoked. Maybe it could be oil in the IC from blowing the seals out of one of the turbos?

 

[undefined0000]

Get us a picture when you can.

 

[4G Power]

Get us a picture when you can.

Of the exhaust ports? Or what exactly

 

[undefined0000]

WHere you're seeing oil

 

[PrimerPLus]

IF there is oil in the exhaust ports you probably got bad rings. Which means you need to tear it down anyways.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

how much is he asking?

 

[4G Power]

how much is he asking?

$3800