I need help (white smoke)

[ExoticTSI]

I'm getting white smoke out of my exh when i rev the eng at idle and also when i'm driving. I got this horrible coolant leak from where the belts and accessories is at and i don't know what exactly is f'ed up. I don't know if it's the water pump or thermostat but i was wondering if that's related to the puff of smoke i'm getting out of the exh.Me and my friend is about to fix the coolant leak problem but the white smoke got me worried, could it be the turbo(stock T-25) or the headgasket. Please help.

 

[ben90tsi]

White smoke out the back usually means the headgasket...does you have any overheating issues?

 

[halik008]

i do have similar problem on my 95 tsi. Maybe somebody can help me here also. The engine has around 80K on it with 3'' full CAT back Flow Master exhaust. When i start it up i get white smoke coming out of the exhaust and when i rev it in neutral it will spit our droplets of clear water. It seems to only happen when the engine is cold and disappears once it get warm. Temp gauge is in the mid range while driving so I don't think i got coolant weak.....

What could it be?

halik

 

[dicion]

Definately check your headgasket. or this could be symptomatic of a cracked head. I've had a head crack on another car of mine a few years ago because a coolant line blew, and the bi*** overheated....

With the fact it only does it when it's cold makes it look more like a headgasket then anything...

 

[halik008]

i forgot to mention that this is the 2nd engine (wthin 1K of the body's 80K) and was proffesioanlly replaced 10K ago and tested prior to install.....

Is there any way of cheking without tearing everything apart?? I don't the tools or knowledge to pull it apart.

Also are you sure it's not just water condensation?? I mean the water droplets are crystal clear water.

halik

 

[ExoticTSI]

White smoke out the back usually means the headgasket...does you have any overheating issues?

The car deosn't overheat though that's why i can't find out what's wrong with the car even though i have a bad coolant leak. I always have to refill the resevior when i'm driving . I noticed the coolant leaking onto the oil filter could that be the problem?

 

[dicion]

If you have white smoke coming out your exhaust, that means its leaking internally into your cylinders. But now you're saying it's leaking onto your oil filter? Where's the leak coming from thats falling onto the filter?

I still say head gasket. Dont Wait on this.. sure, you arent overheating yet, because you're refilling the coolant, but the more you drive it, the more the bad gasket is exposed to the pressure & coolant ripping through it and IT WILL GET WORSE.... If you overheat, you run the rish of warping your head, and then it's garbage. Take action on this NOW.

 

[ExoticTSI]

If you have white smoke coming out your exhaust, that means its leaking internally into your cylinders. But now you're saying it's leaking onto your oil filter? Where's the leak coming from thats falling onto the filter?

I still say head gasket. Dont Wait on this.. sure, you arent overheating yet, because you're refilling the coolant, but the more you drive it, the more the bad gasket is exposed to the pressure & coolant ripping through it and IT WILL GET WORSE.... If you overheat, you run the rish of warping your head, and then it's garbage. Take action on this NOW.

I'm pretty sure the leak is coming from the water pump and it looks like the seal on the pump is messed up.I've checked both the coolant and oil and i can't see or smell any mixture between them. I also noticed some oil around my intake manifold, TB and where the IC pipe meets the TB.Could it be my turbo is blowing oil into the motor?

 

[dicion]

If the turbo was leaking oil into the intake, you wouldnt be getting white smoke, you'd be getting grey/blue smoke. If you say there's no oil in your coolant, and no coolant in your oil. I don't know. This is where my knowledge ends

All i can say is white smoke out of exhaust == coolant, blue/grey == oil. Where it's getting in, is something you'll have to track down.

If you arent sure whether it's oil, coolant, or both coming out of your exhaust, do the mirror trick. Put a mirror, piece of glass, etc right at your exhaust when it's doing it. Let whatever is coming out build up on the mirror, and check it. If it's oil, it'll be oily. If it's water, it'll be watery...

 

[ExoticTSI]

If the turbo was leaking oil into the intake, you wouldnt be getting white smoke, you'd be getting grey/blue smoke. If you say there's no oil in your coolant, and no coolant in your oil. I don't know. This is where my knowledge ends

All i can say is white smoke out of exhaust == coolant, blue/grey == oil. Where it's getting in, is something you'll have to track down.

If you arent sure whether it's oil, coolant, or both coming out of your exhaust, do the mirror trick. Put a mirror, piece of glass, etc right at your exhaust when it's doing it. Let whatever is coming out build up on the mirror, and check it. If it's oil, it'll be oily. If it's water, it'll be watery...

Alright thanks, u were very helpful

 

[dicion]

I try, and I'll admit when I don't know something Good luck with your problem

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

i do have similar problem on my 95 tsi. Maybe somebody can help me here also. The engine has around 80K on it with 3'' full CAT back Flow Master exhaust. When i start it up i get white smoke coming out of the exhaust and when i rev it in neutral it will spit our droplets of clear water. It seems to only happen when the engine is cold and disappears once it get warm. Temp gauge is in the mid range while driving so I don't think i got coolant weak.....

What could it be?

halik

Some water and white smoke is normal on startup especially on a cold day. the easiest way to check if ya don't mind, is to get a drop of the stuff coming out of the exhaust on your finger and stick it on your toung, if its sweet it's antifreez, if it tastes like water I wouldn't worry.