Intake smoking

[Tison28s]

So I go start my car today. Engine cranks over and I see a little smoke coming from the engine compartment. I pop the hood and smoke is coming out of my air filter cone. What could be the issue? Is something stuck in the intake tubing?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

That is a symptom of a jumped timing belt. I would pull the timing cover off and check your marks.
Timing Belt VFAQ (Timing Belt TSB - ENHANCED)

 

[mindset]

I was just going to say that your timing is off. I did a quick search and found one forum with the same problem. I searched "intake smoke", go check it out for yourself.

 

[Tison28s]

How would it jump timing? The car was running perfectly fine beote I shut it off last night?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Just depends on how old the belt is, condition of it and how well it was installed the last time. Belt's can jump whenever they want and usually they don't when they are running. It's when you try to first start it in the morning when they are still kind of stiff or when you shut the car off and the motor makes that sudden stop. Either way check your marks.

 

[Tison28s]

the timing is correct what else could it be?

 

[habitatguy187]

Did you check your turbo?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Did you pull the timing cover off and check everything or did you just line up the cams gears. That was pretty quick.

 

[Diplomat]

How would it jump timing?

Check your timing belt tensioner. Since we're talkin' about a '92 I would assume that the TB has already been replaced at least once. The tensioner and pulley should be replaced along with the belt, even though Mitsubishi suggests replacement depending upon it's condition. They don't last forever. Personally, I figure if I'm going to go through the trouble of replacing the TB, then I might as well replace the tensioner since it's right in front of me. JNZ Tuning sells them for ~$26, which is cheap insurance in my book. Ideally, you'd replace both the tensioner and it's accompanying pulley. About $52.

The car was running perfectly fine beote I shut it off last night?

If something is loose, it could have jumped when the starter motor engaged. Because the rotating assembly is at a dead stop and is then suddenly "yanked" by a high torque electric motor.

 

[Tison28s]

I took the intake off and it's coming from the turbo

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Of course if going to come from the turbo, that is where it comes right before the intake. If the turbo itself had bad seals it would be leaking into the exhaust. Something is forcing the smoke back through the intake system, for example, jumped timing causing a compression or exhaust stroke to push gas back up through an intake valve.

 

[Tison28s]

You guys think maybe it could be the cam gear(s) that might have jumped?

 

[Tison28s]

Haha disregard that last reply, since it has already been answered. I was on my iphone on the forums and your answer didnt come up yet on the Cam Gears

 

[jdodds]

I remember when this happened to me. My balance shaft belt went through the timing gear on the crank. The cams lined up just fine but you could tell something was wrong. Does it sound like it has compression when you crank it?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Cams gears don't jump. They have dowels to hold them in place. If the gears jump...they are attached to the cams, so the timing has jumped! CHECK IT ALL.

 

[Tison28s]

motor definetely sounds like it has compression.# I'll try and re-time it tonight, and see how it turns out.

 

[Tison28s]

I just still don't understand how it could just jump a couple teeth when it was the right tension?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

The belt is rubber. It stretches. Or if there is ANY amount of oil or any liquid that got on it, it could jump at startup.

 

[jdodds]

Do a compression test just to be sure.

 

[Tison28s]

ok so, tomorrow morning im going to grab a new timing belt as well as waterpump/alt belt. i guess i might as damn well replace those too.

 

[turboglenn]

I just still don't understand how it could just jump a couple teeth when it was the right tension?

It's a mitsubishi...ANYTHING can happen... Honestly though, once you've worked on your car enough and put a timing belt or two on it, you will come to understand how and why the timing belt can jump teeth at the cam gears or crankshaft..

ok so, tomorrow morning im going to grab a new timing belt as well as waterpump/alt belt. i guess i might as damn well replace those too.

Even if the T-belt and water pump aren't the problem, they are both good items to replace as "insurance" for your engine. I replace the them both anytime i have to remove the t-belt when working on the car ( of course if it was only put on a week or a month ago I"ll re-use the same one again, but i think you understand what i mean)

And unless you've got DEEP, DEEP pockets, make sure to properly find/diagnose the problem before you just start throwing parts at the car. That method of fixing things can add up fast!