Is it my Head???

[mitsu29]

ok this is my first post so if you guys already know the answer please point me in the right direction, as i tried searching for the forums for cylinder head issues and nothing came up with the problem i have.
ok heres my prob: when i turn on my car it'll run just fine, then once it warms up, a BUNCH of white smoke comes out of the exhaust! then when you hit the gas you hear a knocking sound from the head. Now my friend tells me its the head and to go get it remanufactured or get a new head. Now before i do that i just want to get more feed back.
many people have told me to just sell it and get a better newer car, but 2 things keep me from doing that. 1) i've wanted this car since i was in junior high, when it first came out in 95, it was kinda my dream car, and 2) its paid 0ff, id rather spend the one time fixing fee of 300-600 bucks for the head or the $3k itll take if i need a new engine(which will be kinda cool) than to get into a new car with payments for x number of years. anyways im a loyal to the bone dsm-er and hope to become what you guys would call a true DSM-Tuner one day!

 

[DSM90AWD]

Sounds like a bad head gasket (white smoke = coolant, blue smoke = oil).
I'd recommend getting a leakdown test performed.

I also recommend changing your oil immediately looking for water mixed in. If so that's not good (dillutes the oil casing accelerated bearing wear) and would not be driving the car until you can get it fixed.

The knock you hear could be rod knock meaning your rod bearings might be near failure already. Taking it into a proper mechanic to diagnose would be my advice.

 

[mitsu29]

ok cool thats what im gona do then, gonna go ahead and take the head off and send it to for repairs and put it back on, then take it to a shop and get further diagnostics on it thanks man i hope one day i can post pics of it one day and post as i finally found somewhere i can share my love for my dsm.hehe tired of kicking it and hearing about nismo this and suburu that honda that . well i hope to continue posting and thanks im glad im part of this community and i hope you see me and my car grow!!ill share my ideas in a later post to see what you guys think!!

 

[jott5555]

i would hold up there a second speedy, take the advice of some of us guys first.

drain your oil and look for signs of water in the oil. it will be apparent by froth, or bubbles ect..

if you see water in there. do not drive your car anymore, what your going to want to do next is pull the oil pan and see if you have any improper rod or crank play.

if you do then its time to pull the head and get new bearings and arp studs and bla bla bla..

now if there is no water in the oil or froth or anything do a leak down and compression test. make sure to specify when you talk to a mechanic since some will think they are the same thing and they are not.

lastly since you are in california if you do have any shop work on your car make sure its a dsm specific shop, such as rre ect...

my .02

 

[mitsu29]

ok ill do that. ill update this thread with whatever the outcome is with my car, and thanks again guys for helping me out!!

 

[mitsu29]

ok i've gotten the compression test out of the way and compression was fine, as for the leak test when i checked the oil for bubbles and froth nope was nice and silky smooth oil!!phew so now i've taken the head off and i am in the middle of looking for a dsm-specific shop in cali so if any of you guys have any place i can take it too in SOCAL im all ears, and if this helps this is my "area schedule" if it helps, ok i live in Lancaster/palmdale(same area to me ) but i work in the Northridge area(yeah the commute sucks but i get paid good so..) so that means im open to shops from the Antelope Valley area all the way thru the San Fernando area to the Northridge area for those who know their way around.

well hopefully i can get this SOB running as i miss my vroom from my Greddy Exhaust future upgrades are in my profile so if you want to give me advice on parts and stuff again im all ears only one thing: i have my heart set on a greddy turbo kit so if you can give me th ups and downs of that kit its appreciated(besides price as that really has nothing to do with building the perfect dsm vehicle right???

anyways thanks for the feedback and im trying to get pics very soon!!

 

[mitsu29]

well ive been working on my ride's head for nothing!!i found engine deposits in my head and found out it was the motor!!!anyways i checked out a place called soko and i found a 4g63 engine with 30000 miles and it seems in good condition as i went and checked it out. so i bought a new engine for 1735 and now im working to get it in!!!

also what should i do to the engine while its out??first i know im getting new clutch, wheel, fuel injectors, but what else should i look into getting done while the motor is out?? i was thinkning since im gonna paint it anyways should i get it painted with the motor out as that way i can even paint the engine bay too!!

also im looking for some type of hose kit(not hose as in changing rubber to metal) but as in for looks like putting blue hoses or what not i know this isnt a performance thing but im just getting my car ready to "look good" too. i already have bought a Buschur Racing downpipe and an Injen Intake recirculated of course and i dont know which Blow off valve to get if any(love that turbo sound)anyways once its done ill be posting pics of it but for now can you guys answer and help me out!!!