is it my turbo or my head

[bojanglesracing]

ok so i have a leak in the coolant system. the exhost has white smoke. it not something simple like a cap or stat. so what i am asking is what are the chances it is my turbo and not my head? i have no sign of coolant in oil. oil level has not droped.

 

[oldman]

Why waste time guessing? http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/compression.htm

 

[bojanglesracing]

ok will check compression. so if that come back good then it my turbo?

 

[oldman]

ok will check compression. so if that come back good then it my turbo?

Hard to say, I honestly have not seen coolant leaking from the turbo but without knowing more on the center section design, I'll refrain from commenting on whether it's possibly to leak coolant through the turbo.

 

[bojanglesracing]

if anyone heard of it let me know

 

[assa 98gsx]

I just lost a turbo and i had the symptoms of a lot of white smoke, lost engine oil and i noticed my coolant was low.. I am not sure the why the coolant was low, but the exhaust did smell like the coolant at first, and it became the burning smell of the engine oil. Good luck to you!

 

[bojanglesracing]

ok did a compression test to day. cylinder 1. 170 2. 164 3. 170 4. 176 so my compression is good. now where do i check?

 

[gridlyne]

Since your already going to be checking around the engine, check your turbo while your there. Liek the other users said. I have the same white smoke and its deff my turbo. I have anew ported 14b waiting to go in. Hopefully that will correct my situation.

Good luck to you.

 

[oldman]

Do keep in mind that unburnt oil pouring out of the hot side of the turbo straight into exhaust will produce white smoke with a tiny bit of blue, almost undetectable. Are you 100% sure that you're burning coolant and not oil? You can't really be confused about the smell as both are distinct. With that said, pulling the licp to check for oil would be the logical next step.

 

[bojanglesracing]

i did smell coolant once but not now

 

[bojanglesracing]

what is the licp?

 

[oldman]

what is the licp?

Lower Inter Cooler Pipe.

 

[bojanglesracing]

ok pulled the hose off was dry so is safe to say its not ny head?

 

[oldman]

ok pulled the hose off was dry so is safe to say its not ny head?

You mean turbo, the licp inspection was for the turbo.

Let's start from the beginning, be as detail as you can.

1. When does the car smoke? Idle, taking off, slowing down, boosting, letting off boost....etc?

2. Is the smoke thick white or light blueish white?

3. Are you still losing coolant since you first smell burnt coolant?

4. Does it smell like burnt oil now?

 

[bojanglesracing]

You mean turbo, the licp inspection was for the turbo.

Let's start from the beginning, be as detail as you can.

1. When does the car smoke? Idle, taking off, slowing down, boosting, letting off boost....etc?

when i first saw that it overheaded have not seen it since then.

2. Is the smoke thick white or light blueish white?

it was thick white smoke.

3. Are you still losing coolant since you first smell burnt coolant?

yes.

4. Does it smell like burnt oil now?

no.
i know none of this makes sense i am going to put a test on my coolant system and see hat i can find. i was told that if you have a leak. start the car up and as it warms up to look for leaks so that what i did didn't see anything so i will try the test. i do want to thank you for all your help so far it means alot

 

[bojanglesracing]

the answer are in the quote. to the one above

 

[oldman]

the answer are in the quote. to the one above

I see, clever but at least put it in bold next time. Let's try it again.

1. Are you saying the car doesn't smoke anymore?

2. You've never mentioned overheating, tell us about it. Is it still overheating? Did you find the cause?

3. If it's not smoking anymore, what's the problem? Overheating?

 

[bojanglesracing]

I see, clever but at least put it in bold next time. Let's try it again.

1. Are you saying the car doesn't smoke anymore?

not that i have seen

2. You've never mentioned overheating, tell us about it. Is it still overheating? Did you find the cause?

yes every time it overheats the coolant is low and i think it overheating because the coolant is low

3. If it's not smoking anymore, what's the problem? Overheating?

it overheating and lousing coolant

 

[oldman]

it overheating and lousing coolant

How long did you drive the car while the it was overheating? Be honest. When you saw white smoke, was it after a long drive while the car was overheating.

 

[bojanglesracing]

How long did you drive the car while the it was overheating? Be honest. When you saw white smoke, was it after a long drive while the car was overheating.

OK i had to pick up i part for work so i took my car as i was on my about 10 mins in to my trip i look at my gauges and saw that my temp was high then normal so i kept an eye on it then i saw the white smoke gauge was on the white line right before the red spot so i pulled over and checked my coolant to see they was none so i let the car coolant down a bit like 15 mins and add coolantfound that one hose came off my intake put it back on and drove back to the shop it ran fine drove it home that night seem fine check in the next morning it was low so i fill it went it got hot again not as hot but hot so i check it again it was low fill it up drove home and that where it sit

 

[oldman]

then i saw the white smoke gauge was on the white line right before the red spot so i pulled over and checked my coolant to see they was none

Was it like smoke screen out of the tailpipe?

 

[bojanglesracing]

Was it like smoke screen out of the tailpipe?

it was smoke screen can't tell for sure if it came out the tailpipe was come from under the car

 

[oldman]

This is what I think.

You intially had a overheating problem causing boiling coolant to be dumped out of the overflow bottle, your immediate priority is to solve your overheating problem. Thermostate, fans, water pump, leaks....etc.

Now here comes the tricky part. If the smoke screen is from the tailpipe, it's possible that the head was warped due to overheating. If the smoke was from under the car, it might be dumped coolant on the exhaust pipes but I doubt it. I suggest beside pin pointing your source of overheating problem, I would still get either a leakdown test to double check the HG or pressurize the coolant system to make sure you're not leaking besides the overflow bottle.

 

[bojanglesracing]

OK i will get one and try it now would the compression test tell if my head is warp
see i warp the head just rebuilt it i only put about 1000 on it since and scared that i did it again

 

[oldman]

Did overheating started after the head work? Another possibility is that a warp head causing overheating after the rebuilt. Was the head decked and block at least checked? OEM or metal gasket?

now would the compression test tell if my head is warp

Compression test only give you a rough idea, coolant pressure test is your best option as it will reveal other leaks as well as the HG, if there are any.