Need some reassurance...

[hypergenesis]

Now I know there's been thousands of white smoke out of exhaust threads I just want some assurance towards the findings.

First info on the car
158k miles 160-165 compression throughout.
same stock Turbo and all engine internals.

All I currently have are bolt on modifications.

Now at idle I have white smoke coming out in pulses.
also if easing off the clutch in reverse or 1st white smoke also comes from the exhaust. I have seen some oil in the intercooler and intake piping.

Now since I'm not having any overheating issue is it safe to assume its not my headgasket?

Keep in mind I commute this daily driving 60-65 MPH and I shift below 2500 rpms.

Now since there's oil in the intake it can be valve stems or a Turbo seal.

I just want to know what this sounds like because I need to commute a long distance tommarow and don't want to mess something up

And before someone says why haven't I changed the HG. I have a new HG and headstuds and plan to buy a gasket kit for the engine when I install everything for NY s16g..


Thanks for all the help

Armin

 

[H4G64T]

Your compression numbers indicate that the HG is fine. White smoke is coolant, oil burns blue, so chasing an oil issue for coolant burning is just going to lead you to frustration.

Is there anyway you can take a video? How this is this smoke? Keep in mind that as the temperature drops it is normal to see the heat puffing out of the exhaust.

 

[RadDsm]

A lot of times a compression test won't reveal a small HG leak.

Do a leakdown test if you want to be sure.

 

[hypergenesis]

At h4gr6t the smoke isn't heat it lingers around and you can see it floating. It kind of smells sweat but I'm almost positive its white. The smoke is very lightly colored white.

and what tool do i need for a leak down test?

 

[johnovision27]

mmmm, sweet smells are a tell tail sign of coolant. My car smelt like maple syrup (or so I thought) for a year before I noticed I had a heatercore leak.

 

[knochgoon24]

It seems like you're leaking coolant into one of the cylinders. You're going to need to do a leakdown test. When you do, take your radiator cap off and watch for bubbles.

 

[hypergenesis]

Well my cylinder 3 is a little bit lower in compression than the rest.

Where would I be able to buy a compression tester? Harbor Freight? I get how its like a boost leak test but your pressurizing the cylinders instead of your airflow correct?

Thanks
Armin

 

[SpeedMetal]

A compression tester is found at any auto-parts store. Leakdown tester,.. yea harbor frieght or enco. Have you noticed any loss of coolant at all or any overflowing of the puke tank?

 

[honda_burner]

It seems like you're leaking coolant into one of the cylinders. You're going to need to do a leakdown test. When you do, take your radiator cap off and watch for bubbles.

That doesn't explain his oil in his intake. I vote for one really shot turbo. Just a guess tho.

 

[knochgoon24]

That doesn't explain his oil in his intake. I vote for one really shot turbo. Just a guess tho.

If he still has the stock PCV system intact, that would explain oil in the intake. It's just blow by.

You aren't going to pull coolant in through a turbo no matter how blown it is.

 

[honda_burner]

If he still has the stock PCV system intact, that would explain oil in the intake. It's just blow by.

You aren't going to pull coolant in through a turbo no matter how blown it is.

Oh ok. Like i said just guessing. Thanks though

 

[hypergenesis]

Im actually going to take back the coolant thing im honestly moving more towards my turbo or valve stems having bad seals/gaskets. I just went and checked my coolant and its the same since about 5 months ago when I changed my water pump. But from this last oil change my oil levels went down. Along with that I cant be certain that the smoke is white I haven't been able to get a good visual over it Next time it happens , most likely tonight, ill record it and post a video.

But change the scenario with everything being the same but its blue.

I was reading into this thread:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/151302-blue-smoke-merged-7-9-a.html
And it sounds almost exactly like my situation except he dosen't mention oil in the intercooler piping, intake, or intercooler.

So basically im more stuck on whether its valve seals or turbo gasket. Like I said both have around 160k miles on them but at the same time so is my PCV Valve.

Any tips on what to do next?

I know many have said leak down test and I am in the process of trying to get an air compressor and what not to do this.

Also if it is the case with valve seals can I still drive on it as long as I baby it and monitor the oil?

Thanks for the help

Armin

 

[DirtyDSMDan]

if you are burning oil there are three major place that it can happen, one is your turbo (most likely culprit for me) second is a head gasket (the compression test indicates not likely) or the PCV is getting a lot of blowby and pulling oil into it. first question is, how much oil are you burning? if its less than a quart every oil change, then the situation is fairly minor and you can spend some time getting the parts you need to diagnose the problem. if its major, then get someone with the tools to check it out for ya... soon

 

[H4G64T]

If you want to talk basically on burning oil, based on your compression, I would check your turbo first.

 

[hypergenesis]

If you want to talk basically on burning oil, based on your compression, I would check your turbo first.

Im honestly leaning towards the turbo .

If someone could explain this to me though because I don't see how it can be cause.

If the turbo is the culprit wouldn't it make more sense that when in boost there would be more smoke not just at idle? Im just assuming that theirs more flow of oil/coolant through the turbo when in boost not when idleing. If my assumption is correct then wouldn't it leak more under boost?

I just want to know the mechanics behind why its leaking when at idle and not during boost.


Thanks again

Armin

 

[Rockyp]

It's probably a slightly blown turbo seal. At idle the exhaust just rolls out and under PSI it's shot out. Think smoke particles/air ratio. Sometimes they'll smoke only while at idle or downshifting but never during normal conditions. Then again, sometimes smoke pours out constantly. A video at idle and driving away in the late afternoon would help you out some. This way you'll be able to see if the smoke is still there while driving. Checking for white/blue smoke against a white/blue sky through a rear-view isn't helpful.

 

[gofer]

Do a leak down test, not just a compression test, it checks the opposite of what a compression test will. I skimmed through the thread a few times but didn't see a link for you to this write-up on Compression/Leak Down Testing that Craig wrote, its great. The leak down test is about halfway down in the write up...

Whats vacuum (in/Hg) do while the cars idling? Typically, if you've got leaking valve stem seals the vacuum (in/Hg) will oscillate a bit while the car is idling and you'll get blue smoke out the back.

In the past, I had a DSM friend decide to use RTV on his oil drain to the pan and completely sealed it up. This, of course, blew the turbo seals and his car puffed blue smoke BAD.

 

[hypergenesis]

Do a leak down test, not just a compression test, it checks the opposite of what a compression test will. I skimmed through the thread a few times but didn't see a link for you to this write-up on Compression/Leak Down Testing that Craig wrote, its great. The leak down test is about halfway down in the write up...

Whats vacuum (in/Hg) do while the cars idling? Typically, if you've got leaking valve stem seals the vacuum (in/Hg) will oscillate a bit while the car is idling and you'll get blue smoke out the back.

In the past, I had a DSM friend decide to use RTV on his oil drain to the pan and completely sealed it up. This, of course, blew the turbo seals and his car puffed blue smoke BAD.

Wow thanks definetly helped clear some stuff up. Bookmarked that page for sure

My Vac is pretty consistant sitting around -23 in/Hg and it doesn't bounce around at all.

ALSO

Update I wanted to test something to see if when I boost its putting too much pressure causing the turbo to start leaking due to the fact that when I drove yesterday it started leaking when I went into boost, 10-15 psi, while driving. BUT I drove it another 30 miles last night and made sure I never went into boost and when I sit at idle it isn't smoking anymore. Its kind of making me lean more towards the turbo if when I boost then at idle it smokes but when I don't its not there.

Thanks