White Smoke / Car Is Smoking White [Merged 7-9]

[Apeximprt2nr]

Alright guys, well I just finished my 14B install in my 95 GSX. All is well besides some minor oil leaks on the return line and the SS feed line at the filter housing. There was also a VERY minor coolant leak from the front banjo bolt on the turbo. I tightened it a tad and I think i went away. Now the turbo is spooling really late because I think there may be a leak before the turbo.
Now on to the problems.

1. The turbo does not smoke at all besides at WOT sometimes it blows out whiteish grey smoke. I'm trying to think of where it could be burning coolant. It never did this before the turbo install.

2. There was some white smoke the past 2 days at the manifold. I'm thinking its the shitload of PB Blaster that I sprayed all over the car but I'm not sure.

3. There's a smell coming from my engine that I can smell if I pop my hood and it becomes more noticeable when I'm driving and really get on it. It smells like burning plastic sort of, with a mix of burning rubber. The lower heat shield is not on the car because it's a pain to get on and I haven't put it back on because I haven't had time. Nothing is touching anything hot so I 'm confused...The only possible thing is maybe I pout on a new 4 ply exhaust mani. gasket as well as antiseize on most of the bolts and the turbo-mani. bolts.

Any help? Thanks.

 

[dsmornothing]

the gauge doesnt work at all it just moves around randomly. where can i get a good gauge and whats a good brand

I always run auto meter. Relatively cheap and awesome quality.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

I always run auto meter. Relatively cheap and awesome quality.

+1 autometer is good.

 

[JusMX141]

I know they are located within the center housing I'm not that turbo illiterate. But I didn't know if a, crack could develope where it would allow oil into the exhaust. Could the broken shaft or seized bearing have messed up a surface allowing oil pass into exhaust under pressure or no?

No. Under no circumstance can pressurized oil reach the exhaust housing unless the oil can't drain. The only existing pressurized oil exists between the journals, thrust plate, and oil inlet.

The turbo with the broken shaft was junk and has been replaced.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

No. Under no circumstance can pressurized oil reach the exhaust housing unless the oil can't drain. The only existing pressurized oil exists between the journals, thrust plate, and oil inlet.

The turbo with the broken shaft was junk and has been replaced.

Okay got it. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[GCeclipsegst]

Ok I have a couple questions about my 98 GST.

I let the car sit for a while over a loose bolt not letting me get into 5th or reverse. After Tightening the bolt the car will go into 5th and reverse fine while shut off, but when the car is running it wont go into 5th unless I pull back towards reverse then shove it forward. Possible a bent shifting cable?

Another question is the car smokes white when I stop at stop lights. It only does it after the car is warm. I already had a compression test and everything looked fine. When I was looking at the turbo it had some oil on the intake side. So maybe a bad turbo seal or something?

Thanks

 

[lowboost13]

White smoke means coolant. Blue smoke would mean oil so check the compression and see if you have a bad head gasket.

 

[GCeclipsegst]

I've already had a compression test. The car runs good pushing 9 psi. I don't think it's a head gasket

 

[estoyaqui30]

White smoke is definitely coolant burning.

 

[WES_393]

For the shifting issue, have you tried bleeding and adjusting the clutch?

What were the compression test numbers? Have you been losing any coolant? It's very rare for an oil leak to cause smoking only at idle. That's when oil pressure is at its lowest. A bad head gasket however can allow coolant into the cylinder only at idle. So if your losing coolant then run a leak down test.

 

[GCeclipsegst]

It's shifts great besides 5th and sometimes reverse is tricky. When I have the car apart next week I'll check it out. As for the compression numbers I don't remember exactly. I took it to a shop and they said it checked out fine. I'll try to run it again and get some numbers. I have a crack in my overflow tank so how could I tell if coolant was leaking?

 

[Cdc1221]

Do a coolant pressure test. This will tell you if your hg is blown. Also, run it to operating temp, wait a few minutes til pressure drops in the coolant system, then pop your coolant cap and take a whiff, see if it smells burnt

 

[campos_racing]

Doesnt this happen when the PCV valve goes out too? Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[genegoesfast]

Don't see how it could. Pcv is for crankcase ventilation and has nothing to do with the cooling system. Head gasket or cracked head are the most likely here.

 

[BogusSVO]

Are you sure it is "pure" white? That is coolat

White with a light blue tint, called blue smoke, is oil.

Since it only smokes at stop lights, and not all the time, and you have oil in the compressor of the turbo.

Check and replace the PVC, and check the turbo oil seal, if both those are ok, then check replace the valve stem seals.

 

[Twoslow]

My 92 Tsi smokes at idle because it has bad valve guides. Yours probably smokes while driving also, you just cant see it because it is defused by the amount of moving air. You can tell if its oil or water by watching it linger. Water vapor will evaporate fairly quickly, while oil smoke will continue to hang around. A quick spin through your local smog check station will confirm that for you also. Its free in OR if you don't pass, so its kind of like a free diagnostic!

 

[campos_racing]

Reason I said that because a buddy of mine had this white smoke and he changed the pcv valve and it fixed it. Not even kidding, saw it with my on eyes

 

[1992 Eagle Talon TSi]

It's shifts great besides 5th and sometimes reverse is tricky. When I have the car apart next week I'll check it out. As for the compression numbers I don't remember exactly. I took it to a shop and they said it checked out fine. I'll try to run it again and get some numbers. I have a crack in my overflow tank so how could I tell if coolant was leaking?

When i had this issue with my 92, couldn't get it into reverse at all unless you messed with for about 10 minutes and fifth was difficult to hit along with fourth, I had to "reset" (adjust them) my shift linkages, probable doable with one person, but a lot easier with two people. There is a probable a thread somewhere on here and the Chilton/Haynes tells you how to do it.

If you have had your transmission out recently aka more than once like me, then it might be time to do it. That and you are "suppose" to do it after each time the tranny is removed.

 

[GCeclipsegst]

Ok, the white is a pure white I'm positive. When I come to a stop it'll blow right past my window and evaporate right after. Im almost positive it's not a head gasket. Wouldn't a bad head gasket show up in a compression test? The car would also lose power right? I'll check the PVC and see if it's faulty.

I've never taken the transmission out of the car, but when I was under the car last week I noticed some type of shifting device was rubbing into my licp. So I grabbed t and moved it and it was really lose. I'll check it out when I put my new intake on it.

 

[BogusSVO]

2 things to check then, one, is your turbo water cooled? if so it may cause the white smoke.

The other is at the TB, there should be a "pre heater" passage, for cold starts on cold days, if this has rotted thu then small amounts of coolat can be sucked into the air inlet tract.

 

[GCeclipsegst]

Its the Garrett T25 turbo, so I believe its both oil and water cooled. I'm not sure what a pre heater passage is. Could you direct me to a link with some info?

 

[JusMX141]

Another question is the car smokes white when I stop at stop lights. It only does it after the car is warm. I already had a compression test and everything looked fine. When I was looking at the turbo it had some oil on the intake side. So maybe a bad turbo seal or something?

Thanks

Valve seals.

 

[cl1ckclack]

So... i finally got my car put back together, and sometimes its smoking white when i start her up. smells just like my car is running rich, which it very may well be. but i was always under the impression that when a car was running rich it would be black smoke??? definitely not oil, and it doesnt smell like coolant either.

 

[BogusSVO]

Are you loosing coolant?

Is the catalitic converter still installed?

 

[eclipsyco]

Man it also could be condensation if the area where you leave has high humidity leves or is cold outside it is nothing to worry about. Did let it fully warm up it still smokes?

 

[JusMX141]

White smoke immediately following startup is normally valve seals leaking, particularly on the exhaust side. The oil will run down the valve stem while the engine is off and as soon as it starts and the oil sees heat from combustion, you get your smoke cloud.