white smoke... oh boy..

[toomey200]

i have a 95 talon tsi awd with a cat back exhaust and intake and it smokes quite a bit just white smoke... what could that be? either the head gasket or ??? any suggestions? (i have no CEL on, not sure if that will help in your responses) thanks nick

 

[Lunch_Box]

White is coolant. I woud do a compression test and see what numbers you come up with.

 

[diablos991]

I would guess head gasket. Possibly oil cooler leaking coolant into your oil.
Things to check for: Sweet smell to the smoke and coolant and oil mixing. Those would indicate a faulty head gasket.

I would do as stated and perform a compression test. Update us with the numbers and we will go from there.

Some information as to when it is smoking would be helpful as well.

 

[toomey200]

i changed the oil and it was very dark and there was NO coolant in it. i will go do a compression test and update you with the numbers. thanks

 

[diablos991]

Check your coolant overflow bottle for oil as well.

 

[toomey200]

i checked in the coolant over flow container and it seems to be a little dark. like there may me a little oil in there becuase it def looks much darker then just water and aintfreeze mixed...

 

[diablos991]

It could be. Do the compression test and let us know the numbers.

 

[MrBoxx]

Check your turbo for shaft play. It has been several members' experience, including mine, that a blown turbo or failing turbo seals will sometimes cause oil to leak into the lower intercooler pipe and/or the O2 sensor housing and will cause white-gray smoke to come out of the exhaust. This usually happens after shifting, but in severe cases of turbo failure, can happen 100% of the time. When does your car smoke? What conditions cause it?

The procedure: Pull off your intake tube. Stick your fingers into the compressor inlet and grab the compressor wheel nut. Try to wiggle it up and down, side to side, and in and out. A very very small amount of play side to side/up and down is okay; the turbo uses oil as a bearing and needs a little space. In and out play, however, is indicative of a failing turbo. After checking the turbo for shaft play, pull off the lower intercooler pipe and look for oil pooling in it. We're not talking a smear on the wall of the pipe here; we mean half a quart or so.

I usually recommend doing this before a compression test because it only takes five minutes to check for shaft play.

 

[toomey200]

mrboxx thanks for the help ill check all your tips in the moring. it really only smokes if i start the car up and it sits running for a minute or so and then as soon as i let off the gas wen i shift alot pours out. thanks for the help. havent been albe to get ahold of a compression tester yet but once i do and perform your tests i will let you kno asap. thanks again