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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: Murdul on September 04, 2012, 12:21:23 AM

Title: White Smoke from Tail Pipe
Post by: Murdul on September 04, 2012, 12:21:23 AM

About two weeks ago my car overheated due to a broken altenator/power steering belt I didn't notice on the interstate.  Wasn't buried in the red, but pretty close.  I replaced the belt then drove for two weeks and not one issue, I drive 70 miles a day all interstate.  Friday i notice a serious lag in power from 1000 - 2500 rpm and significant amounts of white smoke in my rear view mirror.  I suspect head gasket, cracked head, etc.  I performed a compression test, throttle not down:

1 - 185 psi
2 - 185 psi
3 - 210 psi
4 - 210 psi

My question is why did it take 2 weeks for white smoke to come out of my tailpipe?  Is the over heating not my problem?  Or do I just need to pull the head and let somone tell me whats wrong with it?

Thanks ahead, love this forum I always reference here.

Title: White Smoke from Tail Pipe
Post by: Geoff on September 04, 2012, 07:11:28 AM

sometimes, when the head cracks, its a very tiny one at first.   it takes a few heat cycles for it to get big enough to start blowing smoke.    You should remove the head and get it crack tested at a machine shop.   What happens is you dont see how bad it overheats, because once some coolant is lost,  then the temp sensor stops working too.   been there,  cracked that.
                                                                   Geoff

Title: White Smoke from Tail Pipe
Post by: Murdul on September 04, 2012, 12:49:52 PM

Thanks Geoff.

My compression numbers look decent.  The first two are more than 10% lower than the other two.  Does this give anyone an idea if the crack is in the first two cylinders, or could it just be wear associated?

EDIT: Forgot to mention there is a very loud clicking sound when the car was running on my way home when I saw the white smoke.

Title: White Smoke from Tail Pipe
Post by: Warsteiner on September 04, 2012, 08:29:35 PM

I have also had first hand experience with this....Check the head bolt holes.

Cheers,
~Ralph

Title: White Smoke from Tail Pipe
Post by: alim_h on September 05, 2012, 05:27:28 PM

My loud clicking noise was the timing chain flopping around. Not sure how that relates to the white smoke, but for what it's worth.