HELP!! LOTS OF SMOKE Coming from my exhaust

[rycepicker]

So this happened overnight. My car was quite alright one day and then the next, it smoked to high hell.... all the time while im idling now, and at low rpms, it shoots smoke out of my exhaust tail pipe.... i can't figure it out. At first it was burning oil, so then I added oil, now it no longer is and smoke is still coming out like crazy from my tail pipes. Anyone have any advice to offer? Thanks, just thought I'd add its a 91 240 sx coupe with an sr20det redtop if that helps

~Tim

[Jung918]

Smoke coming from the tailpipe is not good news, but does not necessarily mean the engine needs rebuilding. First, you need to determine what color of smoke is coming from the tailpipe. The three most common colors of smoke that can be emitted from the engine and billow from the tailpipe are as follows:

White smoke: White smoke is caused by water and or antifreeze entering the cylinder,and the engine trying to burn it with the fuel. The white smoke is steam. There are special gaskets (head gaskets are the primary gaskets) that keep the antifreeze from entering the cylinder area. The cylinder is where the fuel and air mixture are being compressed and burned. Any amount of antifreeze that enters this area will produce a white steam that will be present at the tailpipe area.

If white smoke is present, check to see if the proper amount of antifreeze is inside the radiator and the overflow bottle. Also check to see if antifreeze has contaminated the engine oil. You can look at the engine oil dipstick, or look at the under side of the engine oil filler cap. If the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, it will have the appearance of a chocolate milkshake. Do not start the engine if the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, as serious internal engine damage can result.

How did antifreeze get in the oil or cylinder in the first place? The engine probably overheated and a head gasket failed due to excessive heat, thus allowing antifreeze to enter the cylinder (Where it is not meant to be).

Blue Smoke: Blue smoke is caused by engine oil entering the cylinder area and being burned along with the fuel air mixture. As with the white smoke, just a small drop of oil leaking into the cylinder can produce blue smoke out the tailpipe. Blue smoke is more likely in older or higher mileage vehicles than newer cars with fewer miles.

How did the engine oil get inside the cylinder in the first place? The car has many seals, gaskets, and O-rings that are designed to keep the engine oil from entering the cylinder, and one of them has failed. If too much oil leaks into the cylinder and fouls the spark plug, it will cause a misfire (engine miss) in that cylinder, and the spark plug will have to be replaced or cleaned of the oil. Using thicker weight engine oil or an oil additive designed to reduce oil leaks might help reduce the amount of oil leaking into the cylinder.

Black Smoke: Black smoke is caused by excess fuel that has entered the cylinder area and cannot be burned completely. Another term for excess fuel is "running rich." Poor fuel mileage is also a common complaint when black smoke comes out of the tailpipe. Black smoke out the tailpipe is the least cause for alarm. Excess fuel will usually effect engine performance, reduce fuel economy, and produce a fuel odor.

How did the fuel get into the cylinder in the first place? Some of the causes of excess fuel are a carburetor that is out of adjustment, a faulty fuel pump, a leaky fuel injector, or a faulty engine computer or computer sensor. If black smoke is present, check the engine oil as in the white smoke example to make sure excess fuel has not contaminated it. Do not start the engine if a heavy, raw fuel smell can be detected in the engine oil. Call your mechanic and advise him of what you have found.

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/troubleshoot_smoke.htm

[Bud Brown]

yeah, what color smoke?

[rycepicker]

its white .... and really thick...first it smelled like fuel... but after adding oil... it now smells like bbq... also ... my idle is rough...

[Ninjabread]

time to change a headgasket.

[rycepicker]

friend thought i should add that im not losing any power and im not overheating

[los_inc]

once i poured a whole can of seafoam in a friends gas tank
it smoked like hell. maybe someone douche bagged ya
like i did my friend
-los

[Ninjabread]

Originally Posted by rycepicker

friend thought i should add that im not losing any power and im not overheating

Not YET.

My car was smoking mads coolant. Drove fine, beat some civics ( on a closed course, of course).

Then, I boot it to kingston ( 2 hours away) get back, oh noes, car starts overheating, missing.

Time to swap ka's.

[rps13drift]

Do a leakdown test! also check your intercooler pipes for oil! maybe you blew your turbo!

[rycepicker]

turbo is working fine.... from what everyone is telling me... i should replace my head gasket

[rps13drift]

I would realy try and diagnose it properly before jumping into a job like that! It could be something as serious as a headgasket or as stupid as blowby!

[GSX Running]

ur turbo can be fine but ur could of messed up the turbo seals, my car drove fine and made boost easy, but turbo seals were gone

[sliEighty]

do a compression test the easiest way to tell if the hg is blown. you can rent one at an auto parts store or buy one at harbor freight for cheap.

[airsoft]

I suspect head gasket, any bubblies from radiator?

[20 til 3]

i definitely say do a compression test first, it's absurd to just jump to a conclusion that your head gasket is blown because your poring out smoke from your exhaust (on a turbo charged car, duh!). Compression test then take it from there.

I say it's your turbo seals if your only getting smoke at low RPMs. Reason behind this, is pressure isn't built up in the exhaust when idling. Therefor seals start to leak, as time goes on, it will get worse and you'll start eating more oil and smoke insanely more throughout all RPMs. All it takes is about a drop of oil to have smoke plum out your exhaust from the turbo, so right now it could be burning a such a small amount of oil it's unnoticeable via dipstick. Right now it still won't effect your boost that much but the seals are on their first step to deteriorating. (<-- that is of course your head gasket isn't blown)

So definitely start with a compression test then move forward on diagnosing the problem.

[rycepicker]

ok i will do the test ... have a mechanic coming to my house to check on it tomorrow.... hope its not the headgasket -_-

[510skater]

sorry to jump in here with another question but i think it might provide some useful disscussion regarding both our problems...my ka24de also shoots white smoke but only when letting off the gas pedal at high rpms...i did a compression test and everything was even...my coolant and oil looks good whats the next step

[SignalAutodrifter_D]

if your turbo is eating oil would the smoke still be white? and big clouds of it?

[DP_Michelle G]

^^ turbos dont eat oil. you sir have BHG that would also be the reason your burning oil