White Smoke, Engine or Turbo? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

dongoesby · 11-20-2009, 11:55 PM

So at the very same time I fixed my clutch problem,another problem came up, WHITE SMOKE!!

This morning I fired up the engine as usual. I stood outside and watched the normal cold engine white smoke to clear. All of a sudden, the exhaust threw a thick heavy dense white smoke, I know instantly it's coolant judging by the amount of smoke. For another 2~3 minutes, the smoke becomes thinner but remained in a large amount. It didn't stop until I turn off the enginer after another 5 mins. I found the coolant resevior had a 1/6 tank (about 1/4 from max line to bottom) sucked out.

So later afternoon, after some research, I went back to the car thinking to perform a compression test. funny thing, the white smoke is GONE!! There was still the white smoke you get from a cold engine, but as soon as the engine warms up, they just disappeared! I went for a 10 mins drive and everything seems normal, etg, boost and oil pressure gauges. The coolant resevior level didn't change and everything seems normal.

Is that a sign telling me that the headgasket, valve stem, piston rings, turbo, etc are about to give out?

anyways, here is the compression test w/ warm engine.
143-142-142-145

Stokish s14 sr20 (have new injector rings, so it is not injector)

HalveBlue · 11-21-2009, 07:58 AM

Compression numbers seem decent.

I'd guess that your turbo is the culprit.

Pressure test/Dye test your coolant system and see what happens.

stunnaben · 11-21-2009, 08:52 AM

Coolant dropped to 1/6 of a tank, white smoke.... That's def a headgasket. some how coolant is finding it's way into your engine. I bleaw a headgasket, few years back and it's easy to tell, Thick white smoke man, like a smoke screan.

VNG704 · 11-21-2009, 09:18 AM

check for oil/coolant mixture under oil cap and in radiator, if yes then definately the hg.

dongoesby · 11-21-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VNG704

check for oil/coolant mixture under oil cap and in radiator, if yes then definately the hg.

coolant is still green and found no bubble while engine is running.

drove it more last night, there is no white smoke at idle or under decel, and the coolant remained unchanged. Am I safe to drive it for a week? By then I would have time to bring it to a shop and perform some tests.

dongoesby · 02-10-2010, 09:24 PM

Solution found

did a coolant pressure test, the system holds consistent pressure. Such a great relief! phew~ I also changed all my braided turbo coolant hose gaskets/rings from copper to aluminum.

The white smoke was due to a bad cat....
I changed out the cat with a good one from my KA exhaust, and the dense white smoke in every cold morning is gone completely! The lose of coolant was caused by leakage within the copper gaskets/rings of new braided turbo hoses.

Pleadingbark · 02-11-2010, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dongoesby

Solution found

did a coolant pressure test, the system holds consistent pressure. Such a great relief! phew~ I also changed all my braided turbo coolant hose gaskets/rings from copper to aluminum.

The white smoke was due to a bad cat....
I changed out the cat with a good one from my KA exhaust, and the dense white smoke in every cold morning is gone completely! The lose of coolant was caused by leakage within the copper gaskets/rings of new braided turbo hoses.

Glad it was something easy!

11-20-2009, 11:55 PM	#1
dongoesby Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco Age: 38 Posts: 756 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	White Smoke, Engine or Turbo? So at the very same time I fixed my clutch problem,another problem came up, WHITE SMOKE!! This morning I fired up the engine as usual. I stood outside and watched the normal cold engine white smoke to clear. All of a sudden, the exhaust threw a thick heavy dense white smoke, I know instantly it's coolant judging by the amount of smoke. For another 2~3 minutes, the smoke becomes thinner but remained in a large amount. It didn't stop until I turn off the enginer after another 5 mins. I found the coolant resevior had a 1/6 tank (about 1/4 from max line to bottom) sucked out. So later afternoon, after some research, I went back to the car thinking to perform a compression test. funny thing, the white smoke is GONE!! There was still the white smoke you get from a cold engine, but as soon as the engine warms up, they just disappeared! I went for a 10 mins drive and everything seems normal, etg, boost and oil pressure gauges. The coolant resevior level didn't change and everything seems normal. Is that a sign telling me that the headgasket, valve stem, piston rings, turbo, etc are about to give out? anyways, here is the compression test w/ warm engine. 143-142-142-145 Stokish s14 sr20 (have new injector rings, so it is not injector) Last edited by dongoesby; 11-21-2009 at 12:34 AM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-21-2009, 07:58 AM	#2
HalveBlue Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: I'm somewhere where I don't know where I am! Posts: 1,549 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Compression numbers seem decent. I'd guess that your turbo is the culprit. Pressure test/Dye test your coolant system and see what happens.

11-21-2009, 08:52 AM	#3
stunnaben Zilvia Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston, TX Age: 36 Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Coolant dropped to 1/6 of a tank, white smoke.... That's def a headgasket. some how coolant is finding it's way into your engine. I bleaw a headgasket, few years back and it's easy to tell, Thick white smoke man, like a smoke screan.

11-21-2009, 09:18 AM	#4
VNG704 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,575 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	check for oil/coolant mixture under oil cap and in radiator, if yes then definately the hg.

02-10-2010, 09:24 PM	#6
dongoesby Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco Age: 38 Posts: 756 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	Solution found did a coolant pressure test, the system holds consistent pressure. Such a great relief! phew~ I also changed all my braided turbo coolant hose gaskets/rings from copper to aluminum. The white smoke was due to a bad cat.... I changed out the cat with a good one from my KA exhaust, and the dense white smoke in every cold morning is gone completely! The lose of coolant was caused by leakage within the copper gaskets/rings of new braided turbo hoses.