White Smoke!!!!

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Right, I've got tons of white smoke coming from my exhaust. Hard to say whether I'm losing water at the moment coz I'm still trying to get air locks out of the cooling system and have just replaced the cap on the expansion cap coz it was leaking! Now, this morning when I drove 4.5 miles there was no smoke, when I came back there was no smoke, when I went out again about an hour later and drove maybe 5.5miles there was smoke, loads of it. Seems to be worse in 3rd and 4th gears. Can't see any steam or leaks in the engine compartment. Temperature has been sitting just below the point where the fan kicks in since the radiator was changed. Currently only has water in system until I'm convinced any leaks are sorted then I will fill with antifreeze mixture.

My main question is this: is it just that the car needs a good long journey (is 27 miles x 2 every other day long enough?) or am I looking at a head gasket change?

What is included in a Cylinder Head Gasket set?

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

27 miles twice a day is more than enough. Not been raining hard has it?

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Not for a day or two, that was the first thing I thought of coz the same thing happened a couple of weeks ago but at that point I put it down to heavy prolonged rain.

Edit: Also forgot that the heater wasn't very warm when the car was running at just below fan kick in temp.

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

i hardly post in here :-/

white smoke is a sign of unburnt fuel.

either due to incorrect injection pump timing..

or coolent in the cylinders..

basically cooling down the cylinders.

(pump is the one that normally gets buggerd up on the army landroveres)

but i reckons its gasket

edit..

you sure its white?

and not bluey-white..

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Definately pure white and doesn't smell. Also, I've got a diesel.

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

yep gatherd that Smile

and yuor loosing coolent?

i reckon gasket then..and water is cooling down cylinders

or heads gone to pot..

but thats the extream case..

Level 3 User Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 70

was the cylinder head when i had white smoke.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Cooling down the cylinders causing white smoke? Isn't it just steam?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

lol since when is white smoke unburnt petrol or diesel?

Unburnt petrol is black, red diesel is dark reddish tint to it.

Really roger wtf are you on about man? No wonder the army is useless.

Anyway might be the gasket, might be the turbo as well, they can crack.

It didn;t freeze or anythign with just the wate rin it did it?

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

white smoke is burning of vapour..

normally on initial start up,

when diesel seems to ceondesnse into liquid and not burn correctly due to cold engine parts!

either that or some sort of gasket is knackerd letting liquid in, thus also causing vapour to be burnt.

wich is what i was taught!

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

It's not a Turbo (unfortunately) and it's not been cold enough to freeze. Would it be a bad idea then to drive the 27 miles to Inverness tommorrow then? How long will it take to do the gasket myself?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

Well lindsey if its the gasket then I can;t say it woudl be a good idea to drive it.

Dunno how able are you and cn you crack off headbolts, bear in mind the big 18 stone girl that is richard was moanign about tightening them up etc.

If its just the gasket could probably do it in an hour, if your doing it properly i.e head off cleanign it up etc then better part of a day.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Not driving it is a problem, but being able to do it in a day is great coz I need to have it done by Wednesday. As for ability, I have the hugest big torque wrench and a big strong boy and who can help me with the bits that need brute strength!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

your sorted then. But bear in mind he will moan about them being hard etc, I do it when theres a female around in order to get fed.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

LOL. Might have to cook my own dinner then instead of the norm where he cooks it! Laughing

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

New problem! Just phoned to get a quote for the head gasket (and find out if it's in stock) and there are 3 different options, all are different thicknesses!!!! Do I need to take the head off to find out which one I need?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

looking at thre engine the right hand fron corner will have a bit of gasket poking out.

there notches on it.

goes 1,2,3 etyc, clean it up see how many notches there are and get back on the blower.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Cool, cheers Chris. Don't suppose there's any possibility that a knackered CTS and Thermostat could cause the smoke/steam problem??? Confused

Getting them today, will have a look at the head and see how many holes there are in the sticky outy bit, get that ordered!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

not on a diesel no as it has no use for a CTS.

Stat won't be casuing it unless its seized closed and thats caused the head to overheat and blow the gasket.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Why does it have a CTS if it doesn't need it?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

it doesn;t, you are more than likely lookign at the temp gauge/light sender unit.

CTS is for efi.