hi my friend has a 85 rex that his father bought and they have been having problems with the car sence day one right now at idle the car blows white smoke out the exhaust like crazy but not one the engine is at speed also the car has a hard time staying running while in gear any ideas?

 

White Smoke = Steam = Water or Coolant
Blue Smoke = Burning oil
Black Smoke = Too rich of a fuel mixture

Hope that helps!

Jeff

 

thanks if you say white smoke is steam or coolant what could be wrong blown seal someplace on the engine?

 

My guess would be a leaky waterjacket seal, or coolant o-ring... Just my guess though, you may want to wait for some second and third opinions. I would say his car is transforming into an expensive, starter-driven water pump

 

If you're lucky it's just a blown seal between the intake manifold and block. That's were I'd check first. If one of the internal seals have blown then you're looking at an engine rebuild.

 

thanks i will talk to my friend and see if we can figure out which one it is his father is thinking of giving up on the car and selling if for a couple hundred bucks i might take it

 

The best way I can think of to differentiate between the blown water jacket or the intake manifold seal is to have the radiator cap off and the engine cold. Crank it and see if bubbles come from the radiator. (Helps to have a friend.) Or see if the coolant smells like fuel or exhaust.

If yes to either, It's gonna need a rebuild.

If no, just deal with the intake.

If you really wanna be the hit at your next party, park it inside and start some techno music. Free smoke machine and everyone gets stoned off the fumes for free too.