white smoke on startup means..
#1
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white smoke on startup means..
Hi
Starting about a week ago, my car is having some trouble when i warm it up. Turn the key, it will start then die almost immediatly if i dont hold the rpm's up myself for 10-15 seconds. Also the amount of white smoke coming out has significantly increased since i got the car. it still does stop at one point ( about 5 minutes ) . I dont think the seals are done, but probably the turbo?? What symptoms would there be of a blown turbo other than the smoke?
thank you
Starting about a week ago, my car is having some trouble when i warm it up. Turn the key, it will start then die almost immediatly if i dont hold the rpm's up myself for 10-15 seconds. Also the amount of white smoke coming out has significantly increased since i got the car. it still does stop at one point ( about 5 minutes ) . I dont think the seals are done, but probably the turbo?? What symptoms would there be of a blown turbo other than the smoke?
thank you
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side note : the motor cranks much slower than it did a few weeks ago.. would this have anything to do with the spark plugs having coolant on them? if so, I doubt I'd even have to check the plugs
that would make sense at this point
Also, would replacing the coolant seal constitute a rebuild? how big of a job is that
thank you
that would make sense at this point
Also, would replacing the coolant seal constitute a rebuild? how big of a job is that
thank you
#6
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it starts up really slow regardless of down time btwn starts, whether it be overnight or 20 minutes.
once its warmed up it runs smoothly...
but yes, for the last 3-4 days it has been starting verrrrry slowly
once its warmed up it runs smoothly...
but yes, for the last 3-4 days it has been starting verrrrry slowly
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#8
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check your voltage, you battery could be low, causing your slow starts. just something to look into.
sometimes burning oil can be mistaken for coolant. does the smoke smell sweet? I'd check to see if you have bubbling coolant. does it smoke when you're driving or just at idle? check your TID and see if there's oil in there.
Has your low coolant buzzer been going off?
These are just some ideas to look into before looking into a rebuild.
sometimes burning oil can be mistaken for coolant. does the smoke smell sweet? I'd check to see if you have bubbling coolant. does it smoke when you're driving or just at idle? check your TID and see if there's oil in there.
Has your low coolant buzzer been going off?
These are just some ideas to look into before looking into a rebuild.
#9
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thanks for the info/ tips everyone
The car died last night in parking lot, got it started again by hitting the starter with a hammer, so that answers that question. At this point im sure the coolant seals are the culprit. I check the DP and the inside of it, as well as the 02 sensor were covered in a white residue.
so basically, like all you said, that means rebuild...just what I was dreading
thanks for the help everyone
The car died last night in parking lot, got it started again by hitting the starter with a hammer, so that answers that question. At this point im sure the coolant seals are the culprit. I check the DP and the inside of it, as well as the 02 sensor were covered in a white residue.
so basically, like all you said, that means rebuild...just what I was dreading
thanks for the help everyone
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I know I'm a noob and you guys seem to have this figured out, but could it not be sticky fuel injectors? Unburned fuel smokes white too right? It would also make it hard to start. My old N/A used to flood all the damn time and it got pretty hard to start. It too would blow glorious cloud of white smoke for a while. Just try'n to help.
#12
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Originally Posted by BlackN/A
I know I'm a noob and you guys seem to have this figured out, but could it not be sticky fuel injectors? Unburned fuel smokes white too right? It would also make it hard to start. My old N/A used to flood all the damn time and it got pretty hard to start. It too would blow glorious cloud of white smoke for a while. Just try'n to help.
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White smoke usually only means one thing guys, coolant, there really isn't another alternative, for some reason i thought unburnt fuel was black? I can't remember, but check your overflow tank, you may not be able to smell anything sweet from the tail pipes, the only sure fire way is to get the coolant system pressurized. Make sure the car is warm when you pressurize the system. I too drove around for about 1,000 miles or so on a motor with blown coolant seals wasn't the best time of my life thats for sure, hot starts and emitting smoke screens in the school parking lots were my cars best traits. In my case though i had oil and coolant issue which made the smoke smell disgusting. Good luck, a rebuild can only mean better things for you. (If done correctly..)
Last edited by tjeter; 06-29-06 at 11:14 PM.
#16
Sharp Claws
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a few minutes worth of testing is much better than giving up and saying it needs a $1500+ rebuild, cut people some slack with all the "yup, you need a rebuild!" BS.
the bubble test can sometimes be misleading unless you know how to do the test right, usually there is small amounts of air in the system but not 20 seconds worth of small bubbles or a geyser. obviously though if it is hard starting then there may be coolant being forced into the engine overnight which would easily show on the spark plugs.
some white residue in the exhaust is normal, it should be almost a light tan color at the exhaust ports which is just carbon deposits from the combustion process, if it is plain white and chalky then yes it likely is coolant and would support what we think to be coolant seal failure.
the bubble test can sometimes be misleading unless you know how to do the test right, usually there is small amounts of air in the system but not 20 seconds worth of small bubbles or a geyser. obviously though if it is hard starting then there may be coolant being forced into the engine overnight which would easily show on the spark plugs.
some white residue in the exhaust is normal, it should be almost a light tan color at the exhaust ports which is just carbon deposits from the combustion process, if it is plain white and chalky then yes it likely is coolant and would support what we think to be coolant seal failure.
#17
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thanks for all the info
the inside of the exhaust is pretty much plastered white. I havent smelled the smoke yet, its pouring out everytime i start it, maybe every like 2-3 x i start it
I appreciate the info, but in my case at this point im pretty sure its time for a rebuild. Or very soon at the least, it should run ok long enough for me to save though
thanks again for the info
the inside of the exhaust is pretty much plastered white. I havent smelled the smoke yet, its pouring out everytime i start it, maybe every like 2-3 x i start it
I appreciate the info, but in my case at this point im pretty sure its time for a rebuild. Or very soon at the least, it should run ok long enough for me to save though
thanks again for the info
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i vote pressure test, and i'm not trying to be one of those "Yup, you need a rebuild people", but it sounds like your seals are done if the smoke is just billowing out, this sounds VERY similar to my issue i was having, are you having any hot starting issues?
#20
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I had a similar thing happen with my car. I would start it in the morning and it would smoke bad and wouldn't hold idle untill it wasfully warm and been driven for like 30 min. I took it to the shop and it turned out to be a stuck open injector. replaced that and no more problem.
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