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white smoke when I popped my hood, Help

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Old 06-01-08, 02:15 PM
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white smoke when I popped my hood, Help

I havent driven my car in a while , about maby 1 month, then i drove to work today, and when I got there, I popped my hood to check things out, and there was a descent amout of white smoke coming from the turbo area/ exhaust manifold. The car wasnt overheating at all and it wasnt leaking coolant. Does anyone know what this might be? I have a SERIOUS oil leak coming from my oil pan , could that have leaked onto the exhaust manifold causing the smoke, or something else?
Old 06-01-08, 03:53 PM
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probably leaking something on the turbos. get a flashlight and crawl around until you find it.
Old 06-01-08, 05:01 PM
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usually white smoke is water/coolant. Blue grey or black smoke is either oil or fuel.
Old 06-01-08, 08:28 PM
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I had a similar problem and I found the oil feed line copper gaskets where leaking. Get under the car and see if the turbo cartrideges/bodys are wet with oil
Old 06-02-08, 12:08 AM
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I had the same exact issue, ended up being one (or both) of the turbo coolant lines. I just replaced them both and called it a day, problem solved! From what I gathered when I had this problem it is very common and a lot of people replace those lines at the beginning of every summer so it doesn't become an inconvenience during peak driving times!
Old 06-02-08, 01:20 AM
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Originally Posted by JHew84
I had the same exact issue, ended up being one (or both) of the turbo coolant lines. I just replaced them both and called it a day, problem solved! From what I gathered when I had this problem it is very common and a lot of people replace those lines at the beginning of every summer so it doesn't become an inconvenience during peak driving times!

Almost guarantee that's the problem.

Don't drive it till you fix it!
Old 06-02-08, 08:58 PM
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Ive been driving latley and popping the hood everywhere I go after driving, and I havent noticed anymore white smoke. I dont think its the turbo coolant lines because I already had MASSIVE coolant leak, and had to replace the turbo coolant hoses, and that fixed the leak. I havent been leaking any coolant, but I will def keep an eye on it, thanks
Old 06-02-08, 11:04 PM
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could be oil feed/return lines. white smoke can also be caused by oil on the manifold. I've seen it more times than I care to count.
Old 06-03-08, 10:12 AM
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How interesting, I had the same problem , however I sprayed this Engine Gunk off stuff around the bottom and some of it must have gotten on the exhaust manifold, but it's all taken care of now. I never had an oil line issue yet. but knock on wood.
Old 06-03-08, 12:38 PM
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Can you notice the coolant smell. Reason I ask is I was smelling that for a while but didn't think anything of it because I could not see coolant anywhere. Turns out it was one of the coolant lines for the twins but every time it would leak the heat would evaporate it.

I took the car out Saturday to try out the new clutch I just installed and got a huge amount of white smoke coming out from my hood, loosing massive amount of coolant so I quickly turned around and got back home.

Closer inspection showed one of the coolant hoses ballooned to about 2-3 times its normal size and split down the entire length of the hose. Couldn't notice it though because the air pump and intakes block the view of this hose. Seriously something to check out and is a easy fix after you get the hoses.
Old 08-07-08, 03:05 AM
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I know im late, but I actually found out what the problem is... The reason why I get white smoke from under the hood ocasionally, is because I have an oil leak from either my oil feed lines ( turbo side), and/or oil is leaking from the oil pan gasket, and I saw it actually burning itself up on the primary catalytic conveter, causing the smoke.


There was no coolant smell or any leaks at that time. HOWEVER 2 months later (yesterday), I DID smell coolant when I was driving home and I saw a little smoke coming from the turbo's, and directly below that, there was coolant leaking out. I have basically 2 diffferent problems causing smoke in the same area of the engine compartment. I did notice my oil feed line leaking oil.. So this oil leak problem will be fixed at the same time im replacing the turbo coolant hoses, thanks for the help
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