New engine- white exhaust!?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 44
From: Newberg,Oregon,U.S.A.
New engine- white exhaust!?
I just fired up my new engine to breakin the cam @ 2000-2500 R.P.M. and about 15 min. the upper rad hose came off, I must not of had it over the lip :mad , so I shut it down , wiped off anti freeze let it cool and filled rad. and restarted, drove it a little and parked it, checked fluids w/ engine off and let it cool then when I started it a BIG cloud of white smoke came out!!! It went away and I drove the car 3 more times,no smoke till after work nothing but white exhaust , all the way home, rad is low now, I have single exhaust so I cant tell which bank it is comming from, could it be a head gasket or intake?? I know it isn't good anyway :mad
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (stingraynick75)
If the exhaust looks like a fog machine when the engine is running, then your probably looking at a head gasket.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,143
Likes: 0
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (stingraynick75)
"White Smoke" is defintely water - maybe a head gasket or some other area that leaking water ? :crazy:
Of course, since it came from the exhaust - it has to be internal from the engine.... :hat
Of course, since it came from the exhaust - it has to be internal from the engine.... :hat
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (stingraynick75)
Before you rush in there, here are is something to consider. Many times when engines are replaced, coolant gets in the exhaust system. It is either because the old engine had a head gasket out, or the heads were removed and coolant ran into the pipes, etc. So you install the new engine, fire it up, and after it gets hot (the exhaust and muffler) it starts to smoke/steam and the first reaction is "WHOA, my new engine's screwed!" Soooo, make sure before you tear into it that it is actually hurt. If it really is using lots of coolant, warm it up to pressurize the cooling system, shut it down and pull the plugs. It may show right on the plug, or it will shoot out the spark plug hole when you crank it over. Either way, it won't hurt to take your time.
Hans
Hans
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (VettePower)
I vote for intake.
If it were the head gasket ther would be water in the clyinders and the engine would hydrolock...
check the clyinders for water, then pull the intake...
If it were the head gasket ther would be water in the clyinders and the engine would hydrolock...
check the clyinders for water, then pull the intake...
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 49
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From: San Diego CA
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (stingraynick75)
easy way to tell if you have a leak in your head gasket is to take off the radiator cap and hold your hand over the opening while the engine is running. if you feel pressure blow out it could be a leak from one or more of the cylinders. of course pressure blown out the radiator also means water pulled into the cylinders before the compression stroke.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 1999
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From: waller texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (VettePower)
How hot was the engine when you shut it down? Headgasket shouldnt blow unless engine got very hot or coolant wasn't flowing.Quite often when radiator is refilled the block can have an air pocket and not let coolant flow.Best to refill block with t stat out that way block gets full.I would refill radiator and run it again to check if still losing coolant.I f not still losing coolant then it maybe just from left over fluids in exhaust system burning off.You can pressure test the radiator and see if getting pressure in radiator.I f pressure goes above 16 lbs then you have a real problem.Normaly you will see raise in pressure real quick.Also I would drop the pan drain plug and see if any water in oil.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 326
Likes: 44
From: Newberg,Oregon,U.S.A.
Re: New engine- white exhaust!? (427V8)
Thanx for all the input, I didn't sleep well last night :sleep: But I was thinking about my used performer intake I installed, the right side rear had a uneven surface about .01" I filled it down fairly even ( I have been a machinist for 20 yrs) thinking the gasket would take up the rest :smash: I know that sounds bubaish but in my mind it sounded good, I will check the rad. pressure first the plugs on that side are NOT easy to get at. I'am hopping it's the intake!!
