cold running white smoke...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
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cold running white smoke...
It's absolutely coolant, disgustingly sweet smelling and lots of it... but the oil isn't milky, and it only smokes when it's cold out (freezing) when it's warm there's no evidence of the problem, so I'm curious as to your guy's ideas as to what it could be... outside of things like the usual head gasket etc. None of the weird post smog systems have anything to do with coolant do they?
Last edited by DBez93; Feb 10, 2014 at 07:00 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
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From: New York
More info year and things . A clip of the exhaust when cold would be cool 2 .
Cold pipes on all cars push white out of them it is steam from condensation. Are you experiencing a loss of coolant ?
Cold pipes on all cars push white out of them it is steam from condensation. Are you experiencing a loss of coolant ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
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It's a 1978 l82 anniversary edition... it smokes constantly even after its warmed up, I'm new to the forum, so how would I go about uploading a video? And I'll check the coolant level tomorrow morning to see where I'm at.. I appreciate your response
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York
Usually the first item to cause smoke on a older sbc is the valve stem seals. Is the smoke blue tinged at all ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
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It might be the faintest blue, but there's discharge from the exhaust onto the pavement that smells sweet like coolant, I'll try to figure out how to upload and get a video here tomorrow when there's light out
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Forth Worth TX
On the assumption that you are actually losing coolant, you may have a very slight crack in a head gasket or head that is allowing coolant into one of the cylinders. Your oil will not look milky.
If you are loosing coolant, pull the spark plugs and have a look at them. It should be obvious which one is different from the others/has coolant on it.
If you are loosing coolant, pull the spark plugs and have a look at them. It should be obvious which one is different from the others/has coolant on it.
Last edited by Revi; Feb 11, 2014 at 05:45 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
If it is continuous...even 'smoking' after it has fully warmed up...you've likely blown a head gasket. It could be a minor tear between a cylinder and a coolant passage; but that will make a LOT of white steam (not really smoke, as no oil will be in it). Change the bad head gasket and all will be OK. (Check plugs to find out which side it's on.)
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
Your burning anti freeze with white smoke because the cylinder is getting coolant .......try this simple test and remove the radiator cap to the first notch taking pressure off......I suspect you have a blown head gasket and with no pressure the cylinders affected should clean up to a degree and should actually cool down and be drivable in an emergency
Blue smoke is oil.....not coolant.......
Blue smoke is oil.....not coolant.......
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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On the assumption that you are actually loosing coolant, you may have a very slight crack in a head gasket or head that is allowing coolant into one of the cylinders. Your oil will not look milky.
If you are loosing coolant, pull the spark plugs and have a look at them. It should be obvious which one is different from the others/has coolant on it.
If you are loosing coolant, pull the spark plugs and have a look at them. It should be obvious which one is different from the others/has coolant on it.
No 2 leaks are alike. Just because the head gasket isn't compromised such that coolant is contaminating the oil doesn't mean it isn't getting into a cylinder.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Thank you all so much for your input, the coolant level is fine.. maybe just a little low but that red convertible is exactly what I'm having, it doesn't stop after its warmed up to operating temperature... it's going to be 60 tomorrow so I'll test it out and see how it looks... I'm active duty air force and about to pcs, it's going on a trailer either way, but I'd be at peace knowing I won't have to tear apart the top end
Thread Starter
Instructor
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So I held a white paper towel to it and it was clear, just the amount of vapor is disconcerting, it's also missing in one of the cylinders, but I have plugs ready to go... I feel like an idiot, but thanks for all the help and its a pleasure to be a new member to the forum
Team Owner
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So I held a white paper towel to it and it was clear, just the amount of vapor is disconcerting, it's also missing in one of the cylinders, but I have plugs ready to go... I feel like an idiot, but thanks for all the help and its a pleasure to be a new member to the forum
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
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:/ dang, I was hoping that I was just wrong about it, its gonna warm up soon, and this has been sudden, mind you its never overheated and I haven't driven like a jack*ss since I got the car... if I have to do the gaskets it would be a good time to replace valve seals too... any opinions on those testers for the coolant system that turns blue to yellow if it gets co exposure?
Team Owner
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From: Ontario
The boiling point of ethylene glycol is 387*F. It will make it through the exhaust system easily at cold startup if it is present. And it should not be.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,395
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From: Indiana
So I held a white paper towel to it and it was clear, just the amount of vapor is disconcerting, it's also missing in one of the cylinders, but I have plugs ready to go... I feel like an idiot, but thanks for all the help and its a pleasure to be a new member to the forum
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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I'm not trying to call you out. But I have seen a LOT of engines ingesting coolant, and I've NEVER seen one spitting anything out the tailpipe other team pure white water vapor. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but I would think that if you actually have so much coolant moving through the engine that you're still seeing green dye out of the tailpipe then that vehicle is not driveable, and is probably 2 steps away from hydrolocking itself.
Last edited by wcsinx; Feb 11, 2014 at 05:54 PM.