Question about white smoke??
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
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Re: Question about white smoke?? (88_vette)
I'm not sure about that; I would think lean would mean no smoke.
If you get it on a cold start it's likely just condensate; on a warm engine it's likely coolant.
Is coolant level dropping? What do the plugs look like; they would show up a lean condition too.
If you get it on a cold start it's likely just condensate; on a warm engine it's likely coolant.
Is coolant level dropping? What do the plugs look like; they would show up a lean condition too.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Gloucester Va
Re: Question about white smoke?? (65Z01)
I seem to be getting white smoke out the back I can't see it but been told by family and friends. It's not over heating, and running great. The antifreeze doesn't seem to be going down. I just put a head gasket and such on. On the first day or so of driving I was getting the low coolant light. I added to the over flow take and it did infact pull in antifreeze from the tank and I've not had any low coolant light in two days/100+ miles. My next guess is possible tranny fluid leaking onto exhaust.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Re: Question about white smoke?? (88_vette)
Is it during normal operation? Like when the engine is already hot?
White smoke on cold mornings is quite normal, condensation in the exhaust.
White smoke can also come from burnt tranny fluid and can spew from underneath the car. But if your fluid is red, thats not the problem.
White smoke on cold mornings is quite normal, condensation in the exhaust.
White smoke can also come from burnt tranny fluid and can spew from underneath the car. But if your fluid is red, thats not the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Question about white smoke?? (88_vette)
I think ATF on the exhaust would be like motor oil...blue smoke. That's been my plague for a while now (the oil).
I would just monitor coolant level for a while to get a better idea of what's happening. If she holds don't worry about it.
I would just monitor coolant level for a while to get a better idea of what's happening. If she holds don't worry about it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: Question about white smoke?? (65Z01)
I think ATF on the exhaust would be like motor oil...blue smoke.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,722
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From: Gloucester Va
Re: Question about white smoke?? (vader86)
Thanks guys. I'll have to do just that. Keep an eye on the coolant level and go from there.
Everyone keeps bringing up cool days. It's been abit cool here. Around 50* with some clouds and lots of wind. I put a 180* t-stat in this time around because I felt like in the past the engine wasn't getting hot enough to really make good cumbustion with the 160*. My temp reading in the car is about 20* higher than what the temp reading is on the laptop. I use datamaster. The temp sensor that is on the front of the intake reads 174*-189*. It doesn't go above that. It's pretty close because right around that temp reading I can feel the upper rad. hose get warm. The sensor for the guage will read 199-202. It's a new sensor, and the old one did the same. I was thinking that this sensor being so close to the headers and they get so hot that it maybe radiant heat effecting the sensor?
The smoke is there even after warm, however could the lower temp t-stat and cool weather keep the car from really getting warm enough?
I have a heated O2 and it still takes awhile for the closed loop to kick in.
engine spec-------383,AFR 190CC heads,mini-ram, 219 cam (had SR), LPE long tube headers, ad lots more....
Everyone keeps bringing up cool days. It's been abit cool here. Around 50* with some clouds and lots of wind. I put a 180* t-stat in this time around because I felt like in the past the engine wasn't getting hot enough to really make good cumbustion with the 160*. My temp reading in the car is about 20* higher than what the temp reading is on the laptop. I use datamaster. The temp sensor that is on the front of the intake reads 174*-189*. It doesn't go above that. It's pretty close because right around that temp reading I can feel the upper rad. hose get warm. The sensor for the guage will read 199-202. It's a new sensor, and the old one did the same. I was thinking that this sensor being so close to the headers and they get so hot that it maybe radiant heat effecting the sensor?
The smoke is there even after warm, however could the lower temp t-stat and cool weather keep the car from really getting warm enough?
I have a heated O2 and it still takes awhile for the closed loop to kick in.
engine spec-------383,AFR 190CC heads,mini-ram, 219 cam (had SR), LPE long tube headers, ad lots more....
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
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Re: Question about white smoke?? (88_vette)
You mentioned you had just changed your head gasket. My first thought knowing that, is coolant leak. It's doubtful you have any cracks. I'm not certain which engine you have, and my computer is so slow, I don't want to go back and look again. I haven't changed the head gaskets on my LT1...but I know there is at least one bolt that requires sealant on the threads to keep it from leaking into the cylinders. Did you do that? Did you torgue it down in sequence.?
Before you tear it back down, you can retorgue the head bolts in sequence. Unless you used new head bolts, you may be getting some stretch and retorguing might cure your problem.
If none of this works and if it is in fact a coolant leak (sorry, but I think so)...DO NOT WAIT FOR THE COOLANT LEVEL TO DROP. Coolant can ruin an engine. Better fix it now.
Good luck.
Before you tear it back down, you can retorgue the head bolts in sequence. Unless you used new head bolts, you may be getting some stretch and retorguing might cure your problem.
If none of this works and if it is in fact a coolant leak (sorry, but I think so)...DO NOT WAIT FOR THE COOLANT LEVEL TO DROP. Coolant can ruin an engine. Better fix it now.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,722
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From: Gloucester Va
Re: Question about white smoke?? (88_vette)
Counldn't wait until Wed. Let the car warm up and reved it up while watching the exhaust. In Park, with no load mind u. No smoke. :confused:
I took it out tonight and waited at a red light for some cars to come up behind me. This way if there was any smoke I would hope to see them in the head light beams. I could last night. Tonight i had no sign of smoke.
Upon thinking about possible causes I remebered that I put a ton of antiseize on the exhaust Y pipe to headers. I think this still burning off, as the car still had a slight smell to it like a breaken of new parts. I also painted the exhaust black, so I"m thinking maybe some of the paint was still burning in.
I took it out tonight and waited at a red light for some cars to come up behind me. This way if there was any smoke I would hope to see them in the head light beams. I could last night. Tonight i had no sign of smoke.
Upon thinking about possible causes I remebered that I put a ton of antiseize on the exhaust Y pipe to headers. I think this still burning off, as the car still had a slight smell to it like a breaken of new parts. I also painted the exhaust black, so I"m thinking maybe some of the paint was still burning in.