white smoke after new head install
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
white smoke after new head install
I have a 2002 supercharged Z06 and one of the factory springs broke, therefore I took both heads off and sent to head shop to have heads rebuilt and replaced springs with a dual spring kit. Now after installing new heads when I first crank it up white smoke comes from exhaust and then goes away, I also notice it when I stop sometimes and take off at redlights. Strong smell of fuel inside cab also. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Maybe need retuning? Gasket leak?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,021
Likes: 727
I have a 2002 supercharged Z06 and one of the factory springs broke, therefore I took both heads off and sent to head shop to have heads rebuilt and replaced springs with a dual spring kit. Now after installing new heads when I first crank it up white smoke comes from exhaust and then goes away, I also notice it when I stop sometimes and take off at redlights. Strong smell of fuel inside cab also. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Maybe need retuning? Gasket leak?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 18
From: Panhandle FL
Have somebody else start the car so you can smell the smoke. If it was oil it would be blue.
Gas is usually white. Check your dipstick and make sure the oil looks good. Sometimes a leaky head gasket will make your oil look like a milkshake.
Gas is usually white. Check your dipstick and make sure the oil looks good. Sometimes a leaky head gasket will make your oil look like a milkshake.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 399
From: Boise, ID
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
White smoke is coolant I would make sure you know what color the smoke is definitively. If it is white could be that the heads were not torqued down correctly or in proper sequence. Could also be due to the deck and head surfaces not be flat enough for a good seal under pressure. If the smoke is only at startup and is blue like others said it's likely a valve seal. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I agree with most of the above, especially the coolant. Cooling system pressure check should be performed immediately.
Wrong or incorrectly installed head gasket??
Wrong or incorrectly installed head gasket??
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