Lots O' white smoke

[TomInOregon]

1987 GL-10 sedan EA82T 5 speed D/R locking center diff. ~155,000 miles. Car was running great and when I exited the highway, when I stopped on the off-ramp I was surrounded by white smoke. I smelled antifreeze very strongly, so I parked it. My mechanic didn't want to touch it. He said that when EA82Ts blow headgaskets, they usually warp the heads. Anyway, I drove it home ~30 miles, making sure there was coolant in the radiator the whole way. The temp gauge never got up to even halfway the whole time. The car sat for 6 months or so and I started it up. Still had the white smoke, but now had oil in the exhaust as well. Chalked it up to sitting too long. Started it up again today and still have the white smoke, but the smoke reeks of gasoline and I don't smell coolant anymore. During the whole time, I haven't lost any coolant that I can see, there is no mixing of coolant and oil and it seems to run fine. The impression I had today was that it is running extremely rich. What should I be looking at for diagnosis? At first it seemed like a headgasket, but now I'm starting to wonder.

 

Thanks,

Tom

[ryostyle_the_¥akuza]

Do a compression test. I went through all types of overheat problems, some of the culprits were bad water pump, bad bypass valve, bad thermostat, bad radiator, bad radiator hose, bad water hose to turbo, theres also a hose that goes from the thermostat housing to under the intake manifold, well it blew up.....lol. Slight cuts in a hose can do horrible things. Just take your time and You'll figure it out.

[daeron]

white smoke indicates the possibility of an intake manifold gasket....

 

 

but thats hearsay. and it doesnt explain gasoline and oil smells, and it also wants a loss of coolant to support it.. but its not unheard of. Its never happened to me though, so like i said.. its "hearsay." I heard, i now say.

 

SOMEone else (who knows more with confidence) should either back me up or shoot me down.. lets see which!

 

but since it wasnt as bad as a headgasket i thought i would throw you a bone of hope

[mikeshoup]

Do a compression test as what's his name said above.

 

Pop the radiator cap with the car running, and look for bubbles coming up through your coolant, that indicates compression being lost through a head gasket.

 

Hopefully, its just as simple as the intake manifold gaskets leaking though.

[bgd73]

Do a compression test as what's his name said above.

 

Pop the radiator cap with the car running, and look for bubbles coming up through your coolant, that indicates compression being lost through a head gasket.

 

Hopefully, its just as simple as the intake manifold gaskets leaking though.

 

Compression test no doubt, don't prejudice the bubbles, there are many ways to get them. A system low on fluid to full, can burp those for a few minutes. To get gas oil and antifreeze all in one place is definately to think gaskets first. It could be worse than gaskets, but your engine is still running- assume gaskets at least.

I had an ea82 recover an episode like yours entirely, not as extreme as alot of smoke, but similar- never replaced anything. I assumed something liked to stay "wet" and checked fluid more often.I thought the engine was stronger than ever after that.

[NorthWet]

A scenario (not necessarily reality/truth, but a possibility) for the gas and oil smell is an EGO (O2) sensor that has been contaminated/affected by coolant and/or sitting. It is not uncommon for water to cause the EGO sensor to not function (I have gotten CEL to light up) causing the ECU to either misread or go open loop, either of which could casue mixture to go too rich. Similar can happen to the cats, allowing hydrocarbons to pass through.

 

Is the "white smoke" water vapor (dissipates a few feet away from tailpipe or car) or is it smoke (persists until diluted by air)? You said it was a 5-speed so I am assuming it really is water vapor. (ATF can produce white smoke, but few other things will.)

 

White smoke on start-up could be residual from main event or from just condensation from sitting.

 

I agree with the compression testing; a leakdown test would probably be better. Was there any indication of overheating at the original event? The EA82T heads may warp a little, but usually cleaned up by a resurface. Main concern is cracking in the exhust port, which is common failure. Cracks between the valve seats is common and acceptable if not too deep.

[TomInOregon]

This is definitely smoke that persists until dissipated by air. The Intake gasket was changed about 1 year prior to this occurring. Previous symptoms were a loss of coolant with no smoke and sluggish running when under a load (up hills). After the intake gasket was changed, it ran great again.

There are no bubbles in the coolant that I noticed, but as previously mentioned, that's not conclusive. I will see if I can get it down to the nearest mechanic for a compression and leakdown test. Thanks for the help!

 

Tom

[GeneralDisorder]

I've had aftermarket intake gaskets fail catostrophically. The dealer ones are metal and very strong, while aftermarket ones are cardboard, and once they soak up some coolant often they will just blow right out the side, and create a HUGE coolant leak. I had one go after lasting about 9 months. Same situation - started overheating, and a gigantic cloud of smoke from both the tailpipe and engine bay.

 

The heads do warp if overheated, but that's an easy fix - just have them milled straight again. Usually costs about $30 per head. I really don't know what your mechanics problem is. Besides if he really new his stuff, he would have at least offered to check those manifold gaskets.

 

GD

[NorthWet]

GD's comment about intake gaskets seems to fit your scenario. HGs tend to blow under power, not so much while decelerating off the freeway. Deceleration will bring high intake vacuum, potentially sucking in a failing intake gasket.

[beataru]

i dont know if anyone said this but... if it was running rich it would be black smoke and also question for you? whats your oil condition? does it smell or feel funny?

[john in KY]

I think your problem is the seals in the turbo are failing.

[beataru]

Ahaaaaa i never thought of that duh! that would make a lot of sence

[GeneralDisorder]

I think your problem is the seals in the turbo are failing.

 

And what evidence do you have to sugest that? That's not a terribly common failure, and usually when the turbo's go you start burning oil as well.

 

It *could* be a lot of things. But being the intake gaskets were recently replaced makes them suspect. Cheap gaskets, and improper torque are very common with the intake gaskets.

 

GD