White Smoke at idle - new head, new pcv, etc.

Post by **ojdorson** » 30 May 2011, 16:52

After some driving, I'll see white smoke out of the tailpipe when the car sits idling for a while. Today, for instance, after getting some groceries, the car started smoking while parked by my side door while I was taking in the groceries - about 5 minutes.

I've read that it's usually valve stem seals, but I've got a new head (November) from RSI in Portland and I put on all new PCV parts at that time. When I had the IC pipes off, I noticed minimal oil in them and recently washed out the intercooler when I replaced the radiator. I'm running Mobil 1 10w30 High Mileage.

What else could cause this? What else should I change to get rid of the smoke?

Post by **misha** » 30 May 2011, 17:16

White smoke=Bad Head gasket

Bad Valve stem seals=Blue smoke

Post by **ojdorson** » 30 May 2011, 17:44

Well, it's whitish with a blue tinge. It's smells more like oil than coolant (but it's not a strong odor either way) and I'm not losing any measurable coolant since replacing the radiator.

Also, the head gasket was replaced with the head. I sure hope that didn't go wrong somehow!

That's why I'm hoping for a "what else" answer. Also, if it's the head gasket, why would it only smoke when idling for a while?

Post by **misha** » 30 May 2011, 18:00

I guess because the vacuum is the highest when engine is idling.

When engine burns oil,smoke from the exhaust must be blue.When engine runs rich,smoke is black & when head gasket is bad smoke is white.

I would wait for someone's else opinion on this,actually,from people who allready had a bad headgasket situation.

Post by **ojdorson** » 30 May 2011, 19:22

Yeah, the gasket should be fine as it was replaced with a new one when I did the head in November. I didn't have any issues with the headbolts or anything as i was putting the head on and torqueing it down. I really hope there's something else... I don't want to have to take the head off again.

Swedish Chef · Post by **Swedish Chef** » 30 May 2011, 21:26

An easy test of head gasket failure is to remove the overflow bottle cap while cold, start the car and keep a sharp eye on the coolant in the overflow for bubbles, if its going out your exhaust it has to go through the combustion chamber therefore the coolant and chamber would be connected if the gasket or head is defective, if you dont see any its most likely something else.

Post by **jblackburn** » 30 May 2011, 23:11

PCV clear?

Post by **ojdorson** » 31 May 2011, 08:42

jblackburn wrote:PCV clear?

It certainly should be! It was new in November. I was having trouble with the top hose (the one that attaches under the spark plug cover) sliding off, but since I dremel'ed my nipple that hasn't happened anymore. If you think it's worthwhile, I'll pull it all off and soak them in some Dawn or something, but I'm not getting any smoke out of the dipstick tube and I don't think I'm leaking from the cams.

Could it be the turbo? When I bought the car - Feb 2010 - I had it inspected by a serious Volvo shop in Memphis, Smisco, and the mechanic mentioned that the turbo looked recent and that it'd been installed well and cleanly. I should probably order the silicone IC hoses and take all the IC pipes off and see how much oil is in them. So... FCP, or IPD for silicone IC hoses?

Post by **jblackburn** » 31 May 2011, 08:53

Just checking; I think you should be fine then.

If the turbo is leaking oil directly into the exhaust pipes, it would make white oily smoke rather than blue as if it was circulated through the engine and ignited.

Perhaps it might be worthwhile to fight the intake hose off and check for side-to-side play in the compressor wheel.

Post by **ojdorson** » 31 May 2011, 10:56

Will do, thanks.