FTO AUSTRALIA

Hi all just wondering what sort of thing you'd expect when you see smoke coming out of the rear bank just underneath the intake manifold.

Definitely not exhaust as there is a strong burning smell and nothing is dripping onto the exhaust downpipe. Engine is still relatively cold and smoke starts only after having the engine on for about 4 mins. Engine is idling fine otherwise.

Have removed the thermostat as I thought it may have coolant circulating issues but water is circulating fine. Temperature gauge reads normal. I'm guessing potentially an oil circulation issue. Where is the oil pump located? In the sump? Or worst case scenario oil entering pistons.

Any thoughts?

Burning coolant... hate to say it, but blown head gasket. Check the coolant level, depending on the blow, it can be chewed up really quicky or really slowly. Compression test will confirm.

what does your oil look like?
normal or chocolate milk shake?

BorepYano wrote:what does your oil look like?
normal or chocolate milk shake?

True ^^ but sometimes the gasket can blow direct between the water gallery & the cylinder, just burning the coolant.... leaving the oil ok.... othertimes, it can go to porridge.

hmm... if it is that then does that mean all he has to do is change the gasket (and obviously fill up the coolent)?
sry, just trying to learn

BorepYano wrote:hmm... if it is that then does that mean all he has to do is change the gasket (and obviously fill up the coolent)?
sry, just trying to learn

Yup sometimes the blow can be almost 'cosmetic' if you will. Simply pull the head, replace gasket & torque it all back up. Mind you I'd never recommend putting a head back on unless its been serviced. Ie checked for warps & bows etc, machined if need be then had valve guides etc changed.

ty

BorepYano wrote:what does your oil look like?
normal or chocolate milk shake?

Sorry I'm curious about this. Can you please continue with what you've got to say about oil condition?

If you have a head gasket blow between both a water gallery & an oil gallery, the water will mix with the oil - leaving the oil looking like brown porridge & smelling like sh*t

and if u leave the problem be for a while, since u r going to keep topping up the water and the water mixes with the oil, u'll eventually end up with double or even tripple the amount "oil"/milk shake in your engine compared to what u are supposed to have.

which means u'll eventually blow other things up just because of the preasure... eventually u'll be able to track where you have been by the brown sluge trail u leave behind.

but probably not as much smoke.... until your pipes and what not start cracking under preasure.

moral of the story... if your oil looks brown, then fix it asap, and dont use a wire brush to clean the head

Is there a sure fire way to test yourself whether it's the head gasket? The car is unregistered and not yet drivable so professional compression test might be out of the question.

I just heard that if I pull the head off there's no turning back as in the head has to go to the workshop so it goes back in properly.

You sure its not coolant dripping from the throttle body? Those hoses get lose sometimes.

payaya wrote:You sure its not coolant dripping from the throttle body? Those hoses get lose sometimes.

to be sure.... through a handful of chalk dust into your engine bay (well... more complecated than that lol, but u get the pic), and turn the car on for a while and see where the leak is coming from