tons of white smoke after head gasket job
08-29-2010, 08:58 PM
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tons of white smoke after head gasket job ...this is on my 96 3.8 camaro... I had to tear down my motor to the heads recently. I dropped something in an intake port while working on the lower intake manifold. After replacing the head gaskets and getting everything back together I started it up and I got a ton of white smoke. Is it possible that somehow it is just burning off excess coolant somewhere, or did my heads not seal and I'm screwed?
Should I run it more to see if it burns off, or should I take it to the shop? I'm not going back down to the head gaskets again.
Is there some way I can puessure test the coolant system?
no, i didnt mill the heads.
Used new bolts... correct torque sequence... car runs fine, just smokes like crazy.
also... didnt smoke at first... took about a min
Should I run it more to see if it burns off, or should I take it to the shop? I'm not going back down to the head gaskets again.
Is there some way I can puessure test the coolant system?
no, i didnt mill the heads.
Used new bolts... correct torque sequence... car runs fine, just smokes like crazy.
also... didnt smoke at first... took about a min
08-31-2010, 07:44 PM
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I grabbed a coolant pressure tester and a compression tester. I'll try them out when I have some time.
I didn't use thread sealer on the head bolts. It didnt call for that anywhere in the haynes manual....
I didn't use thread sealer on the head bolts. It didnt call for that anywhere in the haynes manual....
08-31-2010, 08:21 PM
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If it has cats and coolant got into the exhaust, that will cause a lot of white smoke. It happened when I repaired my brother-in-laws 3.8 taurus. I was freaked out at first, but took it for a drive and ran it hard for about 5 miles. By the time I got home, there was no more white smoke. He has put another 100k on it since I repaired it.
He blew both head gaskets from overheating. I had the heads decked and the valves checked.
He blew both head gaskets from overheating. I had the heads decked and the valves checked.
08-31-2010, 11:55 PM
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i suppose its possible some coolant spilled down into the pipes when we removed the heads... or who knows when. I thought I had bags over the exhaust pipes to keep who knows what out of them, but I could be mistaken. Its probably worth it to try running it longer.
I havent run a compression test on it as of yet, but i did hook up a coolant system pressure tester, and the pressure held solid at 15 psi. Could be a good sign.
So far the oil looks fine... all I've checked is the dipstick though. I also only ran it for about 2 minutes. I suppose thats enough time for the oil to turn all dairy queen on me?
I havent run a compression test on it as of yet, but i did hook up a coolant system pressure tester, and the pressure held solid at 15 psi. Could be a good sign.
So far the oil looks fine... all I've checked is the dipstick though. I also only ran it for about 2 minutes. I suppose thats enough time for the oil to turn all dairy queen on me?
