White Smoke

[kenleyf]

The problems I am having have been posted under "Brake Job Disaster" but I thought I would try another title to try to get some help.

About 3 minutes after cranking my 1989 FJ62 a large amount of white smoke begins to flow from the tailpipe. Also the engine bay starts to present the same issue but not as bad as the tailpipe.

So, after reading and few responses to my other post I have suspected either a cracked head or a head gasket failure. My oil is not milky although the level is elevated on the dipstick. It is rather hard to tell but it looks like their might be small traces of oil in the coolant. I am thinking about drawing some "fresh" coolant and getting a radiator shop to test it.

Tonight I removed all the spark plugs and they all looked the same and they did not look abnormal. They certainly did not have white residue that others suggested I might have. I let the truck run a little while to pressurize the cooling system then I removed all the spark plugs again. I put paper towels over the holes, turned the engine over a couple of times but no coolant on the towels.

I would really like to diagnose this thing at home but I am sorta running out of things to try.

Any suggestions out there of what this might be or other ways to test the head or head gasket issue?
Thanks.
Kenley

 

[cruiser88]

See if the oil taste sweet.

Did you run a compression check yet?

There will be some whitish looking smoke this time of year(condensation).

Does it miss?

 

[cfdlighthouse]

tests

you can try this. have not used it my self but have heard it works as a method for testing head gasket leaks. coolant analysis by a rad shop that is cooperative is still an inexpensive option.

A combustion cylinder leak test kit. it can be found at the NAPA. The part number is 700-1006. costs under $50.00.

here is how it works

system has a test cylinder that fits to radiator cap. fill the cylinder with the dye. use the device to force air into the coolant; the return gas filters back through the dye if it changes from blue to yellow it shows the presence of exhaust gas infiltration in the coolant ie head gasket leak.

just a diy thought.

 

[kenleyf]

Good questions, wish I knew the answer to help you help me. The truck has never presented any smoke even this time of year.

I am unsure of how to do a compression check and I am not sure how to tell if it is missing. The motor seems to run just fine.

Thanks for the suggestion on the combustion cylinder leak test kit, I will pick one up this weekend.

Is it possible for the brake booster vac line to pull brake fluid into the cylinder head? This happened right after full brake system bleed.

Thank you for your help.
Kenley

 

[cfdlighthouse]

Good questions, wish I knew the answer to help you help me. The truck has never presented any smoke even this time of year.

I am unsure of how to do a compression check and I am not sure how to tell if it is missing. The motor seems to run just fine.

Thanks for the suggestion on the combustion cylinder leak test kit, I will pick one up this weekend.

Is it possible for the brake booster vac line to pull brake fluid into the cylinder head? This happened right after full brake system bleed.

Thank you for your help.
Kenley

yes,
but it goes back to your original thread where the booster failure was brought up. in order for that to happen the booster has to be bad pumping the fluid out of the master seals and into the chamber. intake vacum could then draw the brake fluid from the booster into the combustion chamber throught the intake valves possibly giving you white smoke.

 

[kenleyf]

I pulled the master cylinder off of the booster and there was some fluid inside the indention but not a massive amount. How do I tell if the booster is pulling the fluid from the mc? I am just trying to hold out hope that it is not the head or head gasket. Also, it just seems to coincidental that it happened right after I was messing with the brakes.

Thanks for all your help.
Kenley

 

[cruiser88]

I pulled the master cylinder off of the booster and there was some fluid inside the indention but not a massive amount. How do I tell if the booster is pulling the fluid from the mc? I am just trying to hold out hope that it is not the head or head gasket. Also, it just seems to coincidental that it happened right after I was messing with the brakes.

Thanks for all your help.
Kenley

You may be able to rig a clear fuel filter on the brake booster line (i may be reaching here) to see if you see any fluid at all?????? Or some kind of catch/cup?????

 

[kenleyf]

So, detach from the motor side and put the filter or cup under it? It seems like I would need the vac to pull it? I appreciate your help.

 

[cruiser88]

So, detach from the motor side and put the filter or cup under it? It seems like I would need the vac to pull it? I appreciate your help.

That is what i was thinking " clear filter" so you would not loose vac pressure.....like i said i might be reaching but it may work but remember the filter is directional so i would guess "in" on the filter would go in the direction of the booster.

cheap try.....good luck man.....lol just one of those random thoughts i had

 

[kenleyf]

No prohibition on random thoughts, they usually run cheap. Might give it a try at some point. Thanks.

Later.

 

[RockDoc]

Is it coming out of the tail pipe, or just off it? Is it possible your brake work got fluid on the pipes and/or manifold, and now it is burning off? Have you driven the truck yet, or just fired it up?

 

[kenleyf]

It is coming out of the tailpipe. I did get some fluid on the exhaust but not a tremendous amount.

I am afraid to drive it because there does seem to be more pressure in the cooling system than ever. If it is a head problem I do not want to explode the practically brand new radiator.

 

[cruiser88]

It is coming out of the tailpipe. I did get some fluid on the exhaust but not a tremendous amount.

I am afraid to drive it because there does seem to be more pressure in the cooling system than ever. If it is a head problem I do not want to explode the practically brand new radiator.

You have the 13 pound rad. cap on it? If so is there pressure releasing around the cap ?

Is the overflow bottle shooting out fluid or bubbling?

 

[fowldarr]

I see where your coming from with your concerns, but this is what I would do. You've had it down for a few days, there is a good chance that it just needs to run out whatever got into it. I would drive it for a day or two, change the oil, then go again. White smoke is usually just condensation, or something that has to burn off. None of the current signs strongly point to the head or head gasket.

 

[kenleyf]

I have an OEM cap on it but nothing coming out of it or the overflow bottle. The hoses are just tight as a drum within a few minutes of running.

Ok, I am really starting to find some hope on this project. I will try to run it for a while this weekend and see if the smoke goes away.

I thank all who have chimed in for your help.

 

[kenleyf]

Problem Solved!!! Newbie has learned a lesson.

Thanks fowldarr for your suggestion. I ran it for a while Saturday and the smoke finally went away. I also took a few trips around town just to make sure and it did not show up. There is one thing for sure, I know where my exhaust leaks are now!

I am still not sure what caused the white smoke in the exhaust (probably brake fluid) but I am not going to worry about it unless it comes back. If it comes back I will probably be looking to replace the MC and Booster.

Thank you to all that chimed in, crisis averted!!

Kenley

 

[cfdlighthouse]

glad it resolved itself

 

[cruiser88]

Cruisers has a mind of their own