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White Smoke On Cold Start Up

_MRR33

By _MRR33,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
Posted

Hey there,

The last two of nights when leaving work (11pm) the car has been blowing a large amount of white smoke from the exhaust system. I'm not sure why, hence the reason for this post.

The car is a 1993 Nissan Skyline GTST

I've only noticed this white smoke on Tuesday night but didn't take too much notice thinking it was just because it was cold. But, It's happed again tonight and it's got me worried as its a little more then usuall on cold start-ups.

The car didn't seem to have any of this white smoke during the day - on start up or driving down to the local Autobarn.

Recently the car has had an oil change, oil filiter change and a few weeks before that had a complete coolant flush as the Water Pump needed to be replaced.

The car has also had a complete forged rebuild about 5 months ago, and also a Haltetc ECU installed about 2 months ago - I'm also running the stock turbo.

Tomorrow I guess I'm going to start with cleaning the intercooler pipes and probably check the spark plugs while I'm at it. Also have a small coolant leak which I'll also fix tomorrow.

Only other thing I think it maybe is the turbo seals, but honestly I hope its not!

I've tried to provide as much information as I could, but any questions or anything I'd be more then happy to answer them - really want this issue fixed :D

Thanks again,

Aron

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skiwhine Collaborator

skiwhine

Posted
Posted

white smoke = oil in exhaust,

now forged pistons, do expand quite alot from hot 2 cold compared to cast pistons and others, so ona cold motor the piston will b rather loose in the cylinder (some people even have knockin etc) maybe the oil you put in on the last oil change is a little thin and by-passing the rings when cold...

but most likely ur turbo seals are stuffed lol

skiwhine Collaborator

skiwhine

Posted
Posted

white smoke = oil in exhaust,

now forged pistons, do expand quite alot from hot 2 cold compared to cast pistons and others, so ona cold motor the piston will b rather loose in the cylinder (some people even have knockin etc) maybe the oil you put in on the last oil change is a little thin and by-passing the rings when cold...

but most likely ur turbo seals are stuffed lol

Devils_Advocate21 Mentor

Devils_Advocate21

Posted
Posted

Is this whilst driving? Idle? or load? plus noticed your in brissy, we have had some relative humidity lately at night time it could be condesation. need more info as per above

_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
white smoke = oil in exhaust,

now forged pistons, do expand quite alot from hot 2 cold compared to cast pistons and others, so ona cold motor the piston will b rather loose in the cylinder (some people even have knockin etc) maybe the oil you put in on the last oil change is a little thin and by-passing the rings when cold...

but most likely ur turbo seals are stuffed lol

I've used Royal Purple SAE 10W-40 for quite a few months and never had this problem.

Is this whilst driving? Idle? or load? plus noticed your in brissy, we have had some relative humidity lately at night time it could be condesation. need more info as per above

It's while the car is idle, once I'm driving I can't notice any white smoke but it's hard to tell when your in the drivers seat.

-_-StRyDeR-_-[/b]]i get the same, only in winter though lol. its condensation

Even on really cold start ups, colder then the last two nights I haven't had this problem. However, I noticed only one drip of condensation/water from the tip of the exhaust.

Edited by KustomR33
_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Alrighty, here's just an update,

I've fixed that coolant leak I had, I had another look at the white smoke I started it up this morning when the car was cold, and there is a minimal amount of white smoke, probably from the cold start?

Took it for another drive, power seems good, if not better then usual - I guess I'll have to see if it smokes tonight after work while letting the car warm up.

I don't think its the turbo seals, because if it was it'd be doing it all the time.

It could be the valve stem seals because it only happens when the car is cold, but its only happing at night so its confusing.

Maybe there's a little bit of oil in the intercooler piping? I'll give that a clean soon see if that gets rid of it.

Or, lastly, could just be my head :lol:

If anyone has any other ideas, suggestions please do let me know :)

Thank-you very much for your help.

_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
  • Author
Posted
White smoke on a cold start is more than likely water vapour condensing in the cooler outside air (the compustion process produces water, amongts other things).

But, not large amounts like I'm getting at night on cold starts?

PRO_32 Proficient

PRO_32

Posted
Posted

White smoke is not from oil.. Blue smoke is oil smoke so i dont think it's blow by past your rings even with forgies these days thermal flex isnt like it used to be so i doubt it's that, or your valve stem seals.

good luck though come us updated but.

_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
  • Author
Posted
is it smoke or steam, next time it happens watch it as it comes out of the pipe, if it disapears after a meter or 2 its steam, if it hangs around in a cloud for a few meters its smoke.

When I first start the car it's steam, after a couple of minutes it becomes smoke.

White smoke is not from oil.. Blue smoke is oil smoke so i dont think it's blow by past your rings even with forgies these days thermal flex isnt like it used to be so i doubt it's that, or your valve stem seals.

good luck though come us updated but.

Here's the latest;

Started the car tonight at work to let it warm up as usual, noticed white smoke again, reved the car a little bit and I got alot more white smoke and black smoke too.

It also smells like oil/fuel..

Could it be a bad dose of fuel?

WhiteHot_R33 Explorer

WhiteHot_R33

Posted
Posted

Hey man what sort of breather system is on your motor? ie catch can?

my car went for a few weeks blowing white smoke similar to yours, it turns out the cank case was pressurising due to blocked breather lines. this was causing oil to blow out the rear turbo seal.

doesn't sound right but when I replaced the hoses to the catch can it went away :)

have a look!

_MRR33 Experienced

_MRR33

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Hey man what sort of breather system is on your motor? ie catch can?

my car went for a few weeks blowing white smoke similar to yours, it turns out the cank case was pressurising due to blocked breather lines. this was causing oil to blow out the rear turbo seal.

doesn't sound right but when I replaced the hoses to the catch can it went away :)

have a look!

I'll check my breather hoses today, but I don't have a catch can on the car though.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has been trying to help me :D

Hopefully I can get it sorted soon.

Edited by KustomR33

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