Issues With R33 Gts-T White Smoke, Fuel Smell, Rough Idle

[r4ymond88]

So my BOV was leaking boost a few weeks ago and I wasn't hitting the throttle on the car due to that till I finally put a new one yesterday adjusted it and all was running perfect I drove the car hard and had a bit of fun (not too much though). I went to my girl's house parked it on an inclined parking lot, car had about a quarter tank of gas left (maybe a bit more) and when I came out of her house and got into the car here's what happened:

1- I put the key in the ignition with the car on neutral to start it up and let it warm up for a minute but it wouldn't start, I hit the switch a couple of times till it finally started.

2- The car had a really ROUGH idle as if it was trying to turn off if I would slow down without dropping gears it would barely even keep running.

3- A very bad fuel smell came inside the car, almost felt as if there was a loose fuel line or something and then I noticed that whatever the fuel meter was dropping insanely fast so I stopped at a gas station to check the car and waited for a friend.

4- Car was blowing white smoke and smelled like fuel all over the place with no visible leaks either.

We checked for loose lines, checked the maf sensor, checked the fuel pressure regulator, but couldn't find anything visually out of place. So I left the car there since this particular gas station is quite close to my mechanic and it's 24/7 service so the guys said they didn't mind. I wanted to avoid driving as much on the car.

So I'm going to pick it up in a few hours, to take it to the shop but wanted to see if anyone had any similar issues or maybe knows what might be up?

I was thinking maybe it's the turbine, spark plugs, maf sensor or coil packs but would any of this cause such a RICH gas smell?

Thanks guys.

[SargeRX8]

How long was the car off for when you got out then in? If it wasn't long then I doubt its condensation build up.. White smoke its generally water in the piston. Where it came from, there could be a few places. Did you check coolant level? The excess fuel smell could be the water preventing proper combustion this shit power, stalling and white smoke. Hopefully nothing major but when water leaks, its generally not a good sign. People use water injection to cool intake but it's often mixed with meth or something else flammable to keep the cylinder firing. Check for a build up of pink shit around the block and underneath for water.

Please dont even start the car until you know what it is. You dont want to contaminate your oil with water. Check your dip stick and oil cap for signs of water.

Edited July 11, 2011 by SargeRX8

[r4ymond88]

Was off for about 2 hours. I'll check the dipstick and radiator when I go back to pick up the car. If there's water in the Piston would that mean that I'll have to rebuild the engine?

[045HOW]

White smoke can also be oil getting into your exhaust from having a cracked ring. Im just brain storming. Check 02 sensor and try an alternate AFM. CAS could be something to check as well.

[045HOW]

Was off for about 2 hours. I'll check the dipstick and radiator when I go back to pick up the car. If there's water in the Piston would that mean that I'll have to rebuild the engine?

Check dipstick and oil cap for a milky white goo (emulsified oil iirc).

[SargeRX8]

If it is water and it got into the cylinder and managed to get into the block and sump, you may have some issues and a rebuild may be in order but everything I said was just an idea... Its plausible, but it is just to give you an idea. And as above, blue smoke is burnt oil, white smoke could be oil just burning off a hot component.

I don't think a failing component will cause white smoke but with this cold weather 2 hours is enough for condensation to build up and if the white smoke is condensation, your problem could be something as said above or even a spark plug missing causing the car to struggle... A compression test is a quick way to test the engine and if it looks leaky on one cylinder or two distant cylinders (one and three for example) do a leak down test to try locate the leak. If compression is low on

neighboring cylinders, its safe to say the head gasket is gone.

Was it fine until you parked? My car died the next day, was perfect the night before. My plugs were done.

[r4ymond88]

I'm hoping that the issue is that I burnt the spark plugs. lol.

But my car was running great before, I was revving it nicely, it pulled great, car was slow before due to the boost leaks on the crappy BOV the car came with but I slapped on a new one so yesterday was my "lets see how well it's working day" and it worked perfectly all day. Came home at around 8, parked got out at around 9ish got to my girls at 10 parked the car and then when I came out at 12... surprise surprise all hell is breaking loose in the engine bay and white smoke out the exhaust.

I once drove around with 5 spark plugs just for a few minutes (went back to the shop right away to find that one coil was loose) and the sensation of how it felt yesterday is similar, feels as if the car is running on less cylinders I dare say half.

[SargeRX8]

Your car will not run in 3 at 750rpm idle believe me. 4, yes. Check your plugs first,.its easier then doing all these other tests I've mentioned. you can risk it, start the car, stick some cardboard to keep the throttle open to say 1200rpm then unplug your coil wires one at a time. If one of them has no effect, you have located your problem. If they all cause the engine to struggle, switch it off, you have bigger problems

[045HOW]

I'm hoping that the issue is that I burnt the spark plugs. lol.

But my car was running great before, I was revving it nicely, it pulled great, car was slow before due to the boost leaks on the crappy BOV the car came with but I slapped on a new one so yesterday was my "lets see how well it's working day" and it worked perfectly all day. Came home at around 8, parked got out at around 9ish got to my girls at 10 parked the car and then when I came out at 12... surprise surprise all hell is breaking loose in the engine bay and white smoke out the exhaust.

I once drove around with 5 spark plugs just for a few minutes (went back to the shop right away to find that one coil was loose) and the sensation of how it felt yesterday is similar, feels as if the car is running on less cylinders I dare say half.

lol half

[r4ymond88]

lol argh stupid car

[r4ymond88]

So apparently the engine is locked? It wouldn't start when I went to pick it up and left in a tow-truck. @!$@!$$

Am waiting for the mechanic so I can know what's finally up.

[DVS JEZ]

Does the battery seem discharged?

Its very possible the engine is extremely flooded with fuel and it may be hydraulicallly locked.

This could be due to leaking injectors or th ecu thinking it need Lot of fuel due to a sensor issue.

Best to remove te spark plugs and see if the cylinder/s are full of fuel. Check the oil to see if it is over full(due to being topped up with petrol from the leaking injector)

Try to crank the motor with no spark plugs.

[r4ymond88]

I left it at the shop, I'm getting an answer back tomorrow since the guy was booked for today. I hope it's something that can be fixed easily. If not then I'm screwed.

[ARTZ]

bad fuel smell and smoke could just mean your car is running rich for some reason or another..if you keep running it rich your plugs will foul and fuel wont ignite. Though I have never had one lock before, how long were you trying to run it like this

as dvs said try run it without spark plugs and clean the plugs while your at it would be a start..

But for future reference when your car is running rich, driving it wont usually fix the problem, im guessong but id say you have hooked something up wrong and its sucking in extra air so while your afm is getting one reading the o2 sensor is getting another so it has added a heap of extra fuel to compensate.

Then you tried to drive it and now its locked.. So you have turned a little problem into a big one

Moral of the story is, when your car isnt running right, dont drive it

[r4ymond88]

I didn't really drive it far, just about three blocks so I could leave it in a safer place. Then left it there.

You think all spark plugs might be f**ked?

[ARTZ]

yes..but replacing them isnt going to fix the problem..

[ARTZ]

did you notice the car getting worse as you drove it....seems strange that it would lock in such a short time..

were you trying to start it again for a while?

[r4ymond88]

Not at all, the car kept a constant ROUGH idle as I drove it down to the Gas Station where I left it (it was near my mechanic and safer than where it was) I stopped it there, checked the engine, turned it on and off twice to see if any of the plugs or lines I jiggled and tightened would fix the deal but it didn't. So I turned it on once more to move it about 10 feet into the parking lot and left it there till 12-1pm today where I went and tried to start it. Engine did an initial spark (it moves once as if it tries to start) and then doesn't do a thing.

One thing that did worry me was the fuel, it was an outrageous amount of fuel. I'm talking I had maybe 5-6 gallons left and in about 15km it went down almost to empty... and I was driving at around 40kmph.

I don't know much about mechanics, just the basics. But it would seem as if maybe a sensor died or something and the fuel killed the plugs and wtv else got f**ked up.

[scotty nm35]

It sounds like one of the injectors is stuck open, flooding one cylinder with fuel. When you tried to start it you may have blown the head gasket but hopefully (if it is just the injector) dump the oil, replace the sticky injector and you should be right.

I hope the mechanic can diagnose it for you quickly.

[r4ymond88]

When you say things like that I smile in hope that it's nothing as bad as an engine rebuild. LoL.