White Smoke, I Got White Smoke!!!!!

[shotyme03]

I changed my brakes and fill up the master cylinder with fiuld lower the car, put the tires on and then when I started up the car i got a ton of wihte smoke coming from the pipes. A LOT TO SMOKE!!!. The engine was running fine no power or anything, and no smoke was coming from anywhere else but the pipes. Somebody please help me, this sounds expensive. :hpoop:

The funny thing is that I had just drove about 35 miles and the car was fine.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Did it go away when the car warmed up?

 

[shotyme03]

Did it go away when the car warmed up?

I only let it run for about 3 minutes.

 

[Rob94]

Did the smoke have a syrupy smell to it?? You will have to let the engine run again to help pinpoint the problem. It could have just been water vapor, but you won't know until you check.

 

[platoribs]

The engine was running fine no power or anything, and no smoke was coming from anywhere else but the pipes. QUOTE]

Soory to nitpick but what do you mean by "The engine was running fine no power or anything..."

Did you start the car, see the smoke, put it in gear and sense it had no power? Or what?

What sort of conditions lead up to your work on the brakes, you say you drove around 35 miles b/4 you started the work. Did it overheat? What is the general condition of the car, miles, maintanence, etc...

If these guys can help you they're going to need every bit of information you can possibly provide. Just trying to assist.

 

[shotyme03]

The engine was running fine no power or anything, and no smoke was coming from anywhere else but the pipes. QUOTE]

Soory to nitpick but what do you mean by "The engine was running fine no power or anything..."

Did you start the car, see the smoke, put it in gear and sense it had no power? Or what?

What sort of conditions lead up to your work on the brakes, you say you drove around 35 miles b/4 you started the work. Did it overheat? What is the general condition of the car, miles, maintanence, etc...

If these guys can help you they're going to need every bit of information you can possibly provide. Just trying to assist.

Sorry I mean that the car was running fine with no power loss or anything. I was running like it always runs no overheating or anything, on the way home I was driving about 75 and the temp gauge was at the L.

 

[Rob94]

I ask again, did the smoke have a smell to it? Go start the engine and let it run. If it smokes, without asphyxiating yourself, take a sniff. Does it smell like fuel, syrup, or is it odorless. If it has a sweet, syrupy smell, it's coolant. You can shut the engine down. Otherwise, let it warm to operating temp and see if the smoke stops.

 

[shotyme03]

I ask again, did the smoke have a smell to it? Go start the engine and let it run. If it smokes, without asphyxiating yourself, take a sniff. Does it smell like fuel, syrup, or is it odorless. If it has a sweet, syrupy smell, it's coolant. You can shut the engine down. Otherwise, let it warm to operating temp and see if the smoke stops.

It kinda smells like syrup.

 

[Rob94]

If it smells syrupy, it is probably a head gasket. Your next step should be a pressure test of the cooling system to see if it hold pressure. If it does not hold pressure, then you will need to be sure there are no external coolant leaks. Also, check your oil level. Pull the dipstick and see if the oil looks foamy, or has the consistency of a chocolate milkshake.

 

[shotyme03]

If it smells syrupy, it is probably a head gasket. Your next step should be a pressure test of the cooling system to see if it hold pressure. If it does not hold pressure, then you will need to be sure there are no external coolant leaks. Also, check your oil level. Pull the dipstick and see if the oil looks foamy, or has the consistency of a chocolate milkshake.

How do I do a pressure test

 

[Ishodu]

You will need a cooling system pressure tester, some auto parts stores will lend it as part of there lend a tool program. They screw on the rad cap and you pump it up to pressure then you can look for leaks and watch the gauge to see if the pressure is dropping.

 

[shotyme03]

Does anybody know how much the average shop will charge to change the head gasket, and does anybody have the instructions on how to change the head gasket? One more thing is at hard to do yourself?

 

[Slo-Sho]

One way to confirm that the HG is blown is to check the level of coolant in the radiator. Then check the dipstick for coolant. I highly doubt that is the problem though. Please update us with your findings.



P.S. You don't want to know how much a shop would charge you for a HG job. :dig:

 

[shotyme03]

If it is not the HG what could be causing white smoke from my tail pipes, could it have anything to do with my master cylinder going bad?

 

[Slo-Sho]

Did you do as I suggested?

 

[JTSHO]

this may sound weird but ive had taurus master cylinders leak by into the booster, fill the booster and get into the vacuum system and do exactly what youre talking about. its a long shot but i wouldnt be surprised if that has happened to you.

 

[shotyme03]

this may sound weird but ive had taurus master cylinders leak by into the booster, fill the booster and get into the vacuum system and do exactly what youre talking about. its a long shot but i wouldnt be surprised if that has happened to you.

What did you do to fix the problem.

 

[JTSHO]

replace the master cylinder, most of the time it screws up the booster too. so i would recommend changing it also even though its a PITA.you can try getting a wet vac to suck the fluid out but if it doesnt work youre tearing it all back apart anyways. do NOT get a reman'd master cylinder though, or you WILL be changing that again too. get a new bendix from advance(about 95 bucks) and ive had good luck with auto zones reman'd boosters(about 80 bucks). first things first, pull the master cylinder off the booster and see if it is full of brake fluid.

 

[Ishodu]

I see no need to be pulling the master cylinder if there is no brake fluid disappearing. Have you been adding any or is it low?

 

[SeanMc]

I have to go with Rob94 here, it is most definitely the head gasket. A woman at work's Focus just blew a gasket.