white exhaust coming out of muffler

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hi,
new to the forum. Love my sx SE, have only 120000 miles on it, second owner, but I have white exhaust (strong smell) coming out of the pipe, especially when I'm running the engine in idle and then take off, otherwise when I drive you can't see it. Anybody have suggestions as to what it may be. I was told to get it diagnosed and another guy told me right off the bat without looking at it, that it's an old car, needs a new engine or get another car. I love my 240. Somebody else told me I could get a used japanese engine for cheap and put that in instead of rebuilding mine which would cost me much more. Please help! I'm in the SFV. Thanks everybody!

[krash]

What does it smell like? Does it smell sweet like cotton candy sort of? If it does, then you probably have a blown head gasket. You don't need the whole engine replaced, you just need to get the head gasket replaced. If you know how to work on cars you'll be able to do this. If not, go to an honest, reputable shop (they do exist!) and tell them whats going on. I'm not at home right now, but I'll be able to get you the average rate for a head gasket replacement on your car so that you can kind of have a baseline to negotiate with.

Getting the Japanese engine (SR20DET) will DEFINITELY cost MORE than replacing a headgasket. You'll be looking at around $2500 - $3500 (depending on labor from shops around you, it might even be more expensive, I don't really know what shops charge in your area) when its all said and done for the swap. And even then you don't REALLY know the condition of the motor you have. It could have problems or it could be perfect. The right way to do an SR20DET swap, or any JDM engine swap, in my opinion, is to get the engine, do a complete rebuild, and then install it. This costs a good amount.

[95Nissan240sxSE]

the exhaust stinks bad, no sweet smell. I don't know anything about fixing cars and thank you for the reply. I don't know of any honest mechanics and I am a chick, so I'm at a loss.

[dohmann777]

i dunno i mean white smoke could me a ton of stuff if your car isnt over heating then it probably isnt a head gasket if no sweet smell and no loss of coolant and or overheating then that rules that out if the car sat for a while then id say condensation in the exhaust if you have alot of moisture. if no go on that then if it has a tint of blue in it then thats oil caused by blow by and or piston rings or it could be an excess of fuel but not only would u smell that but you would also run really rough or you would see where the exhaust tail pipe goes black splatters on the pave ment i dunno its hard to tell you without seeing it is the smoke bad or slight like my blown head gasket the white smoke hid my car because there was alot of smoke and the sweet smell burned your throat so i dunno if u can post pics of your car first starting from idle that would help check your oil dip stick if it has a tint of white or is milky (like choco milk)
then your looking at a head gasket and or oil in your coolant if your driving it and no over heating then i wouldnt be to freaked out unless the smoke is horriable i would take the car a dealer ship for a oil change the do multi point inspections TRUST ME THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO FIX then when they tell you what it is you find a friend that knows cars and you throw them a couple bills to help ya out Good luck hope it helped LaTeRz.....

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hey thanks LaTeRz. Car didn't sit, drive it all the time, runs fine, no lights on, just the stinky exhaust coming out. I saw it especially when I was parked, running the car w/a/c (hot day) for like 20 min and then I drove off and saw a lot come out, but if I just drive it doesn't show, but I was inside a parking structure and I noticed it, maybe because it's easier to see then out in the sun light. Nissan dealer would charge 120 for diagnostics. Darn. I heard the jap used engines were 300 bucks, I guess I was told wrong. I know I have oil leaks everywhere under the car, but I was told that has nothing to do with it, it's coming from the engine...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

It's not overheating or anything? Is your coolant level dropping at all?

With as many leaks as you have, as well as the potential head gasket issue, you might be better just replacing your engine with a used one. The stock engine in your car should run about $300-$400. Labor to replace it will probably run you about $400-500. The engine in your car IS Japanese (it was built in Japan), however the engine that was used in your car IN Japan is significantly more expensive. Figure almost 10x more expensive than your current engine, and ~4x as much labor.

If you can get a video of what it's doing, we could probably more accurately diagnose. At the end of the day you really have 2 options, run the car and deal with the smoke until it dies (which could be a while), or get it properly diagnosed and repaired by a local shop.

[krash]

if it stinks like rotten eggs then the catalytic converter is probably bad. Thats not really an issue unless you have to do an emmisions test soon.

As far of the smoke, maybe its burning too much gas. I've always gone by white smoke is running rich or burning coolant, and bluish means burning oil. Anyone back me up on this?

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Thanks PapaSmurf,
a friend might know somebody who works on Volvos and has the tool to possibly diagnose it so I don't have to spend cash at the dealer and then I'll have a better idea. When I'm driving normally I don't see any smoke, but as I said before when I'm running the engine parked for a while I did, so I'll keep you posted... I wouldn't know where to find those $300-400 engines in L.A. Thanks everybody for your help.

[krash]

If you go to AutoZone they'll plug the scanner into your car and diagnose it for free

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hey krash,
listen, you might be onto something. I think my car eats a lot of gas. So I filled up the tank and drove only 90 miles and the tank is already almost half gone. I did have a cracked hose a year ago, smelled the gasoline and had it fixed, but I think you may be right. I guess it's best if I diagnose it, no? If I'm burning a lot of gas, what's the problem and how to fix it??? Luckily no emissions test this year. I do hear a faint rattle and I thought I might need a cat, but a friend of mine owns a muffler shop and he said changing the cat would not solve the problem, I should diagnose it first and go from there. But your theory about the car burning too much gas, might be it....

[PapaSmurf2k3]

As far of the smoke, maybe its burning too much gas. I've always gone by white smoke is running rich or burning coolant, and bluish means burning oil. Anyone back me up on this?

White = coolant or lots of water in your gas somehow (bad batch of gas?)
Blue = oil
Black = rich

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Krash,
spoke to an Auto Zone guy, they don't do the diagnostics in the state of CA, and he said if the engine light is not on, plugging the scanner in won't produce any results.
I get gas usually at the same station/Chevron, so water in gas, I don't know???

[krash]

Thats weird, I wonder why they don't do diagnostics in cali? I don't know what he's talking about with the scanner not working when the engine light is on. The point of the scanner is to see why the engine light is on Your car is 1995, so it has OBDII and the scanner will plug in. I dunno what the dude was talking about.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

95 could be OBDI or OBDII, they switched halfway through the year. And he said plugging the scanner would do nothing if the light ISN'T on, which it isn't. He's right, unless of course the bulb is out.

Besides, you usually don't get a trouble code for a blown head gasket haha. It isn't an electronic system.

[95Nissan240sxSE]

krash,
my engine light is NOT on, and he said when the light is NOT on, the scanner won't help, (I have no clue) but then he gave me a mechanic's number who could "diagnose" it for free, so I'll be going there first thing Tue... thanks for all your feedback...

[krash]

whoops I read "is" Sorry

Besides, you usually don't get a trouble code for a blown head gasket haha. It isn't an electronic system.

Pshh I got one, it was in the form of steam piling out of the engine bay and clouds coming out of my exhaust

krash,
my engine light is NOT on, and he said when the light is NOT on, the scanner won't help, (I have no clue) but then he gave me a mechanic's number who could "diagnose" it for free, so I'll be going there first thing Tue... thanks for all your feedback...

if you've got the plug, plug it in and see what happens. But if the check engine light is not on then yea, that means the car doesn't think it has issues.

[dohmann777]

id say eating that much gas and driving normal you should get about 350 to 400 a tank um hmm to much gas honestly could be a number of things i know when my fuel pump was going it pushed out an excess of gas i dunno if you guys have iac sensors going out or possiably a o2 sensor giving false readings um if its a gas related issue as far as pumping to much thats a faulty sensor of some type and possably not critical enough to throw a CEL I know my eclipse had a coolant temp sensor out and the computer thought it wasnt getting hot enough so it fed in more fuel it was the ecu trying to correct itself for not warming up the engine fully (Diagnostics test proved this) got a temp sensor and whala fixed (took the sensor out had all after market gauges no stock gauges custom bezel in dash) hope it helps oh btw no coolant sensor i was getting 8mpg driving nice white smoke and all but i had a slow leak in the head gasket that i was aware of had to get back and 4th to work to pay for the parts to fix it....LaTeRz

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hi guys,
just came from the mechanic, guy showed me there was a touch of oil on 3 of the 4 spark plugs, he said definitely the engine, so seems like I may have to rebuild or replace the engine eventually. I wonder where I can get an original engine with low mileage for cheap (wrecking yard?, but I'm sure not easy to find) (to rebuild 1300-1500 bucks). Any other compatible engines for the '95 240sx SE??? Thanks guys!

[krash]

Since you have a KA, it won't be hard to find. Just search this forum's classified section, as well as any local forums you know of. They go anywhere from $250 to $500 bucks, but personally I wouldn't pay more than $300 for one. If you get one out of a 1995 or newer 240sx it will make your life easier, but you can use the engine from a 91-94 240sx as well. Some parts will have to be used from your old engine though (bolt on parts and electrical harnesses, etc).

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Thanks krash.
I called a lot of the local wrecking yards here in sun valley, ca, only a couple of them had it but they run for a 800-1000 bucks w/85k miles on them. I tried using the classifieds on this forum and couldn't figure it out. So my search continues... thx.

[krash]

Glad to help You'll find one sooner or later, those guys in California swap that motor out a lot, so just cruise the classifieds and you're bound to find one. In the mean time, just keep track of your oil level, check it every morning and add some oil if its necessary. You can actually drive it like that for a long time even though its not recommended.

[Lobo240sx]

In the mean time, just keep track of your oil level, check it every morning and add some oil if its necessary. You can actually drive it like that for a long time even though its not recommended.

This. I drove my KA24E burning oil for awhile. A mix of 10w 30 and Smoke B Gone (aka honey) worked for me. Burned about a half to a quart every month that way.

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hi Lobo,
thanks for your input. I read that smoke B is bad for your car, so I guess I'm just gonna have to keep driving it like that as "krash" said. I have a year 'till my next smog check. I'll keep looking for a used engine, I just don't know where I can find one in the $300 range... thanks

[mechanicalmoron]

Hey krash,
listen, you might be onto something. I think my car eats a lot of gas. So I filled up the tank and drove only 90 miles and the tank is already almost half gone. I did have a cracked hose a year ago, smelled the gasoline and had it fixed, but I think you may be right. I guess it's best if I diagnose it, no? If I'm burning a lot of gas, what's the problem and how to fix it??? Luckily no emissions test this year. I do hear a faint rattle and I thought I might need a cat, but a friend of mine owns a muffler shop and he said changing the cat would not solve the problem, I should diagnose it first and go from there. But your theory about the car burning too much gas, might be it....

If you start it up and there's a puff of smoke (which you won't be able to really see, I guess, in either case here. have someone else look for you, it's reaaaaalllly bad if you can see it from the driver's seat) or if you step on the gass fast and keep it down and it shoots a puff, you have bad valve stem seals.

Some might say rebuild the head, I personally would say that if you're taking half the motor off and totally apart, you might as well just rebuild or replace the whole motor. But I don't know jack about cars and have never rebuilt anything..... today my throttle body got a fancy new cereal box gasket, that's how good I am with cars.

Also, burning oil can smell pretty bad, it depends how much you burn, and what kind you use and how often you change it and all that jazz. But it can be pretty nasty. IMO synthetic or semi or high milage oil smells disgusting, heavy single weight lucas oil conditioner smells sort of nice and like coal.... you get the idea.

Been doing routine maintainence and all that? Oil changes, checking the dipstick, that sort of thing?

[95Nissan240sxSE]

hey mechanicalmoron,
yeah, the mechanic guy stepped on the gas and you could see the smoke come out. I don't have to change the oil, I keep adding since it's leaking everywhere, so I lose enough to just add. thanks, though...

[mechanicalmoron]

hey mechanicalmoron,
yeah, the mechanic guy stepped on the gas and you could see the smoke come out. I don't have to change the oil, I keep adding since it's leaking everywhere, so I lose enough to just add. thanks, though...

Then you probably also have filthy oil from blowby and such..... But seriously, I found your smoke problem.

You have bad valve stem seals. The oil il leaking past and burning, and combustion junk is getting blasted into your oil.

I burn and leak several quarts per thousand miles, and just did a change at 6k miles.... It was still, even though I effectively "change" it every thousand and a half, FILTHY.

Change your oil and filter, and when you refill it put in 3 quarts high-milage oil, and 1 quart Lucas brand "oil conditioner", the mineral one, not the synthetic. You can add it for up to half your capacity, but I expect one quart will dramatically reduce your smoking and oil leaks. You can buy it at auto-zone or somewhere like that, it will be with the oil additives. Comes in a white plastic bottle with a pointy top and blue writing.

Anyway, you're not JUST leaking so much oil you don't need to change it, it's got to also be burning, unless it's leaking so amazingly badly that you leave oil lines as you drive.

[dohmann777]

with the amount of millage you have probably a good idea to go ahead and swap out the engine ill do some searching for some cheap engines either freshly rebuild or low milage best bets rebuilt might cost some at the end but you have till next year to save hell 100 bucks outta each paycheck should do you well i did the same finaly ordered my low milage sr20 and i dont even have a 240 yet (yet this winter my buddy is getting rid of his so im buying it as a shell because he just got a s14 (your model) car so yea i have some saving but by the time your smog comes up you will have the cash. good luck and ill send some links......LaTeRz

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hi mechanical...
No trails of oil, and you're right the oil gets used up even though I don't drive that far. Thanks for the tip, 'will do! Re: the gas mileage, I think I'll get 200-300 miles per tank, we'll see...

[95Nissan240sxSE]

Hey LaTeRz,
thanks for the links in advance, anything will help.

[krash]

I get aroudn 240miles (lol) on a full tank mixed driving.

You have bad valve stem seals. The oil il leaking past and burning, and combustion junk is getting blasted into your oil.

She said that the plugs had oil on them, this could be either because oil is leaking down from the head (meaning bad stem seals), or splashing up past the oil rings (meaning bad rings.) If the compression on a certain cylinder is bad, then thats where I'd suspect the bad rings are.

In either case, I don't think she's doing the repair on her own so it would be cheaper to get another KA and swap it in there. Maybe someone from here thats in that area can help her out.