white smoke...

[smashism kills]

ok so i know white smoke coming from my exhaust probably means a bad head gasket, bad thats gonna be a ***** for me to change..so im asking if there is absoloutly ANYTHING else at all that the white smoke could be?...some info on the car..its a 91 fastback stock ka2de i did the auto to manual swap in it but still have the stock automatic ecu in it...the car cat for about 2 years without running..i recently bought it did the transmission swap and fired it up for the first time of its life in forever..because the car sat i changed the spark plugs, the oil, the fuel filter, fuel pump and cleaned the gas tank because it was rusty and put high octane gas and a fuel system cleaner in...it seemed to run alot better but it runs rough when revved up sometimes and theres still white smoke..its just a little when idling back when revved up it creates more..so if theres anything at all besides a head gasket PLEASE let me know...if you also think its definetly a head gasket,is there anywhere on the site that would tell me how to change it out? i dont the order of the bolts and torque specs..and also where to start on taking **** off to get to it..i apreciate any thoughts im a newb to the site..thanks

[tjmhillz]

i think white smoke is when ur running rich.. if im not mistaking.. check ur coolant res.. if it looks like chocolate milk then u have a blown hg. if the smoke is alot then its a bad hg if its just a lil smoke then probably just running rich. do u have any problems wit overheating?

[smashism kills]

i havent had any overheating problems but the car has only been up and running again for about a week since its 2 year sit its hasnt had a nice drive yet really...someone told me if it was a fuel problem like running rich then the smoke would be dark?

[smashism kills]

ok so i just went and checked my oil...it was nice and golden still....and my car does not have overheating issues...the car sat for 2 years and my dad is telling me its junk in my motor being cleaned out? he smelled the smoke and said its not water or oil and the smoke isnt exactly billowing out today but im still worried i want to know all you pros thoughts..thanks guys

[ricebike]

you can rent a cooling pressure tester from autozone (don't forget an import car radiator adaptor; i don't remember the part # exactly, but it was on their placemats)

u can pressurize the system w/ da engine off to ~14psi, see if the pressure holds & rule it out that way...

free tool rental from autozone FTW!

i may be leaning w/ the other niconaut who said u may be running rich... did u look into the trouble codes??? http://www.240sx.org faqs...

also, check the plug-to-wire connection to the coolant temp sensor; if it's corroded w/ junk, clean it out w/ brakeclean or electronic contact cleaner n a wire brush & reconnect... if the ecu thinks the engine's cold, it'll dump more fuel says common-sense man
Modified by ricebike at 9:30 PM 4/8/2007

[Air Jindy]

Check your coolant level. White smoke usually indicates that ur burning coolant. Then again some people can't tell if they're smoke is white or just that plain normal smoke. Like one of the guys said, pressure test your system. I've seen coolant leaks that come out onto a hot exhaust pipe to produce the white smoke, it isn't always the head gasket, but likely =p

[wa-chiss]

i think white smoke is when ur running rich.. if im not mistaking.. check ur coolant res.. if it looks like chocolate milk then u have a blown hg. if the smoke is alot then its a bad hg if its just a lil smoke then probably just running rich. do u have any problems wit overheating?

Accually yes, you are mistaken. White smoke is either coolant burning or steam. If the car sat for a while I bet there was some condensation in the exhaust leading to it evaporating and smoking out the pipe. Then after it was all gone, it stopped smoking. If the HG was blown, it would smoke everytime the t-stat opened if it was leaking into the cylinder. If it was leaking into the oil, and the oil was "old", you will get the milky look. New oil won't show coolant as much. You can also look under the oil filler cap. If you see white, water/coolant is getting into your oil.Black smoke is unburned fuel. Unburned fuel coming out of the exhaust means you are running too rich.Blue smoke is oil burning. If the HG is blown at an oil passage and oil is getting into the cylinder, you will have blue smoke. It will smoke if there is oil getting in the cyliders from the valve stem seals being worn, oil getting into the intake tract from a stuck PCV valve, and poor piston rings.I hope this helps.

[Black on Gold]

Running rich is black smoke.

[s14_240sx]

Accually yes, you are mistaken. White smoke is either coolant burning or steam. If the car sat for a while I bet there was some condensation in the exhaust leading to it evaporating and smoking out the pipe. Then after it was all gone, it stopped smoking. If the HG was blown, it would smoke everytime the t-stat opened if it was leaking into the cylinder. If it was leaking into the oil, and the oil was "old", you will get the milky look. New oil won't show coolant as much. You can also look under the oil filler cap. If you see white, water/coolant is getting into your oil.Black smoke is unburned fuel. Unburned fuel coming out of the exhaust means you are running too rich.Blue smoke is oil burning. If the HG is blown at an oil passage and oil is getting into the cylinder, you will have blue smoke. It will smoke if there is oil getting in the cyliders from the valve stem seals being worn, oil getting into the intake tract from a stuck PCV valve, and poor piston rings.I hope this helps.

This guy knows his stuff. Yes, if your car has been sitting for awhile (you said 2 YEARS ) then there will be condesnsation and even full blown water in the exhaust, which heats up and produces the steam. Is alot of water coming out when you floor it? ( dont stand behind the car when you floor it cuz you'll get nasty exhaust water all over you like my friends dad did recently) also like everyone else said check you oil after a few 100 km, if its milky brown = bad HG. good luck.

[UNVMY240]

Smell the exhaust.. If it smells sweet them I would check for blown head gasket, also pull your plugs out and see if any look steam cleaned. If u have coolant in the cylinder it will pressure wash your plugs and the cylinder. Bring the piston up to TDC and see if it is clean or has coolant sitting on it. also take your radiator cap off when u first start your car (dont open it hot!!!!) if you have coolant shoot out of the radiator then u have a blown head gasket into the cylinder, If you check your oil and it is milky then its into a oil galley. I've been a Nissan tech for 7 years at local Dealership and have seen my fair share of blown head gaskets.

[wa-chiss]

Yeah I forgot about the smell. Oh, And cooland shouldn't "shoot" out of the rad. You'll see some bubbles though.