engine and drivetrain MUCHO white/bluish sweet smelling smoke..? UPDATED 2/18/10

[Meintii]

Hey all-

The last few days ive been driving my tii, and when I first start it up a large amount of white smoke comes out of the exhaust. It is only for the first few minutes after I start it, and it does it weather or not the the engine is warm or cold. It smells sort of like antifreeze - you know, kinda sweet smelling- if that helps.

What should I do?

[72Golf]

What do your plugs look like? Sounds like you might have a head crack weeping into a cylinder. Pull all the plugs, crank it and see if she spews.

[Guest Anonymous]

Hey all-

The last few days ive been dringin my tii, and when I first start it up a large amount of white smoke comes out of the exhaust. It is only for the first few minutes after I start it, and it does it weather or not the the engine is warm or cold. It smells sort of like antifreeze - you know, kinda sweet smelling- if that helps.

What should I do?

Not rocket science. Immediately check all fluids for contamination (especially oil). Pull plugs and look for evidence of steam cleaning. In fact, the minute you see the sweet cloud. STOP. pull plugs. If one or more smell sweet and are covered with antifreeze, get car to safe area where you can start planning for a tear down. A head gasket and possibly more is in your future.

You could try one of those over-the-counter products that gunk up your cooling system and advertise themselves as a radiator-fix and gasket stop leak. Maybe they will actually work.

hth

[Meintii]

What do your plugs look like? Sounds like you might have a head crack weeping into a cylinder. Pull all the plugs, crank it and see if she spews.

Spews what? coolant?

this doesnt sound good...

[Meintii]

Hey all-

The last few days ive been dringin my tii, and when I first start it up a large amount of white smoke comes out of the exhaust. It is only for the first few minutes after I start it, and it does it weather or not the the engine is warm or cold. It smells sort of like antifreeze - you know, kinda sweet smelling- if that helps.

What should I do?

Not rocket science. Immediately check all fluids for contamination (especially oil). Pull plugs and look for evidence of steam cleaning. In fact, the minute you see the sweet cloud. STOP. pull plugs. If one or more smell sweet and are covered with antifreeze, get car to safe area where you can start planning for a tear down. A head gasket and possibly more is in your future.

You could try one of those over-the-counter products that gunk up your cooling system and advertise themselves as a radiator-fix and gasket stop leak. Maybe they will actually work.

hth

Thats what I was thinking, luckly I have a spare head gasket set (i think) in the basement. Ill pull the plugs later tonight.. Do i need to stop driving it completely?

Its my only car right now

[jp02ti]

Zac, if the head turns out to be bad let me know. I have a spare 121ti head in good condition i can trade you for something. won't help if you have an "e" head though.

Jon

[Guest Anonymous]

luckly I have a spare head gasket set (i think) in the basement. Ill pull the plugs later tonight.. Do i need to stop driving it completely? Its my only car right now

How lucky are you?

COuld be a pinhole leak that disappears when the engine warms up and everything expands. CHeck that oel! If you pull your plus after everything has been run at operating temperature, moisture on the plugs may not be so obvious. That is why I suggested pulling the plugs when you notice the smoke. You really don't know the extent of your problem until you get into it.

You might be able to nurse the thing for a while, but you risk eating things up if your oil is contaminated. And if you have coolant being sucked into one or more combustion chamber - you are loosing coolant and risk the chance of overheating and severely warping your head.

Gaskets do fail. Water Jackets don't last forever, block can crack and miracles happen so that the problem may disappear on its own. With my luck, I would not count on miracles!

[Meintii]

luckly I have a spare head gasket set (i think) in the basement. Ill pull the plugs later tonight.. Do i need to stop driving it completely? Its my only car right now

How lucky are you?

COuld be a pinhole leak that disappears when the engine warms up and everything expands. CHeck that oel! If you pull your plus after everything has been run at operating temperature, moisture on the plugs may not be so obvious. That is why I suggested pulling the plugs when you notice the smoke. You really don't know the extent of your problem until you get into it.

You might be able to nurse the thing for a while, but you risk eating things up if your oil is contaminated. And if you have coolant being sucked into one or more combustion chamber - you are loosing coolant and risk the chance of overheating and severely warping your head.

Gaskets do fail. Water Jackets don't last forever, block can crack and miracles happen so that the problem may disappear on its own. With my luck, I would not count on miracles!

Thanks for the help!

I know that I had to put ALOT of coolant in it today b/c it was starting to over heat, but I pulled over right away and filled it.

How do I check if the oil is contaminating.

[1453aalapapa]

Thanks for the help!

I know that I had to put ALOT of coolant in it today b/c it was starting to over heat, but I pulled over right away and filled it.

How do I check if the oil is contaminating.

pull the dipstick. if oil is mixing, it will look like the proverbial chocolate milkshake. if it does, you are done. and so is the motor.

if you have a leak from the water jacket into the combustion chamber, and not into the oil, the spark plug in the suspect cc will look really clean as compared to the others.

[bills2002]

Dang! Three cars and none of em working right. What's wrong with the trusty Moon Unit?

[Mike Self]

carefully check the water passages in the head that are directly over the exhaust ports. The exhaust heat causes localized coolant boiling when the engine is shut down, and eventually the aluminum will erode until the water passage meets the combustion chamber and you have inadvertent water injection.

A good machine shop can weld in new aluminum to repair the erosion and then mill the head down flat again. If you can't find a shop locally, we have one here in Beavercreek (OH) that did exactly that for my 121 head; it's still holding 15 years and 63000 miles later.

Hope it's just a head gasket. If so, make sure the head surface is flat before replacing the gasket.

cheers

mike

[Guest Anonymous]

I know that I had to put ALOT of coolant in it today b/c it was starting to over heat, but I pulled over right away and filled it.

How do I check if the oil is contaminating.

Lift up the filler cap and see if the oil looks normal or if it is showing signs of homogenized chocolate milk. If you have coolant mixing with your oil as can occur with a blown head gasket, that oil doesn't lubricate the way its supposed to. Not particularly good for bearing surfaces and other moving parts.

Good luck!

[Meintii]

Dang! Three cars and none of em working right. What's wrong with the trusty Moon Unit?

YES i know.. FML. The moonunit technically still runs, but the syncros are busted for first gear, so I have to ride the clutch from 2nd. Also the passenger side CV joint is just about TOAST, it clicks like CRAZY!

And margie doesn't really count

Ill have a look on thursday morning and post some pics on here of what Ive got.

[jgerock]

Zac -

Check the dipstick for a too-high fluid level and also be on the lookout for bubbles in the coolant (radiator). Sounds like you have a blown head gasket. Limit the driving so you don't completely ruin the engine.

[bills2002]

"margie doesn't count."

Zac I know you don't really mean that. At least don't let her hear.

Take some time this weekend and get the moonunit functioning. you gotta get to work to make money to fix the tii ;-)

sounds like a trip to pull-a-part for you.