The car is chucking out white smoke in idle or slow traffic. It's had a re bore and new rings but the smoke persists. Valve stems have been checked, the turbo is old, but no sign of oil.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

 

If it's defo white smoke then could be the head gasket, have you checked the coolant reservoir?

 

Thanks for the steer on that rog, I shall have a look.

This is causing me so much grief.

 

No problem mate, good when they're going, but unfortunately always have atleast 1 problem every week! How long has it been like this, did you have it rebuilt recently by a company local to you, might be worth taking it down there and see what they say.

 

If you are seeing STEAM from exhaust then it indicates water, NOT oil. Is it loosing coolant? If so take out and examine spark plugs they should be a chocolate brown colour if any are clean this is where that cylinder is effectively getting steam cleaned with the coolant entering. Another thing to do is to check header tank for signs of "oily water" or the presence of mayonnaise on the oil filler cap.

White smoke can also be caused by a sick turbo.

What HG do you have and what is spec?

Martin

 

HG Head gasket? I would need to check but it was replaced about a year ago. No it definitely oil...most of Dorking behind me in the queue, gob in the fumes.

 

Then it should be blue smoke, I would look at valve guides as they don't last long on YB, does it smoke on overrun?

Is it "Breathing" ok, I.E breather ok.

HG is Head Gasket yes.

Martin

 

Steam indicates water ?, it also indicates a perfectly normal engine at this time of year, you have to take into account the DEW POINT, every 100 litres of air contains 940 grammes of water, if say 10C is assumed, this super heated water condenses when hitting a colder gas(air).
The easiest way to see is how the smoke behaves, oil mist will linger a lot longer in the air than normal exhaust gas containing moisture.
The higher the temp the MORE water content, seems odd but true, but also with higher temps less difference in extremes of heat out the exhaust to air temp, and it's enough to make it invisible.
I'm not saying it's not oil just saying to remember they can chuck out some serious smoke/steam at this time of year when temps are low.
Look into your down pipe, if oil is present this would account for it, when the turbine(exhaust) side of the turbo leaks it produces white smoke, as it doesn't get very hot, in comparison to being fried alive in the combustion chamber, this is what they do on films like with del boys reliant, pipe oil into the exhaust.
tabetha

 

I assume he noticed his getting more than just a little condensation steam from cold weather hence this thread.

Martin