White Smoke Help needed Please

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Titled Gentleman, Oct 22, 2005.

  1. I have an S-reg 1.8 Vectra that until last week was running fine.
    The problem started when the engine seized up whilst the wife was driving
    it.
    The engine was beyond economical repair but I had a replacement engine so
    this was not a problem.

    The replacement engine came from my sons p-reg 2.0 Vectra that he was
    breaking for spares.
    The engine was low mileage and ran as sweet as a nut.
    The only reason he was breaking the car was because it had a rear end shunt.

    So during the week I removed the engine from my S-reg vectra and replaced it
    with my sons engine.
    I put the engine in complete (short engine+head) but used all my ancillaries
    from my car.
    This all went together no problem and started first turn of the key.
    For the first 5 minutes whilst the engine was cold it ran like a dream.

    Then lots and lots of white smoke started coming out of the exhaust along
    with trickles of water.
    Although there was billows of white smoke the car still ran evenly.
    I know 100% for certain the head gasket is okay as it ran perfectly before I
    swapped engines.
    I just can't understand why it has suddenly started playing up.
    This is what I have checked so far:

    There is no water in the oil and no oil in the water also there is no
    pressure in the water bottle.
    I have checked the smoke and it's definitely white smoke (steam) so water
    related.
    I have cleaned all the breathers on the car.
    Someone suggested I try a new inlet manifold gasket as I used the old one.
    I will do this tomorrow and report back my findings.

    Can some clever person please suggest what to check next?
    I have my sons car to trial and error using parts but I'm baffled what to
    try next.
    Even with all the white smoke the car runs perfectly but it is obviously
    something water related.
    Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
     
    Titled Gentleman, Oct 22, 2005
    #1
  2. I have now spoken to my son who has been working on the car today while I
    have been at work.
    He removed the head and fitted a new head gasket but we still have lots of
    white smoke.
    Thinking that the head may be warped or cracked he tried another head along
    with a new head gasket.
    We still have the same problem the car runs beautifully but keeps chucking
    out white smoke.

    The bottom end is okay and the head and gasket is okay can anyone suggest
    the next thing to do?
     
    Titled Gentleman, Oct 22, 2005
    #2
  3. Titled Gentleman

    me140 Guest

    You don't say if the water level is going down or not. If not
    I wonder if when the previous engine died it filled the exhaust with water -
    so all you are seeing is the water evaporating from the exhaust - it takes
    ages to clear
     
    me140, Oct 22, 2005
    #3
  4. The previous engine just seized so as far as I'm aware there was no water in
    the exhaust pipe to evaporate.
    The water level does not go down and there is no pressure in the system or
    water in oil and vice versa.
    Everything seems to point to the head gasket.
    Though I ruled this out as it has had two tested heads and two head gaskets
    and still the same fault.
    I am at a lost at what to try next as all the logical things have been
    tried.
     
    Titled Gentleman, Oct 23, 2005
    #4
  5. Titled Gentleman

    me140 Guest

    Have you run it for ages at 3000rpm to clear it out?
     
    me140, Oct 23, 2005
    #5
  6. I would also suggest that the car is taken for a run, only about 10 - 15
    mins on the motorway to clear any signs of water from the exhaust system
    and allow the Cat to get up to temperature.
    My Vectra had a similar situation. On tickover it seemed to be fine, taking
    it off the drive, billowing white smoke, but could tell it was only water
    vapour due to it very quickly disappearing.
    Up and down the motorway a few junctions and it cleared as the whole of the
    exhaust system got to temperature.

    Hope it works for you

    Cheers

    Adrian
     
    Adrian Hodgson, Oct 23, 2005
    #6
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