help 4 a petrol rocsta (lots of light smoke)

[dave_is_me_115]

hello there i have a 1996 petrol rocsta with very low klms (58,000) and i have a MAJOR problem with smoke, but its not burning oil and it is a very light smoke but lots of it. once it has warmed up, u can put your foot a little on the accelerator and the puffs of smoke start comming, once they start they just keep getting worse to the point of smoke puffing out while idling, its gotten to the point that ive just parked it in the yard and just cant drive it arround because i would say its illegal. what would you suggest i do???



p.s please email me if you have any ideas at "dave_is_me_115@hotmail.com"

[harlequin]

hi dave wondering if this is condesation your seeing had a toyota cressida 19879 model ally head it would fret away the head gasket between a water gallery and no5 bore at first just small whisps of smoke but as weeks went by would get steadily worse till clouds out the back always when it was warmed up due to expansion . if it were oil it would be blue and you would smell it aoil usage woud increase plus plugs foul up maybe take em out and inspect em. when the cressida head gasket went it would initially run ok but as leak progressed it would miss and run rough on 5 cyclinders took awhile though. watch coolant level closely . smell the smoke put yuor hand in it see if there is any condesate this is when its warm of course worth a closer study someone else with more knowledge on here will help im sure ps dont burn yuor self go cautiosly. good luck

[FNQCairns]

Dave stuck compression rings? Lots of light smoke can easily be seen while driving, stinks different to blue smoke sort of heavier anyway it's a consideration, if you pop the oil cap there should be BUCKETS coming out while idling if it is the problem.

Mechanics will say it's a rebuild but sometimes a really good thrashing with LOTS (go really silly) of product to remove carbon can work well.

Power steering fluid and I think brake fluid if added to fuel can do the same giving lots of white smoke out the exhaust.

cheers fnq

[Reel Hard]

The way you say it puffs-sounds like one sick cylinder out of the four.
Could have broken rings in that cylinder. Compression test is needed.

[Hagar]

Is it manual or auto ?

Chris

[Darren D]

Dave, one of our 4cyl rodeo`s did the very same thing not so long ago, the mechinic said a full rebuild for around $4500 would be needed.
We got a second opinion and it was only a head gasket, fixed and back on the road, look at that first.
Darren.

[Brett1907]

Hi Dave, go and get a compression test done. Any mechanic will be able to do it and it souldn't take long or cost much. If the compression is down in one or more cylinders then it is most likely the rings. Could need a rebuild but a carbon remover may do the trick. If the compression is down it 2 cylinders that are side-by-side, or compression is ok then you are probably looking at the head. Could just be the head gasket or you may need new valves/valve seets. If the head gasket has a break in it you should be noticing a higher than normal running temperature, and possibly oil in the cooling system and/or water in the oil. Check the dipstick and if the oil seems a bit caramel like in consistency and colour then it is almost definately the head gasket.

Good Luck.

Brett

[Poodroo]

A compression check will tell all as suggested. If there is a cracked head or gasket then water can get into a cylinder. The car will idle like it is missing that cylinder and as the water temperature rises you will see the tell tail steam which may look like smoke coming out the tailpipe. I had a car do this many years ago. If you check under the oil filler cap you may see water condensation under it which would confirm that theory. Also you could check the dipstick for little water droplets on it. A mechanic would be the best idea I think. Good luck.

Poodroo

[dave_is_me_115]

thanks heeps for all your help and i shall give it my best attempts thanks again and if i have any problems ill get back to you

regards david

[dave_is_me_115]

hello there again i went and bought a compression tester from an auto store and did a compression test, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cylinders were at 150 or so, but the 4th cylinder only got to a maximum of about 60. what would you suggest to do?

[gone_fishing]

not a good sign dave
is the car using water if its a head or head gasket it will pressurize the cooling system forceing water out of the radiator this will not cause a smoke prb in my experince
as a guess 1. snapped ring pressureing sump causing oil to be pushed into the inlet manifold (egr system) this is sump off head off piston out .only takes a eyedropper of oil to cause smoke screen hardly know your using any
2.bent valve or burnt valve more likely bent not setting correctly and damaged guilde drawaing oilint combstion chamber

try adding a couple a sqirts of oil into no4 and re do comp test oil will seal around ring surface if comp comes up rings stuffed not to much oil though
if not blown gasket or head or valve
try running the motor with the oil filler cap off see how much pressure is coming out
hope this helps will think about it and throw in anthor 2 cents later

[gone_fishing]

does the motor have a miss ?
is it useing water ?
what colour are the plugs when removed?
has the motor been run out of water or oil ?

[dave_is_me_115]

hey thanks for that and yes the motor does have a slight miss but it is noticeable,
no it isnt using any water
and the sparkplugs were quite dirty but the 4th sparkplug was caked up with crap
and to my knowledge it has never run out of oil or water

[gone_fishing]

sounds like the min youll have to do is remove the cylinder head
and a visual inspection
to me at what your saying sounds like a broken ring
but that doesnt mean that its not a head gasket blown into galley
just thinking if you do pull it down before you go to far check the cam lobes and valve springs as being no4 is the last to get lubricated
pretty sure rocsta are over head cam

[dave_is_me_115]

hey thanx for all your help and ill give it a try,
regards dave