Coolant drain + exhaust smoke connection?

A

ArthurRitus

Guest
Hey, my coolant leaks / drains i don't know exactly where its going, but it eventually runs out, the harder i drive, the faster.
If i drive chill, it last about 4 weeks before i have to pour in a little extra, (about a third of a bottle.)

Well when i start my car in the morning it sometimes blows some smoke out of the exhaust, i don't have a video to show you that its not THAT thick, and its been like this for a while.


Also, i have a crack in my exhaust manifold.

Can some one tell me if the smoke is related to the coolant, or the manifold, what the smoke is, and how i can fix my coolant problem / how much its going to cost me. I just moved and don't know any mechanics in the area, and I'm not very car savvy.

I'm pretty desperate =\ i would dread the day i not notice my temp gauge rising (i always keep a close eye on it)

Let me know if you need additional info
 

GuNDeZZZ

Was dgilman360
Sep 28, 2006
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Lakeland Florida
I hate to say it but if the smoke is white and sweet smelling I think its a blown headgasket....

Do a compression test and an exhaust gas test on the cooling system....

GOOD LUCK!!!!
 

Quin

Trans killer
Dec 5, 2006
1,989
0
36
33
Columbus, IN
What color is your coolant? What color was it when you put it in? Does the car overheat if you try and drive it very far?
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
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Fort Worth, TX
very typical symptoms of a BHG...

more boost = more consumption

it could be other things, but it's looking like a textbook case...
 
A

ArthurRitus

Guest
smoke IS white, i have BHG =( ? nasty........
ive been driving it like this for about 2 months, not much just to work and home. did i cause more damage?
 
A

ArthurRitus

Guest
My coolant is green, going in, i never see it going out, no leaks seen.


Also , if it makes it more obvious, but i had my AC recharged, and after the first time i ran out of coolant and had to pull over and add more, the ac stopped working.
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
16,757
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Fort Worth, TX
IIRC the A/C system will shut itself off if your car gets too hot

it will do that before showing on the gauge (at least mine did)
 

flight doc89

Registered Murse
Apr 21, 2006
227
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Bessemer, Alabama, United States
is it safe to drive a car with bhg? as in, will it damage anything to drive it 2 miles to the shop that rebuilt my engine? i had gobs of white smoke last time i drove it and it kept overheating (had to drive for 10 secs then kill engine and coast :( )

Another question, i never let my temp gauge hit the red, but someone told me that being a straight six the back of the block could have overheated before the water did. if my engine DID overheat, whats the worst i'm looking at? will the block be screwed or will i need to re-ring the pistons, or what?

sorry to jack your thread :)
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
16,757
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Fort Worth, TX
I'd get it on a flatbed to be honest, rod knock isn't too far away if the oil and water mix...

the block is pretty stout, you're probably looking at head work, and take the time to rebuild the engine if you can afford it.

I got my head rebuilt as the valve stem seals where completely gone and the ports where damn near clogged with carbon...
 

flight doc89

Registered Murse
Apr 21, 2006
227
0
0
Bessemer, Alabama, United States
Poodles said:
I'd get it on a flatbed to be honest, rod knock isn't too far away if the oil and water mix...

the block is pretty stout, you're probably looking at head work, and take the time to rebuild the engine if you can afford it.

I got my head rebuilt as the valve stem seals where completely gone and the ports where damn near clogged with carbon...
this head is freshly rebuilt with maybe 10k miles on it (same as engine). Will i need to overhaul the head AGAIN because of this?
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
16,757
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Fort Worth, TX
depends how bad the BHG was...

if the coolant mixed with the oil it can cause excess wear, if not, then it's probably fine, but might need to be straightened from overheating...
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
16,757
0
0
43
Fort Worth, TX
if it's badly warped from the heat, they will have the heat it up and straighten in, then heat treat it to get rid of the annealing (or fuck up the head like they did mine and you'll have to helicoil everything)

if it's not too far out of spec, you can just have it milled to be straightened, the main concern is if it's warped too much the cams can seize...