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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Sgt_Lemon on 03 August 2013, 09:27

Title: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Sgt_Lemon on 03 August 2013, 09:27
Every time I start the engine cold I get a lot of white smoke coming out the exhaust and a strong smell of burning coolant. I need to do my second oil change after changing the head which stopped this problem last time. Once the engine has gone a mile down the road the smoke stops. Should I be concerned or just keep an eye on coolant levels?
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Sgt_Lemon on 06 August 2013, 13:57
Bump
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Gambit on 06 August 2013, 17:45
are you sure it aint just moisture/steam
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Sgt_Lemon on 06 August 2013, 18:50
The temperature has been way to warm for that. I am also slowly losing coolant but no noticeable leaks.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Wayne on 10 August 2013, 22:22
Get the head gasket checked / tested.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: gazareth on 10 August 2013, 23:10
you could also have an over rich fuel mixture and a small coolant leak hidden away somewhere. did you have the head skimmed before fitting and was it torqued down right? could also be a crack in the head but that's not very common.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Sgt_Lemon on 11 August 2013, 13:02
Yeah the head was skimmed, had to remove the head though after initial fitting due to snapping a pencil in the fist cylinder like an idiot. However the engine was never run the first time so the gasket should have been fine.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: gazareth on 11 August 2013, 20:45
Yeah the head was skimmed, had to remove the head though after initial fitting due to snapping a pencil in the fist cylinder like an idiot. However the engine was never run the first time so the gasket should have been fine.
how on earth did you end up with a pencil in your engine? :grin: anyway I would try retorqued the head bolts first just for the ell of it. start from the middle bolts. crack each 1 off slightly then retorque working your way outwards 1 at a time. not a guaranteed cure. but worth a shot.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Wayne on 12 August 2013, 13:47
Yeah the head was skimmed, had to remove the head though after initial fitting due to snapping a pencil in the fist cylinder like an idiot. However the engine was never run the first time so the gasket should have been fine.

It will have been compressed so that could be causing you problems
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: Sgt_Lemon on 13 August 2013, 10:58
how on earth did you end up with a pencil in your engine? :grin: anyway I would try retorqued the head bolts first just for the ell of it. start from the middle bolts. crack each 1 off slightly then retorque working your way outwards 1 at a time. not a guaranteed cure. but worth a shot.
I was setting the timing and wanted to check that cylinder one was at tdc. I thought what can I push in the hole that won't scratch my shiny piston. As the cylinder came round to tdc the rubber end of the pencil cracked and fell into the cylinder. Because it was the rubber end with the metal I had to remove the head again haha. I will try retorquing the head.
Title: Re: White smoke on start up.
Post by: matty1664 on 11 November 2013, 17:04
I have what seems to be this exact same problem. Suspected possible oil leak into the cylinder. I will let you know what comes of it, hopefully get this sorted on Thursday.