URGENT (ish) help needed!

[rico2k_uk]

hey all,

right, got a big old issue with my fd.. big enough for me to have to get a low-loader

was driving along doing normal speeds, and for the first time ever there was a little bit of white smoke. everything started fine in very cold temps, and running smooth.

went to drive to crieff which is a b-road drive. was stuck behind someone, and tried to overtake. got 3/4 passed then MASSIVE amount of white smoke started pouring out of the exhaust. i managed to pull over and turn off the engine.

there is loads of coolant in the system (none was lost), but looks like there may be a issue with the amount of oil in the system. i couldnt tell how much was in via the dipstick, (due to weather), but didnt look like much!!

i had to start the car a couple of times while waitign for the AA - once to move out of the way of someones driveway, the other to get the car at an angle we can get it onto the loader.

both times, it started perfectly, sound very smooth, but pluming a ton of white smoke.

what could be the issue? water seals? if so, wouldnt i be having an issue with levels? oil seals? if so, would it not be gray/blue/black smoke?

unfortuantly, i am away for a month, so the car will just be sitting there doing nothing for a while. and tbh, i cant afford a rebuild, so if that is required, looks like i\'ll either have to break the car, or sell as is.

Cheers.

[Jit]

turbo oil seals knackered? If the engine starts, then i cant imagine it being too terminal...i certainly wouldnt envisiage it being a rebuild from what youve said.

[rico2k_uk]

thats kinda what i thought.... i mean, no overheating, no power loss, engine running on both rotars no matter how cold/hot.

is there a good way to tell if it is the turbos? if so, can get a new turbo pack pretty easily and a hell of a lot cheaper in comparison to a rebuild.

[m4drx]

look in your IC pipework or take the IC of see what comes out.

[rico2k_uk]

what do you mean? take everything off and start it up?

[rx7veilside]

dont think oil seals will give white smoke..check coolant very carefully as loss might not be evident at first and it wont take much coolant to cause smoke
oil normally is a bluer colour

[rico2k_uk]

cool. will it cause more damage if i run the car for a bit? or will it probably not matter much?

[Jit]

i wuld have thought that if that much water was getting into the combustion chamber, that the car wouldnt start

[rico2k_uk]

yeah, or at least not well? it was flooded a couple of weeks ago, but that was solved pretty easily.. ive never had any issues with starting the car in the mornings.. especially recently with the big frosts, etc.

[rx7veilside]

first things first
check oil level and top up
check coolant level by removing cap on filler and starting car if water seals have gone the system will throw water out the spout as it vents the pressure

[rico2k_uk]

cool. wont be able to do it for a month, but i\'ll do all that. any other tips/tests i should do?

[rx7veilside]

these are the first 2 basic steps
ensure water and oil topped up
then from cold with filler cap removed start car
if water seals gone water will be under pressure and exit car throught the spout straight away so dont stand over the spout
if oil seals it will burn oil straight away

[Timmy]

turbo seal i thought normaly go slowly.
Anyway turbo seals can give both white and blue smoke depending on where it leaks from.
A hot side leak will give white smoke as it has not been combusted and it is just burning. (will find oil in the down pipe)
A turbine side leak gives blue smoke obviously as it get sucked into the engine and combusted. (will find lots of oil in the i/c and pipes)
Can be possible to have leaking both sides.

[rico2k_uk]

well checked teh ic piping, and its as clean as it normally is (well a little bit oily).....

[clive]

With these symptoms I have used this method to check what is going on a few times.

If you get somebody to start the car for you

Hold the palm of your hand near the exhaust tip and see if you get lots of water globules on your hand in just a few seconds, next is smell the exhaust gas as you will detect anti freeze water or oil smoke by smell.

If it is water seals and its real bad you will normally build lots of pressure in the water system and even could water will erupt if you take the rad cap off.

Fingers crossed for you it\'s not seals:o .