Blue/White Exhaust smoke with Inj. 1 short to ground
07-05-2012, 06:07 AM
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Blue/White Exhaust smoke with Inj. 1 short to ground
1995 Civic Sedan LX 1.5L Manual
Symptoms
Everything appeared to be fine before this morning. This morning it had a rough idle, white smoke out exhaust at idle (not particularly sweet smelling), smelled more like burning oil. Car goes into limp mode, (engine speed limited to 3100). Fuel usage was extraordinarily high on the way to work. I pulled the spark plug wires and found a little oil in 4, 3, and 2. Number 1 was filled to the top with oil. It didn't appear to have burned up a noticeable amount of coolant. My commute to work is approximately 45 miles, half county roads, half freeway.
Direct Cause
Due to a short sighted experiment of mine, I inadvertently shorted my Injector #1 to ground (in between the ground side of injector and the ECU). I assume that the ECU recognized that it was no longer in control of the injector ground and went into limp mode. I didn't see any black smoke that would indicate a rich mixture or misfires.
Question
I fixed the short, and everything went back to normal. However, if the injector was shorted open, it should have climbed to a 100% duty cycle and burned up my injector by the time I got to work, or at the very least, pumped liquid hydrocarbons out the exhaust causing a blackout for anyone following me. Why was I burning oil or coolant? Why do I have oil puddling up around my spark plugs? Do I have a problem with the head? Or do I have a problem with my piston rings?
It seems that I have something that is about to give if I don't address it soon. Thanks for any help and insight!
Symptoms
Everything appeared to be fine before this morning. This morning it had a rough idle, white smoke out exhaust at idle (not particularly sweet smelling), smelled more like burning oil. Car goes into limp mode, (engine speed limited to 3100). Fuel usage was extraordinarily high on the way to work. I pulled the spark plug wires and found a little oil in 4, 3, and 2. Number 1 was filled to the top with oil. It didn't appear to have burned up a noticeable amount of coolant. My commute to work is approximately 45 miles, half county roads, half freeway.
Direct Cause
Due to a short sighted experiment of mine, I inadvertently shorted my Injector #1 to ground (in between the ground side of injector and the ECU). I assume that the ECU recognized that it was no longer in control of the injector ground and went into limp mode. I didn't see any black smoke that would indicate a rich mixture or misfires.
Question
I fixed the short, and everything went back to normal. However, if the injector was shorted open, it should have climbed to a 100% duty cycle and burned up my injector by the time I got to work, or at the very least, pumped liquid hydrocarbons out the exhaust causing a blackout for anyone following me. Why was I burning oil or coolant? Why do I have oil puddling up around my spark plugs? Do I have a problem with the head? Or do I have a problem with my piston rings?
It seems that I have something that is about to give if I don't address it soon. Thanks for any help and insight!
07-05-2012, 06:28 AM
#2
Re: Blue/White Exhaust smoke with Inj. 1 short to ground
A shorted fuel injector ground would have thrown code 16. Didn't you notice the CEL?
The oil around the spark plugs is due to bad valve cover oil seals. Replace them and the PCV valve.
The continuous spray of the injector 1 washed off oil from the cylinder wall and may have prematurely worn the #1 piston rings and cylinder wall.
The oil around the spark plugs is due to bad valve cover oil seals. Replace them and the PCV valve.
The continuous spray of the injector 1 washed off oil from the cylinder wall and may have prematurely worn the #1 piston rings and cylinder wall.
07-05-2012, 07:33 AM
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Re: Blue/White Exhaust smoke with Inj. 1 short to ground
CEL was already on due to O2 sensor Heater malfunction.
Do you think there is a real possibility that my oil now contains a significant amount of gasoline?
Thanks for the succinct reply.
Do you think there is a real possibility that my oil now contains a significant amount of gasoline?
Thanks for the succinct reply.
07-05-2012, 08:07 AM
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Re: Blue/White Exhaust smoke with Inj. 1 short to ground
Ok, sounds good. I'm due for an oil change here pretty soon anyway. I don't suppose you could point me to a good thread about valve cover oil seals?
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