Why is my car smoking?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
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From: st.paul, mn, 55104
Why is my car smoking?
well when i normal drive it then it doesnt smoke but from time to time first gear would smoke... but when i race or down shift then it smokes. Like a pile of white smoke comes out then it stop then everytime im upshifting then a pile of white smoke comes out then it stop coming, whats the problem, my buddy tells me that my head gasket is leaking could that be the problem?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 1
From: the 609, NJ
Re: Why is my car smoking? (4dr*sleeper)
Tell your car to cut down, smoking leads to vtec cancer. But seriously, oil is being burned somewhere. Could be the head gasket, but it's hard to say for sure. Is it boosted by any chance?
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 16,612
Likes: 55
From: Southside ATL, GA
Re: Why is my car smoking? (4dr*sleeper)
Coolant smoke will be white as snow, but oil smoke can also be confused as "white" because it usually has a light greyish/blueish hue to it.
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,393
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Re: Why is my car smoking? (B18C5-EH2)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Coolant smoke will be white as snow, but oil smoke can also be confused as "white" because it usually has a light greyish/blueish hue to it.
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's some good information, I think my headgasket is going thanks so much!
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's some good information, I think my headgasket is going thanks so much!
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 16,612
Likes: 55
From: Southside ATL, GA
Re: Why is my car smoking? (JDM-EJ1)
BTW:
This may be slightly off-topic if the car in question doesn't have a B-Series engine, but since we're talking head gaskets...
I have seen people actually remove the head and do a head gasket job because they think their gasket is leaking oil because oil collects on the corner of the block where the head, block, and tranny case meets.
Oil collects there if the cam plug or the VTEC valve gasket leaks! A head gasket will not physically leak oil like that in that area.
Sorry I had to vent...
This may be slightly off-topic if the car in question doesn't have a B-Series engine, but since we're talking head gaskets...
I have seen people actually remove the head and do a head gasket job because they think their gasket is leaking oil because oil collects on the corner of the block where the head, block, and tranny case meets.
Oil collects there if the cam plug or the VTEC valve gasket leaks! A head gasket will not physically leak oil like that in that area.
Sorry I had to vent...
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,051
Likes: 0
From: Manhattan, New York
Re: Why is my car smoking? (4dr*sleeper)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Coolant smoke will be white as snow, but oil smoke can also be confused as "white" because it usually has a light greyish/blueish hue to it.
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Good info, it sounds like he's burning something up.
It's not uncommon for higher mileage Hondas to use oil and smoke out of the exhaust if it's been driven hard, or if the maintenance wasn't kept up by a previous owner and now you're out racing it.
There is a really cool trick for properly diagnosing a blown head gasket, but it requires a really cool part in order to do so.
Try finding a coolant funnel that has a radiator cap adapter on it so you can screw the funnel to your top radiator tank just like you'd scrww on the radiator cap.
Fill the funnel halfway with coolant, then start the car. It is normal for the car to suck coolant down into the radiator from the funnel, so keep adding coolant until it levels off at about halfway in the funnel.
It is 100% normal for the coolant to bubble in the funnel until the cooling fans come on.
If the engine temps reach halfway or right near it, your fans should come on. If the coolant in the funnel continues to bubble, or worse - if it gushes or has an oily film in it while it bubbles - then you definately have a blown head gasket.
This is exactly how my shop diagnoses blown head gaskets, along with another tool that measures exhaust gas content in your coolant, but the "funnel trick" is the **** and it is also the best way to bleed your cooling system even if you don't have a blown head gasket.
If the coolant stops bubbling after the fans kick on, then you are simply burning oil out the exhaust.
Also if the engine begins to overheat while the funnel is on, it will bubble/gush even if you do not have a blown head gasket. such as if your thermostat isn't opening, your fans are not coming on, etc. You have to make sure that the fans come on and that the lower radiator hose is as hot as the upper hose (if the lower hose is cool, but the upper is hot then you need a thermostat) BEFORE you can even diagnose a head gasket problem.
Good luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Good info, it sounds like he's burning something up.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: st.paul, mn, 55104
Re: Why is my car smoking? (sicky)
well my buddys that drives behind me claims to be seeing white/blueish, so im guessing thats the smoke color but thanks alot for the help and the info about the coolent check, it is awesome man thanks alot. And yes my car evertime im driving it it doesnt over heat but if i pop the hood ad touch my valve cover it gets pretty damn hot. i dont know i guess im gonna have to do alot of work then. Thanks again guys
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 16,612
Likes: 55
From: Southside ATL, GA
Re: Why is my car smoking? (j_wod2000)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by j_wod2000 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if its white its coolent you need to change your head gasket</TD></TR></TABLE>
Is there an echo in here?
Is there an echo in here?
H-T Order of Merit
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 96,489
Likes: 38
From: Siege Perilous
Re: Why is my car smoking? (B18C5-EH2)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Is there an echo in here?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Damn. I came in here just because I saw you were posting.
This was pretty boring.
Is there an echo in here?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Damn. I came in here just because I saw you were posting.
This was pretty boring.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 0
From: Firefighting in Virginia, USA
Re: Why is my car smoking?
also if you do have a blown head gasket pull the dipstick and check the oil, with a blown head gasket it allows the coolant and the engine oil to mix together. If you have water in your crankcase it will look all nasty and crap, and if it's really bad you'll have a lot of water in there that will make it read way too full. To me it sounds like it's just burning a little oil. Whats the miles on it and do you have to add often or what?
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