Just bought a used 00 si, w rebuilt motor and exhaust is smoking and has a strong smell to it. Car is at 400 miles since rebuilt, supposed to change oil at 500. Car is not using oil or coolant, idles normal, rips pretty good. What could cause the smoking and smell? Smoke looks white w a tint of blue. Mods are header, intake, exhaust, hi flow cat, and some reason this guy put a msd ignition system in.

 

Strong smelling exhaust sounds like its running rich. But you say "hi flow cat" which could really mean you have low-function or non-existent cat, which could cause the smell. Blue tinted smokes suggests burning oil. Does it smoke at idle? Are you sure its a rebuilt engine? MSD ignition won't cause any issues, possibly changed the ignition for a turbo platform.

 

Smokes a little at idle, I can see smoke when driving from 1st to 2nd gear from a stop, but I don't see any after that, my friend was driving behind and said it smoke all the way thru when I was getting on it a little but can't see any in my mirrors. I havnt got a chance to look underneath to see the whole exhaust yet. Guy who I bought if off of showed me some paperwork on the engine rebuild, I know it was honed and new rings. His mechanic said it was normal for it to smoke after a rebuild for a little while. But I dunno about that. Hopefully it's just running rich like u said. Thank for the reply

 

You can't necessarily say it isn't burning oil with such a small number of miles to base that idea.

Is there a whole write up to the engine rebuild? What was done besides honing and new rings? How many miles were on it before the rebuild?

 

There is 38k original miles, the interior is literally showroom quality, body is very good just a couple dings, that's why I took a chance on it because I know I will never find a clean si like this ever. He told me it sat for 3 years in storage so he had it rebuilt thinking the engine might seize from sitting. I don't have the complete paperwork on me know, there was a list just remember seeing the honing and rings

 

OP

If the engine is high mileage and they honed it and reused back stock pistons and rings

That could be your problem

Do u hear any piston slap when the engine is cold ?

 

I think the car was boosted, then blown up, then rebuilt wrong. Have an msd ignition under the hood, just found a boost retard timing switch in the glove box w a wire going into the firewall