Acura Integra All Integra Except ITR

White smoke from exhaust

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Old Aug 30, 2004 | 01:17 PM
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Default White smoke from exhaust

This moring I noticed my gsr kinda didn't want to crank but then turned over. When I purchased the car it had 57k miles on it and I didn't know the last time the spark plugs and wires had be changed so I got some and replaced them. The SP's in the car needed changing very badly. After I changed them the car still kinda sputtered when I cranked it. Then I noticed a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust. I just had an oili change done Saturday. The car now has 60K miles on it. I have aftermarket intake, headers and axleback exhaust.

When I am driving the car it feels like its losing compression so I'm afraid I have a blown head gasket.

Any suggestions?
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Old Aug 30, 2004 | 05:41 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

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Old Aug 30, 2004 | 06:13 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

white smoke it more than likely a head gasket....coolant burns white

what's the oil look like now?
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Old Aug 30, 2004 | 06:33 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (NeoGSR)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NeoGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">white smoke it more than likely a head gasket....coolant burns white

what's the oil look like now?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, most probably the head gasket.

Are you losing coolant? Check your levels. And do like NeoGSR said and see what the oil looks like. If it's a bit milky, then it's your head gasket.

You can do a compression test/leakdown test also to confirm.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 06:49 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

Its in the shop this morning. They said it was only running 1 cyl and that there wasn't any water in the radiator so most likely its the headgasket.

I talked to the previous owner about the Spark Plugs he put in it. He said he put them in about 5 months ago, but they looked like they had been in there for 50k miles
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 07:10 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ipleadthe5th &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its in the shop this morning. They said it was only running 1 cyl and that there wasn't any water in the radiator so most likely its the headgasket.

I talked to the previous owner about the Spark Plugs he put in it. He said he put them in about 5 months ago, but they looked like they had been in there for 50k miles</TD></TR></TABLE>

liar
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 07:25 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ipleadthe5th &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its in the shop this morning. They said it was only running 1 cyl and that there wasn't any water in the radiator so most likely its the headgasket.

I talked to the previous owner about the Spark Plugs he put in it. He said he put them in about 5 months ago, but they looked like they had been in there for 50k miles</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, yeah....either they're lying, or you're lying. Or someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

Car wouldn't run on 1 firing cylinder. Maybe 3....possibly even 2, but for a VERY short time....like 5 seconds.

Spark plugs in the car for 50K miles isn't strange. They can go for 100K miles, I should know. I was too lazy to change mine in my Integra for that long. My Civic now has been running the same plugs for 80K miles.

No water/coolant in the radiator? Hmm, don't think so. Car would not last more than 5 minutes before something VERY SERIOUS happened to the motor.

Better get a second opinion from a shop that knows what they're talking about.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 07:55 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shamoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmm, yeah....either they're lying, or you're lying. Or someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

Car wouldn't run on 1 firing cylinder. Maybe 3....possibly even 2, but for a VERY short time....like 5 seconds.

Spark plugs in the car for 50K miles isn't strange. They can go for 100K miles, I should know. I was too lazy to change mine in my Integra for that long. My Civic now has been running the same plugs for 80K miles.

No water/coolant in the radiator? Hmm, don't think so. Car would not last more than 5 minutes before something VERY SERIOUS happened to the motor.

Better get a second opinion from a shop that knows what they're talking about.</TD></TR></TABLE>

dude at the shop said the computer is saying only one cyl is firing. I pulled the plugs out yesterday and they are "toast". Previous owner said he put them in like 5 months back.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 08:16 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ipleadthe5th &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

dude at the shop said the computer is saying only one cyl is firing. I pulled the plugs out yesterday and they are "toast". Previous owner said he put them in like 5 months back.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Easiest solution would be to change the plugs then, right?

I don't understand how a computer could tell you that only one cylinder is firing. Our ECU's don't give out that information, only "random misfires."

What error codes are coming up? You know you can check them yourself right? Just jump the ECU clip and it'll tell you. Let us know what those codes are and we can help you diagnose your problem.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 10:55 AM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

Well a comression test showed that it blew between 3 and 4. The place wants $575 to replace the HG. So I called on one of my friends and he said $250 for machine work, parts, and labor.

Someone PLEASE make me an offer on some of this stuff I have for sale.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 12:18 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ipleadthe5th &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well a comression test showed that it blew between 3 and 4. The place wants $575 to replace the HG. So I called on one of my friends and he said $250 for machine work, parts, and labor.

Someone PLEASE make me an offer on some of this stuff I have for sale.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, compression test doesn't tell you that. Compression gives you a number in psi. A leakdown test might tell you where.

$575 is about normal for a headgasket install at a shop. Are they doing the water pump too? Should be included in that price, as with all the gaskets needed to replace everything.

Might as well do a timing belt too (only $30 or so since you're in there).

Ar you SURE it's the headgasket? Better make sure before you put a bunch of money into it.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 03:35 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

what other possiblities are there? the 575 did include a water pump but I dont have that kinda money right now for the teg
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 05:06 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (ipleadthe5th)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ipleadthe5th &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what other possiblities are there? the 575 did include a water pump but I dont have that kinda money right now for the teg</TD></TR></TABLE>

It does seem like the headgasket is the culprit, but still.

You said at one point in your post that there was none (or barely any) water/coolant in your radiator. I find that kinda weird, but in any case, that would cause some pretty bad things. Your head is most likely warped, so you will have to get that machined. That will cost extra. Note that if you don't do that AND you do have a warped head, putting on a new head gasket will do absolutely nothing.

Did you not ever check the coolant level? Not doing that could cause a lot more damage than just the head gasket.

I guess your only option (if that's all the information you have, and have given to us) is to pull the head and see what's going on under there. Check the head for even-ness and then the head gasket.

That whole "running on 1 cylinder" thing is also pretty wierd, if not impossible. Do you know how to do a compression test? It's very easy to do. Check your rings, sometimes smoke coming out your tailpipe is hard to discern. Could be many things.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 05:14 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

check the plugs... if the threads are super clean... its a blown gasget for sure.
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 05:42 PM
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Default Re: White smoke from exhaust (shamoo)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shamoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That whole "running on 1 cylinder" thing is also pretty wierd, if not impossible. Do you know how to do a compression test? It's very easy to do. Check your rings, sometimes smoke coming out your tailpipe is hard to discern. Could be many things. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The mechanic said "running on 1 cyl" He could've meant only one cyl firing. The $250 install is including machine work, parts and labor. The price is gonna go up a bit b/c I called him and ask him to change the water pump and timing belt while he's in there.

I'm giving you all the info I have or have been told. Trust me I'm still a noob with a lot of this stuff so I need as much good info as I can get. Thanks for your input
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