North American Turbocoupe Organization



blowing white smoke.
gimpy117 Offline
Junior Member
#1
I just replaced my head gasket, and im running 15 pounds of boost, after a 3 mile drive I started throwing white smoke. I wonder if it's the turbo...I can see liquid leaking out of the exhaust where there has been a repair and it's clamped. is it the turbo? or should I worrk about a cracked head or head gasket? also is it possible the water return line from the turbo is borked?

thanks,
Gimpy
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FastN'Fried Offline
Senior Member
#2
Did you clean or machine the surfaces? I got my head cut .030 (to fix a crack) and Im waitig to hear about the block. If you do a compression test you can rule head or turbo.
1988 Canyon Red Turbo Coupe
Carrillo pistons +.030, ARP hardware, 3in exhaust, and a magnaflow
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#3
Was the head checked for flatness? Same for the block? I second a compression test and a leak down test.
Pete Dunham


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anasazi4st Offline
Senior Member
#4
One of the ways you can do a simple test for the flatness of the block is with a straightedge and a bright LED-type flashlight. From what I've read and my understanding, though, unless there's been some sort of damage, the block is rarely suspect.

Did you spray both sides of the head gasket with copper gasket spray? A couple of engine rebuilding shops that I talked to when I was seeking advice on my head gasket replacement swore by that stuff------NAPA has it, sure others probably do as well.

I realize much of the above is advice "after the horse has run away," so to speak, as you've already completed the repair.

Generally speaking, white smoke often means burning coolant/antifreeze...which could mean blown head gasket or turbocharger problems.
Another proud dues-paying member.

1987 Turbo Coupe w/T5OD, 8.8 axle, grey smoke; most options. Got it in 1991 with 41K miles: 3 turbos, 2 heater cores, 3 T5OD full rebuilds, 6 clutches, 1 head gasket, 2 Teves II ABS units, etc. later....
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#5
White smoke is coolant / water. Blueish smoke is oil, and black is unburned fuel (rich AF)

It is extremely unlikely that coolant from a water cooled turbo is getting into the exhaust, and if your turbo oil line was the problem you would see blueish smoke, not white.

What HG did you use?
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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gimpy117 Offline
Junior Member
#6
okay heres the scoop:
I did a compression test. all the numbers were really low but I didn't do it with wide open throttle, but #1 was 70, #2-#4 were 60 psi (also i had to run the tester in without the rubber gasket on the end beacuse it would not screw in with that on so maybe some leakage?). I used Victor rens gaskets from a rebuild kit that cross referenced for the engine so Im pretty sure its right head gasket. im lead to think it's not the head gasket since the numbers are even

the turbo is used and not rebuilt

the head was not checked for flatness, but I was told by machinists (including today) that those chunky lima block heads rarely warp.
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FastN'Fried Offline
Senior Member
#7
I bought the victor master kit but I don't plan on using the head gasket.

I think this is the gasket my machine shop is ordering

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Shop/Comet...PerPage=60

I think the parts store gasket would be the Felpro 1035 but don't quote me on that part number
1988 Canyon Red Turbo Coupe
Carrillo pistons +.030, ARP hardware, 3in exhaust, and a magnaflow
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#8
Stock gasket is Felpro 8993. Felpro 1035 is the "better" and way more expensive HG. It works well for high boost, but requires FLAT head and block surfaces to seal properly.

Yes, the blocks RARELY warp, but that does not mean it shouldn't still be checked for flatness. If the engine was ever seriously overheated in its life, block surface could very well be warped.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Gman Offline
Member
#9
gimpy117 Wrote:okay heres the scoop:
I did a compression test. all the numbers were really low but I didn't do it with wide open throttle, but #1 was 70, #2-#4 were 60 psi (also i had to run the tester in without the rubber gasket on the end beacuse it would not screw in with that on so maybe some leakage?).

I recently did a compression test and got between 150-160 psi all four cylinders, all spark plugs pulled. So your rig must either have a leak, or your head gasket does.
1987 TC project car
Red butt splice - boosting about a bar
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gimpy117 Offline
Junior Member
#10
did you have the throttle wide open?
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