My white smokin' Tercel

[dremmel]

I have a 91 Toyota Tercel that, seven months ago, was putting out a small amount of blue smoke when I first started her up. This would last only a minute or so if that. I checked my manuals and felt that it was possibly due to bad valve seals. I decided to put off changing the seals because I intended to rebuild sometime in the future with some guidance from my in-law. In August, when my inspection was due, I didn't have it done because of a torn CV boot. Now, I want to have it inspected but was told I can't until May. My question is...the smoke is now white and last a bit longer than a minute or so. As a matter of fact, it continues until the car is turned off. I know it could be because of water leaking in through a cracked block. But could it also be due to the fuel being over seven months old? If I had a cracked block, wouldn't there be other indicators besides white smoke? I want to do everything I can to keep this car alive because it's been a well running machine, (over 180,000 miles). I do tend to rebuild in the future but for now what can I do to eliminate the smoke? ANY advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Wgoodrich]

White smoke depicts water in combustion. However most often this is due to a leaking head gasket or cracked head. Block seldom is the problem unless you didn't install antifreeze and the engine froze and caused a crack.

I would pull the heads and take the heads to a shop to be reworked and fluxed. If you are common then I would say the heads being redone will put you back on the white smoke and the valve guides all in one head redone job.

Just my opinion

Wg

[dremmel]

White smoke depicts water in combustion. However most often this is due to a leaking head gasket or cracked head. Block seldom is the problem unless you didn't install antifreeze and the engine froze and caused a crack.

I would pull the heads and take the heads to a shop to be reworked and fluxed. If you are common then I would say the heads being redone will put you back on the white smoke and the valve guides all in one head redone job.

Just my opinion

Wg

Thanks wg. What about the issue with water or condensation having ended up in my fuel tank due to the car sitting for so long? Is it possible? And if so, would siphoning the old out and putting new in help?

[Wgoodrich]

Could be a problem with water in tank. However water in a tank of gas will have the water settle to the bottom. By the time you burn out half a tank most the water would be gone. If this is a long running problem and you have burnt a tank of gas out and your gas station isn't pumping water also then I would lean to the cracked heads.

Just my opinion

Wg

[cboggess]

If a crack in the block is small enough you can get some white smoke without really feeling a loss in power, but not for long. If it is cracked it will grow over time.

Do you get a sickly sweet smell from the exhaust when you get the white smoke? Do you have a layer of oil on your coolant in the tank?

If I had to guess I'd say it's a bad head gasket. You can try a bottle of head gasket sealant that you can buy at an autoparts store. It may not work, and really is a poor way to fix a problem. If it's easy enough for you to pull the heads I would just replace the head gasket.

If it was water in the tank it would burn through that fairly quick and after a couple of fresh tanks of gas it wouldn't smoke any more.

[Unregistered]

Do a compression test. If all cylinders test good, then it may very well be water in the tank. Try some of that gasline antifreeze stuff. It is basicly alcohol that absorbs the water.
If the compression test finds a week cylinder then you may have a blown gasket . Two weak cylinders next to each other might indicate a blown head gasket at that narrow point between cylinders. If you have access to an air compressor, find or make an adaptor so you can screw the hose into the sparkplug holes. Get the compressor far enough away so you can hear. See if you can hear air coming out of the sparkplug hole of the other weak cylinder (if they are next to each other). Also, open the radiator cap and see if there are any air bubbles. If so, you know either there is a blown gasket between the cyl and the water jacket or a crack.
Good Luck
Bill

[xkvator]

In August, when my inspection was due, I didn't have it done because of a torn CV boot. Now, I want to have it inspected but was told I can't until May.

since unreg. responded to your thread that's over a year old, i was just curious if you fixed the problem and what was actually wrong.
also...why did they tell you that you couldn't get it inspected :confused: when you wanted to???
as long as you have a current plate, it can be inspected anytime...

[mdshunk]

since unreg. responded to your thread that's over a year old...
Some people have such an overwhelming sense of self importance, they seem to do things on forums like respond to very old threads.

[Unregistered]

Some people like to try to be constructive and helpful and don't expect to see posts over a year old. Enjoy your yuks.

[Unregistered]

Some people like to try to be constructive and helpful and don't expect to see posts over a year old. Enjoy your yuks.
And this guy is a moderator? What a sham!

[dremmel]

since unreg. responded to your thread that's over a year old, i was just curious if you fixed the problem and what was actually wrong.
also...why did they tell you that you couldn't get it inspected :confused: when you wanted to???
as long as you have a current plate, it can be inspected anytime...
So I'm the proud father of a one and a half year old thread huh? I'm so happy. Anyway... the problem must have been condensation somewhere because after about 100 miles or so, the white smoke ceased to exist (unlike my thread). But my valve seals are in need of replacement which I will do after my garage is ready in a week or so. As for the inspection, I don't know why they told me that. All I remember is they said that if a certain time frame had passed since my inspection should have been done, I would have to wait until I got to within a couple/three months of when it would be do the next year.