Posted By: bosshog
Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 07:15 AM
I've got problems with the 360 in my camper(84 B350). I had an exhaust manifold leak, which led to a valve job due to broken studs in the heads. I had the heads resurfaced also. I got it all together this morning, fired it off. I've got billowing white smoke out the exhaust. I had a bad water leak at the right rear intake area. I just got done pulling the intake off,but am not sure if I need to go further.
Would an intake leak cause this much smoke? or would it have to be a head gasket?I had no problems before pulling the heads, it only has 50K miles on it.I've used the same machine shop many times before, so don't believe it's anything he did wrong. I used standard Felpro blue gaskets,really can't seee where it was sucking water? Could the cork gaskets keep it from sealing by being too thick? They look like they compressed OK.Is there a better gasket to use than the standard 90109 Felpro?
Posted By: moparkid1966
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 07:29 AM
How much was taken off the heads during resurfacing?
The leaking intake gasket can easily cause alot of white steam. I had a ford go into hydraulic lock because of a bad intake gasket. If the resurfacing was a small amount I'd replace the gaskets and make sure you torque the intake properly.
A head gasket leaking in a way where you are seeing significant steam usually also involves overpressuring the cooling system.
Posted By: Dcuda69
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 12:14 PM
How long did you run it? Coolant run out of the block(down the pipes)while you had the heads off? I've had that happen,just have to run it long enough to burn it out,especially if it has a cat on it.
Posted By: buildanother
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 01:17 PM
You may have dumped some coolant in the Y pipe while taking it apart. Also, I have to agree on the possibility of leftover coolant in exhaust from initial problem. I always had to drive the 89 and 90(bad batch of gaskets those years) chevys around quite a bit to burn out the exhaust system after head gasket change.
Posted By: MoparforLife
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 01:57 PM
Before going into panic mode check your coolant level. Make sure that they were full to start with and all the air out and that they are remaining full. No fluid drop - no leak.
Posted By: Dart 340
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 02:47 PM
God, i wish I could figure out where all my
coolant goes. The dog is still alive so I can't
be leaking it, no white smoke, no overheating,
and good cyl compression and leakdown test.
Posted By: bosshog
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 03:16 PM
I did not ask how much they removed when resurfacing. The heads looked good when coming off, so would not think they took enough off to cause a problem with intake sealing. It's possible some coolant got into exhaust pipes when pulling heads, but the smoke never let up. Everything was free of coolant in cylinders.I did not look for bubbles, but also did not run it very long-probably 2 minutes each time(twice). I guess I'll just order another set of gaskets and try again.I may try for a better intake gasket set which may seal a little better. I've built about 5 318's, but never had a problem with them.
Posted By: Dart 340
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 03:16 PM
I dont see any smoke while running and pressure
is good and balanced amongst cylinders. It would
have to be going in after temps get the cooling
system to pressure or even after I shut the car
off. Any ideas on how to check for that? I guess
I could try a pressure test on it....
Posted By: bosshog
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 03:22 PM
Dart 340- My Ford pickup(76 360 engine) would drink a gallon of coolant in 5 miles, no bubbles, no white smoke, no signs of it going anywhere. I pulled spark plugs one by one and found the problem-bad head gasket.The leaking cylinder plugs will be very clean.
Posted By: Dart 340
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 03:29 PM
WOW that was some severe water injection!
I'll check them again. Have to pull them to check
my Jet change anyway.
Thanks.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 05:30 PM
Quote:
God, i wish I could figure out where all my
coolant goes. The dog is still alive so I can't
be leaking it, no white smoke, no overheating,
and good cyl compression and leakdown test.
You need to start your own thread. Trying to follow two questions from two people in a thread is confusing.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 05:33 PM
Quote:
I did not ask how much they removed when resurfacing. The heads looked good when coming off, so would not think they took enough off to cause a problem with intake sealing. It's possible some coolant got into exhaust pipes when pulling heads, but the smoke never let up. Everything was free of coolant in cylinders.I did not look for bubbles, but also did not run it very long-probably 2 minutes each time(twice). I guess I'll just order another set of gaskets and try again.I may try for a better intake gasket set which may seal a little better. I've built about 5 318's, but never had a problem with them.
I would do the following:
Don't pull the heads just yet
Fix your intake(s) leak, and be very careful with your gaskets, and make sure everything is clean.
Pull the plugs and inspect to see if you can determine which hole(s) are affected.
Run the engine up to temperature, and if theres no identifiable leaks you can find--other than exhaust steam,--then pull the plugs again and look for suspects.
I'd bet your intake leak is the start of the problem.
Posted By: MoparforLife
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 05:49 PM
Drive it a few miles to get a good handle on things before you go into panic mode and start doing unnessessary things. It takes a while for things to clean out after being apart. Don't expect it to run clean right from the get-go
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 07:05 PM
Years ago I put a low miles junkyard 340 in my 70 RR ( the FIRST gas crises) I ran that thing a week or more before it stopped burning oil. It had less than 20,000 miles on the wreck (I saw the car). I even ended up complaining to the wrecker. He assured me it would be OK and that they'd stand behind it. I put over 80,0000 more miles on the engine, before it got torn down and went into the old FJ40
Posted By: bosshog
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/02/09 11:38 PM
I ordered a set of Mr Gasket Ultraseal intake gaskets this morning,should be in tomorrow.Hopefully will be able to work on it Sat morning.
Posted By: craigsmytcudas
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/03/09 01:20 AM
pull the plugs and do a pressure check you can get a loner from autozone .listen and you some times can here a leak from the plug holes .also have you checked what banks smoking .white smoke can last several miles when the converters saturated good luck.
Posted By: bosshog
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/13/09 03:00 AM
Got it running Friday night(worked 7 12's,couldn't get to it til then!)! Wite smoke to start with, but no bubbles in radiator or intake leaks. Exhaust cleared after a few minutes of running.Had to be saturated converter as you guys said.Thanks for the help!
Posted By: bosshog
Re: Heavy white exhaust smoke - 04/13/09 03:01 AM
Got it running Friday night(worked 7 12's,couldn't get to it til then!)! White smoke to start with, but no bubbles in radiator or intake leaks. Exhaust cleared after a few minutes of running.Had to be saturated converter as you guys said.Thanks for the help!