help - white smoke, gas problem? Options

[liquor]

I put 20$ of premium gas (93 octane) as usual and had my car washed at Shell.
I drive for 15 mins... stop the car for about 45 min and after when i
start it again the engine is rattling like crazy and theres white smoke coming out of
the muffler. The idle is very low (below 500), the engine shakes alot, smells gas alot.
No apparent leaks. Fortunately, I was able to drive the car to the mechanic shop 2 corners away
but ill have to wait till monday to know whats the problem.

I think the water jets under the car at the car wash might have shot some water in
my gas tank cuz there is some rust spots around.

What do you think?

[toyotacrazy]

Hello, sounds like a blown head gasket. Hows the coolant level? What kind of car do you drive? Model/year/engine? Good luck

I put 20$ of premium gas (93 octane) as usual and had my car washed at Shell.
I drive for 15 mins... stop the car for about 45 min and after when i
start it again the engine is rattling like crazy and theres white smoke coming out of
the muffler. The idle is very low (below 500), the engine shakes alot, smells gas alot.
No apparent leaks. Fortunately, I was able to drive the car to the mechanic shop 2 corners away
but ill have to wait till monday to know whats the problem.

I think the water jets under the car at the car wash might have shot some water in
my gas tank cuz there is some rust spots around.

What do you think?

[liquor]

Hello, sounds like a blown head gasket. Hows the coolant level? What kind of car do you drive? Model/year/engine? Good luck

94 celica GT (5sfe 2.2L) - 100k miles - no major mods
Collant level is normal, no overheating

[SlowCelica94]

Check the coolant overflow and see if it looks/ smells like a milkshake. If so, blown headgasket.

[liquor]

Check the coolant overflow and see if it looks/ smells like a milkshake. If so, blown headgasket.

No coolant is ok... means my headgasket 's fine?

btw there was heavy gas smell at the muffler tip along with fuel on the ground...

[bindertch]

If you are getting fuel all the way to the ground then you need to have your plugs checked. Because if you have that much gas going all the way through your exhaust system and hitting the ground then there is at least one that isn't firing. That would explain all symptoms. Also you could have gotten some bad gas and the "gas" on the ground could be water. If that is suspected then go to your parts store and get some treatment. Good luck.

[Bitter]

it could be an injector (or multiple) injectors stuck open. ask the mechanic to test the ohms on the injectors and also to check that all cylinders are getting spark.

[liquor]

Thank you guys - tomorrow the car will be checked I hope it aint too bad... The fact that it happend just after i went to the gas station gives me the impression that bad gas is inthere...

[liquor]

Ok the garage just called - they have absolutely no clue of what is going on. Unburn fuel comes out of the muffler - which is btw really dangerous! They called toyota and they told them to do some tests but without any results... Someone as a clue??

[Bitter]

did you ask him to check that each cylinder has spark and that none of the injectors are stuck open?


the EASIEST way to check for a stuck injector is with a fuel pressure guage, just attach it, start the car, turn it off, and if the fuel pressue is dropping rapidly (it should drop VERY slowly) then in combination with the other symptoms a stuck open injector is a likely cause.


he can also check for water in the gas with a test kit, is your fuel an ethanol blended fuel? if it is then it is possible you have excessive water in the fuel.

This post has been edited by Bitter: Mar 13, 2006 - 2:35 PM

[CheesyLobster]

dude, sounds like you should bring it to another mechanic.

[liquor]

dude, sounds like you should bring it to another mechanic.

Yes I had it towed to the nearest Toyota dealer.
The said wires that connect to the injectors were squeezed under the valve cover seal.
I had that done this fall... looks like a mechanic will get in big trouble very sooon

[liquor]

Just got my car back from Toyota and back on the road!

Short circuit on 2 injectors ... wires were caught between engine and valve cover ...

400$ ouch!

[Bitter]

just like i thought, open injectors

im glad you got it fixed and fixed right, that other shop could have messed around and charged you much more than that by just throwing parts at.

[Ronnie5]

I put 20$ of premium gas (93 octane) as usual and had my car washed at Shell.
I drive for 15 mins... stop the car for about 45 min and after when i
start it again the engine is rattling like crazy and theres white smoke coming out of
the muffler. The idle is very low (below 500), the engine shakes alot, smells gas alot.
No apparent leaks. Fortunately, I was able to drive the car to the mechanic shop 2 corners away
but ill have to wait till monday to know whats the problem.

I think the water jets under the car at the car wash might have shot some water in
my gas tank cuz there is some rust spots around.

What do you think?

I think your head gasket has gone, I have had the same problem (white smoke) does your radiator water throth up? is there white scum on oil filler cap? today I have used something called SEAL UP made by CARGO you add it to your radiator it is liquid glass my gt4 no longer fills the road with smoke! after 20 mins running the engine, if I was you I would invest in SEAL UP this should work, the seal is perminant

[liquor]

I think your head gasket has gone, I have had the same problem (white smoke) does your radiator water throth up? is there white scum on oil filler cap? today I have used something called SEAL UP made by CARGO you add it to your radiator it is liquid glass my gt4 no longer fills the road with smoke! after 20 mins running the engine, if I was you I would invest in SEAL UP this should work, the seal is perminant

Nope - read the replies . Turned out to be the injectors fortunately. No more smoke after fixed the shortcircuit