[BBKG79]

Mods: Stage 2, Maddad Catted Bellmouth, Helix Catback, Zero/sports Intake pipe, Fram Drop-in Filter, One-step colder plugs, Stock fuel filter.

I’m blowing white smoke after warm up and during pulls in any gear, especially if I down shift and step on the gas. Smoke is similar to cigarette smoke, meaning it’s not a lot, more will come out of course when I down shift and step on it. Temp today was 51 – 60* outside. I’ve use the search button and found some info as follows:

I couldn’t trace coolant anywhere that’s visible from standing over the bay.

I do have blowby, noticed this before when I removed the IC.

I recently changed my PCV Valve, wasn’t stuck yet, but the rattle was less.

Haven’t noticed an oil leak anywhere, but I also haven’t removed the downpipe to see if there’s oil in there!!!

I haven’t checked the AVCS line yet, will probably do this at the same time as the downpipe .

Haven’t checked the turbo to see if the seals are bad, not really sure how. Guess I need to remove my heat shield???????

Also have to check the turbo hoses/connectors (oil and water), heard they are prone to leaks.

Had a compression test done 3-14-08 and my results are…

Cylinder 1 – 148psi
Cylinder 2 – 150psi
Cylinder 3 - 146psi
Cylinder 4 – 149psi

While they were in there I had them put in one-step colder plugs. So the test seems fine, I take care of the car, oil changes every 3k, changed the timing belt, oil pump, and all necessary pulleys as a precaution during the compression test. Not in relation to the smoke.


Checked Oil level and it’s currently a little above the L, I will top off as needed. Don’t know why but I turned the dip stick around and on the other side between the bottom of the stick and the F, there’s oil. Don’t know if that means anything or that’s just normal?

Before I got tuned on 4-16- 08, I noticed the white smoke but I thought it was condensation in the exhaust or just the chill in the air.

But when I was getting tuned, the tuner told me I was pinging like crazy, I never heard one sound before he touched the car which some say is normal. He couldn’t fully tune my car he said but he worked around it the best he could. He said I must have got a bad batch of gas, he told me to run through 2-3 tanks then come back for my road tune which is tomorrow. It seemed like I was on the dyno for a half a second . After hearing everyone else good dyno reviews I feel cheated. A few days after the tune, the car went limp, check engine and flashing cruise came on. Turned out to be code P0457 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak), which turned out to be something unplugged in the engine bay. Code gone . I know there are things I need to check but does anyone have any insight on what it could be?

Tune results 280 whp 320 wtq Boost 18.5 then taper down to 16.5 AFR 11.0

[Hitman83]

The bottom end seems fine so it's probably a head gasket. Check your coolant level

[BBKG79]

Originally Posted by Hitman83

The bottom end seems fine so it's probably a head gasket. Check your coolant level

The coolant level is ok. I haven't checked the actual black resevoir, but if the fill tank is good then that should be good, correct?

What if there's too much coolant in the filler tube could that cause the smoke as well like they say when you overfill the crankcase with oil?

[Hitman83]

Originally Posted by BBKG79

The coolant level is ok. I haven't checked the actual black resevoir, but if the fill tank is good then that should be good, correct?

What if there's too much coolant in the filler tube could that cause the smoke as well like they say when you overfill the crankcase with oil?

If the fill tank is good than you're not low on coolant. Keep an eye on it though because it sounds like that's what you're burning. have you had anyone follow you to tell you what the smoke smells like?

Too much coolant won't cause smoke out the tailpipe. if anything, you'll just blow the cap off the overflow tank when the coolant heats up and expands.

[BBKG79]

Had them follow to see the smoke but didn't ask them to smell it. I smelt the exhaust on my own. It's not sweet like some people say and it doesn't smell like oil. It smells normal, like gas, as if it's running rich as our cars tend to run. But as of right now I'm not runing rich, unless I'm mistaking the smell.

[Hitman83]

I don't know if coolant would smell sweet coming out the tailpipe but it definately does if there's a leak under the hood. Hopefully someone a lot more kowledgable about this than me can give you a hand.

[BBKG79]

Originally Posted by Hitman83

I don't know if coolant would smell sweet coming out the tailpipe but it definately does if there's a leak under the hood. Hopefully someone a lot more kowledgable about this than me can give you a hand.

Cool, I really appreciate you check my post and responding.




Anyone else?????????????????

[USAF_STi]

Catless STI's tend to blow some smoke, especially on cold starts. How does your oil and coolant look? Usually if a head gasket goes they will mix and you will get see it in the overflow tank. Also you can drain your oil and see if there is coolant in there.

[BBKG79]

Originally Posted by USAF_STi

Catless STI's tend to blow some smoke, especially on cold starts. How does your oil and coolant look? Usually if a head gasket goes they will mix and you will get see it in the overflow tank. Also you can drain your oil and see if there is coolant in there.

I'm not catless, but I'll check the overflow and drain some oil as well. Thank god for the fumoto!

[ninjaboy76]

Yes coolant burning from a blown head gasket would smell sweet. You can check your oil and see if it has the milk shake look to it of oil mixed with coolant but this would only be is the leak was very bad. You might also want to have a leak down test done on the cylinders. A compression test doesn't always tell you the full story.

[BBKG79]

Originally Posted by ninjaboy76

Yes coolant burning from a blown head gasket would smell sweet. You can check your oil and see if it has the milk shake look to it of oil mixed with coolant but this would only be is the leak was very bad. You might also want to have a leak down test done on the cylinders. A compression test doesn't always tell you the full story.

Thanks Ninaboy76, I'll look for the milkshake description you mentioned and get the leakdown test either before I do the aforementioned or after.

[kessler89]

i had a turbo oil seal go out on my old wrx and it would dump blue smoke, like oil getting shot into the exhaust so i doubt that's your problem either, just to help eliminate

[BBKG79]

Originally Posted by kessler89

i had a turbo oil seal go out on my old wrx and it would dump blue smoke, like oil getting shot into the exhaust so i doubt that's your problem either, just to help eliminate

Thanks, that helps alot with the process of elimination.