15 replies to this topic

[msm15]

Hi I just picked up a 98 s70 GLT from a Copart auction (yeah I know dumb dumb dumb) figured it was so cheap how can I go wrong.

Its got white smoke coming out the tail when the engine warms up - not right away but after it runs for a few minutes.

There is milky residue on the oil dipstick even with the engine off and only after the car has been running for a few minutes the milky stuff shows up on the oil cap. I know the milky stuff can be a result of a stuffed PCV system or the coolant mixing with the oil - is there any way to tell which is the real culprit.

I have the maintenance records from new until 135000 and they dont mention anything about the PCV system being changed - not to mention that the are around the dipstick is covered in oil.

I have done 2 PCV systems in the past and dont mind doing another just kinda hoping it is not the head gasket - but hey its not my DD so if it is a head gasket - here comes a big learning experience cause I will be doing it myself

Lastly is it a possiblilty that the turbo seals are gone.

P.S. everything else in the car is in really good shape so far I havent found any other flaws


How do I go about diagnosing this

[bergmjs]

Change the oil, see if it comes back right away or takes a while.

[Hoosier Daddy]

with engine warmed up and running see if smoke puffs out the dipstick tube or remove oil cap and put your hand over it. you should feel the engine vacuum. how's your idle?

[msm15]

Thanks for the replies guys - I will look into those. Idle is very good - consistent 840 rpm.

I forgot to mention that I get a CEL about 1 min. after the car is on - it doesnt go on as soon as I turn on the car - almost like a pause but there are no codes - tried many times - it says the computer is ready and there are no codes stored yet I get a CEL,

I am planning on pulling the batt and ECU to let it reset and see what happens but my feeling is that it has something to do with the smoke - which is also delayed

[Dave 54]

Don't jump the gun on a bad headgasket. Mine had some show up after I got it and found that the oil cooler was leaking over in the junk aftermarket rad. the PO put in.

[msm15]

Dave 54, on 06 November 2009 - 01:31 PM, said:

Don't jump the gun on a bad headgasket. Mine had some show up after I got it and found that the oil cooler was leaking over in the junk aftermarket rad. the PO put in.

Wow good call - I did notice that the radiator was changed - didnt get a chance to check if it was OEM or not

2 questions

1)Dave how in the world did you trace that down to the oil cooler
2)How can I be certain its not a head gasket ? - what kind of tests can I run

thanks all

[Dave 54]

msm15, on 06 November 2009 - 02:05 PM, said:

Wow good call - I did notice that the radiator was changed - didnt get a chance to check if it was OEM or not

2 questions

1)Dave how in the world did you trace that down to the oil cooler
2)How can I be certain its not a head gasket ? - what kind of tests can I run

thanks all

Mine showed up in the coolant bottle, that's when I started freaking out. Drained the oil and found no traces, siphoned the res tank and put fresh fluid in. Came back in the res. almost right away, so I thought flush it put a new used tank on as the one on there had a nice ring around it from the oil froth, drained oil again and nothing in there. After about a week it started showing up again in the tank again. Drained oil and no signs again, never got any on the cap, dipstick or in the oil at a drain, so that's when I took a look and saw that there was an aftermarket rad., called DW got a new one and problem was solved.

If it's never had the PVC system changed then I would tackle that first change the oil and keep an eye on it. If it comes back it could be cross cotaminating from the oil cooler, mine only leaked oil over into the coolant, maybe cause I caught it before it got real bad?, or could be a HG,
Quoted from Mustang Monthly
"How do you know if you have a bad head gasket in the first place? Some of the telltale signs of a bad head gasket make it extremely easy to diagnose, while other signs make you get out special tools for testing. Depending upon where the gasket failure occurs on the gasket, you can have a large amount of coolant entering the combustion chamber, which causes billowing white smoke to exit the tailpipe, along with raw coolant (if the failure is severe enough).

Another easy diagnosis is when the gasket failure is between a coolant passage, the combustion chamber, and an oil passage. When this occurs, the cooling system and engine crankcase oil mix, creating a beige soupy substance throughout the engine and cooling system. Removing the oil fill cap, dipstick, or radiator cap, and visually inspecting the contents should immediately tell you if this situation has occurred.

Sometimes, though, the reason behind a bad head gasket is not evident and testing needs to be done to detect the problem. If a head gasket failure is minor, then it may be hard to get to the bottom of things. Small failures can cause overheating and/or coolant loss as well as poor driveability. Testing each cylinder for compression, testing cylinder leakdown, and pressure-testing the cooling system are necessary for an accurate diagnosis."

GL and may the SCHWARTZ be with you

[Ian Carr]

milky oil = head gasket

[msm15]

Ian Carr, on 06 November 2009 - 05:09 PM, said:

milky oil = head gasket

Thats what I thought - but that wasnt the case on my 850T - there was milky stuff all over the dipstick area/tube - all it needed was a new PCV system and a good cleaning.

Milk on the oil cap is what scares me

I am going to do a compression test to get a better idea.

Anyone ever do a pressure test on the coolant system - I dont know where to get a set that will work on our cooling system since there is no direct cap on the radiator


thanks

[madfinnhockey]

I recently had my head gasket replaced, and the mechanic, a Volvo indy guy, said one of the tell-tail signs was that when he removed the oil filler cap soon after shutting off the motor, there was suction.

[JordanW]

Milky oil does not ALWAYS mean a bad head gasket... HOWEVER ALWAYS MILKY oil would.

In cold climates, if the car is not regularly driven and ran at normal operating temp, you'll see a milyness to the oil from condensation in the crankcase. Normal, though not desirable.

[msm15]

I did the compression test today and all the cylinders checked in at over 170 psi some were even at 180+ psi.

So does this mean I am for sure not dealing with a head gasket problem ?

Upon removal of the 4th spark plug I found it was soaked in oil, not just the area by the gap - but the threaded area, and the are covered by the rubber of the wire. - so oil is definitely getting into the cylinder and is being burnt - explaining the white smoke.

I did notice that when I removed the plugs they came and fairly easy - and didnt seem to be torqued to their proper levels, I also noticed that the valve cover had been resealed - so my guess is that the PO had the head replaced and when the problem was still there the mechanic did a compression test but didnt put the plugs back in tight enough.

Never the less I still have oils getting into the engine some how - any suggestions where to look next would be greatly appreciated.

My next guess is the turbo seals/PCV system and the oil is getting into the air intake somewhere along the route - I did notice that the hoses going to and from the inter cooler looked like they were covered in oil by the clamp areas

[mrmontebuilder]

Oil smoke is blue NOT white, white is either anti-freeze or transmission fluid. I do not know if this has a vacuum modulator for the trans or not but I have had quite a few Fords and GMs with bad diaphragm in the modulator sucking trans fluid and it smokes white when burned. There is a tester you can use that goes on the radiator that has a chemical in it that changes color in the presence of exhaust gas which you will get with a head gasket issue. Does this have an overheating issue? Also, do you make lots of short trips (less than 15 minutes approx.)? This can lead to a build up of moisture in the crankcase and milky residue on the oil fill cap.

[msm15]

mrmontebuilder, on 09 November 2009 - 04:42 AM, said:

Oil smoke is blue NOT white, white is either anti-freeze or transmission fluid. I do not know if this has a vacuum modulator for the trans or not but I have had quite a few Fords and GMs with bad diaphragm in the modulator sucking trans fluid and it smokes white when burned. There is a tester you can use that goes on the radiator that has a chemical in it that changes color in the presence of exhaust gas which you will get with a head gasket issue. Does this have an overheating issue? Also, do you make lots of short trips (less than 15 minutes approx.)? This can lead to a build up of moisture in the crankcase and milky residue on the oil fill cap.

Just got the car - so dont know anything about its previous life. there is deffinately build up in the crankcase thats why I am going to redo the PCV system. My concern is the smoke - and I know for a fact it is burning oil it was all over the spark plug - whether or not it is ALSO burning coolant I dont know - nor do I know how to figure it out.
I am also fairly certain there is oil all over the intake system - intake hoses, inter cooler lines etc. I will know for sure when I rip out the old PCV system

[Dave 54]

msm15, on 09 November 2009 - 02:37 AM, said:

I did the compression test today and all the cylinders checked in at over 170 psi some were even at 180+ psi.

So does this mean I am for sure not dealing with a head gasket problem ?

Upon removal of the 4th spark plug I found it was soaked in oil, not just the area by the gap - but the threaded area, and the are covered by the rubber of the wire. - so oil is definitely getting into the cylinder and is being burnt - explaining the white smoke.
I did notice that when I removed the plugs they came and fairly easy - and didnt seem to be torqued to their proper levels, I also noticed that the valve cover had been resealed - so my guess is that the PO had the head replaced and when the problem was still there the mechanic did a compression test but didnt put the plugs back in tight enough.

Never the less I still have oils getting into the engine some how - any suggestions where to look next would be greatly appreciated.

My next guess is the turbo seals/PCV system and the oil is getting into the air intake somewhere along the route - I did notice that the hoses going to and from the inter cooler looked like they were covered in oil by the clamp areas

Coming from the top? Does your valve cover have oil laying on top? Might be a leaking valve cover oil cap seal or hose for the PVC on the valve cover leaking. With your plugs being loose oil could have gotten in there leaking down the threads coating the spark plug. I'd make sure the PVC hose out of the valve cover is tight, plugs are in tight, and put a new oil cap seal on, leave the spark plug cover off so you can do some daily inspections and see if it persists.

[msm15]

Dave 54, on 09 November 2009 - 01:48 PM, said:

Coming from the top? Does your valve cover have oil laying on top? Might be a leaking valve cover oil cap seal or hose for the PVC on the valve cover leaking. With your plugs being loose oil could have gotten in there leaking down the threads coating the spark plug. I'd make sure the PVC hose out of the valve cover is tight, plugs are in tight, and put a new oil cap seal on, leave the spark plug cover off so you can do some daily inspections and see if it persists.

Thanks for the post Dave - the PCV system is shot I will be changing it out over the next day or 2, there is oil on the top of the valve cover and the breather hose wasnt clamped down, the valve cover itself may be leaking I dont know yet, and I do have an extra oil cap ring all this will be addressed over the next day or 2. I am hoping it will take care of the smoke and not require a bigger fix

will post back with more info later