[ihc] Re: smoking exhaust

[salmineo@xxxxxxxx]

If you suspect you have a bad head gasket, then you can have the coolant tested for products of combustion.  IF the gasket leaks, it will test positive.  Most engine shops have one of these, or know someone in town who has one.  It is a cheap test, and can be done while you wait.  Costs a lot less than labor and a new set of head gaskets, and takes less time and effort.  
Regarding smoke color, I have always been told the black is unburnt fuel (rich condition), white is water or coolant (bad exhaust gasket or cracked casting or water leaking by newly machined surfaces), and blue was caused by oil (bad valve guides, overheated rings, cracked casting, bad PVC valve, et cetera).  If your problem was oil-related, it should be blue, not white.  I would examine the source of the coolant first.  IF you suspect condensation in the tank, put dryer in it and run a couple of tanks through it first before making any conclusions.  Many problems are a result of just sitting, and many problems go away after a while.  Vehicles like to be used, and one of the worst things you can do to one is to not drive it. Even if you just start it once a month and drive it for a day and park it, that is better than just letting it sit for months or longer.  -Colin Rush

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