White Smoke Under Acceleration
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi

I am thinking this is valve stem seals but just want some comformation.

Under acceleration roughly 3-4k onwards the mini will smoke out the exhuast, when looking in the mirror you can see a fair bit, not enough to stop seeing through it easily though.

Just wondering what this could be?

Cheers

Jon

turbo oil seals possibly

white - water or brake fluid
blue- oil
black - fuel

....usually

Think possative its tyre smoke

Own the day

Im pretty sure it is white, will take it out again when it stops raining and double check.

Is it possible that it could be a blown head gasket.

Is there a way to check this?

Thanks

Jon

compression test or a leakdown test if you have the kit

how old is the turbo ?

Hi

Its a N/A engine, so no turbo unfortunately.

Anyone local have a compression tester that I may be able to borrow?

Cheers

Jon

probably head gasket then

if its white smoke if its losing water as well the head gasket is the suspect.

also do the cr test

do you have oil in the radiator or white sludge??

Not that I know of.

Will check! Going to also go for a drive and get someone to drive behind me to double check the colour of the smoke.

I have done a water and oil change and have not seen either in the other if you see what i mean!

Cheers

Jon

O.K.

Got my GF to follow me today in the mini.

I gave her the choice of:

White
Blueish/Grey
Black

She reaconed Blueish/Silver. Which is good for me as its just using more oil and can do the head when planned in a couple of months. It is definately using oil and I havnt noticed the water level dropping.

What do you reacon?

Cheers

Jon

mine used oil, i have re-seated the valves and put new stem seals on, seems to have done the trick for the time being. try using a different oil like valvoline. could also be your piston rings, but you can check that when you take the head off

Compression test results?

My turbo was pissing oil out as some people saw at avon and the smoke was white, just to throw a spanner in the works.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

He's not running a turbo though.....

?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I know, im referring to the colour of the smoke, id say guides were gone.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

O.k

The results are in:

I bought a Gunson compression tester from halfords, and after a bit of discount got it for £10.50. Never thought it would be as easy to use as it was either. Only 20 minutes and I am done.

I warmed the engine up and then took all the plugs out.

The results are:

195 190 180 195

What does everyone reacon?

Cheers

Jon

I'd say all is OK.

Nice high figures and within 10% of each other.

It depends on what the static CR is, as to what you would actually expect the average reading to be but 180 plus would be good on a normal engine.

If you want a better test on the rings (but nowhere near as good as a leakdown test) do the compression test again on a warm engine, then put a couple of squirts of oil from an oil can down each spark plug hole and repeat the test and see if the readings increase.

Edited by Rod S on 29th Jul, 2009.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

What is a leak down test?

Cheers

Jon

A leakdown test basically involves pressurising each individual cylinder with compressed air through the spark plug hole when it is stationary (not running on the starter motor and in a position where both valves are closed, preferably TDC on the firing stroke) and seeing how fast the pressure drops.

It needs a bit more complicated equipment than a simple compression tester.

But the use of a compression tester, especially if you repeat the test with a bit of cold oil in the cylinders to increase the piston ring seal temporarily, will tell you most things.

Edited by Rod S on 29th Jul, 2009.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

As far as the type of smoke is concerned, you'll know blue smoke by the smell. Of course not so easy to check if your smoking at 4000rpm.