nineeagles

I am pretty sure it's the head gasket now but there is no mixing of oil and coolant....whitish smoke smells like coolant...but no mixing....anyone seen this before.....

GlenL

They most typical head gasket failure is from coolant to cylinder. White smoke on start-up is a telltale sign of head gasket failure.

Here's what you may want to do:

Run the car till hot, let cool for a few hours.
Remove the spark plugs and DME relay
Crank the engine and see if coolant flies out of the holes.

Charlotte944

Check your plugs. When the HG leaks coolant "steam cleans" the plug and piston top in the affected cylinder.

Monitor your coolant level. Coolant should be between the MAX and MIN marks on the expansion tank when the engine is hot.

Check the radiator hoses. If the HG is leaking chances are the cooling system is pressurized. You should be able to squeeze the upper radiator hose between your tumb and fore-finger while the engine is at idle and hot.

Watch the temp gage. When the HG in my old '84 started leaking the temp gage would climb under hard acceleration. Get on an interstate and settle out at the speed limit. Note the temp gage reading. Downshift to 4th and accelerate 10 or 15 MPH. Hold that speed for a minute or so and then drop back to the speed limit. If the gage climbs under acceleration and then drops back, the HG is leaking.

These were the exact symptoms my '84 had.

BTW: If the HG is toast you will need to replace the O2 sensor.

hosrom_951

Another sign is when cold, the engine hesitates for a few seconds. It runs on 3 cylinders, then the fourths kicks in.

nineeagles

I definately have the 3 cylinder thing goin on.....head was done 5/03....all new valves, too....I am guessing just the gasket went for some reason.....going to have Autotech Plus do it in a few weeks after a personal fund raiser........and belts, too while they are in there....oh and tune up, too

Mike1982

My car does that on somedays, the cold start up that is. How hard is it to do the head gasket then? How long does it take? Any other sure way to check it?

nineeagles

leakdown test...compression test....pull plugs and look for evidence of steam cleaning from water getting into combustion chamber....all of the above.........oil in coolant...coolant in oil.....etc....