I know you are going to say "head gasket", I know that much, but I already replaced the head gasket, re-surfaced the head, other gaskets, water pump, timing belt etc... I visually inspected the head and block for cracks. This engine had overheated on me awhile ago and this probably stems from that overheat. I did use head torque specs from a Chiltons book maybe they are wrong? Does anyone have the torque specs for a 97 b18b1 engine. I have not done any other tests like pressurizing the cooling system and turning over the engine with the plugs out to see if water comes out. Or compression test. The smoke smells terrible.. I know its coolant smoke. Any other suggestions? What is the likely-hood of cracking an LS Head? My car is normally aspirated. No internal mods. What is the likely-hood of cracking a block on a normally aspirated engine? Also the car was sitting for a few years with 1/4 tank gas in it. Could it be funky gas too? Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. Torque specs for this engine would be appreciated. Also, can head bolts be re-used? I have heard of headbolts that cannot be re-used.

 

From what i've been reading, re-using oem head bolts = a no no but i've read a few post where they were re-used and turned out okay.

I just recently re-built my engine as well and i had white smoke, Although my car only sat for 1.5 months. Yours sat for a few years? It turned out to just be the condinsation build up in the tank (so it went away eventually). IMo, I think it's just that crap fuel that been sitting in your tank.

Your supposed to put fuel stablalizer in the tank when you let the car sit out of comission for a long time. You can use this stuff called "heet" (found at any parts store) before you start a car sitting for a long time. It supposively gets rid of the water build up and what not.

So imo, i would go ahead get a bottle of "heet" + new fuel and let it idle for a while and see if it goes away. My engine took about 15 miles before it cleared all of the crap out. Good luck.

 

well i would agree with you the gas is not helping the smell, but as far as white smoke my rodeo has been sitting with a half tank for two years and it was blowing some nasty black smoke out the tail pipe when i put a battery in it and cranked it up and drove it around my parents neighborhood a few times(about 20 or so miles).

 

From my understanding white smoke is coolant, so my guess is your headgasket wasn't replaced right? Does your car over heat or run hotter than normal? did you torque the head down to spec? if you replace the head bolts i'd get some arp, i've heard nothing but good about them

 

well.. since I am being faced with having to pull the head off again.. (by now I am a pro at is ) I might as well put in new head studs, cams studs, and new head gasket. I am thinking I am also going to have the head xrayed/checked for leaks as I did not do this when I had it machined (had no idea they could do this). Part of me is hoping the head is cracked so I can convert this engine to LS/VTEC Thanks for the ARP suggestion I am going to buy some now.

"Does your car over heat or run hotter than normal? did you torque the head down to spec?"

It seems to run a normal operating temperature. I torque'd the head down to specs in a chilton book. If anyone can point me to a link with the torque specs that would be appreciated.

 

Torque specs from helms, 22 ft lbs, then final torque is 60 ft lbs.

yes white smoke means there's coolant / water in the system but like i was saying... condensation build up in the gas tank // shitty gas that's been sitting doesn't help. Like i said, it took me 15 miles to cear the smoke. Re-check everything but imo, i'm guessing it's just crap in the gas tank.

 

hey it wouldn't hurt to try what Food2000 says, it might work and could save you alot of money and time

 

I think I will re-torque the headbolts tonight and see what I gain from it. I am also going to do a compression test, and pressurize the cooling system and see if I get water spewing out the plug holes. I will report back tomorrow with my findings.

Chris