My new (used) car has a recently rebuilt DET, brand new T28, injectors, etc. The previous owner couldn't get the car running properly and wanted to unload it for cheap so I took it off his hands. When I first got the car there was more than one color of smoke coming from the exhaust, it didnt want to stay running, etc. The car now fires right up, idles, has 20in of vac, and sits at around 18-20 oil pressure. When I was sorting out the problems and finally got the car running in its current state, heavy white smoke was continuously puffing out the exhaust. Over the past few days I have been doing some tests but I can't seem to find the source of the problem. I did a cold compression test today (I know I know) and got 150-160 across the board so I don't think I have a head gasket problem, or do I?

Right now, the car will start up with little to no smoke emitting from the exhaust, but as it warms up the exhaust starts to smoke and there is noticeable condensation in the tailpipe. When I apply pressure to the accelerator the smoke gets thicker but has never been as thick as it was.

Any ideas? The car isn't running hot that I know of. I haven't taken it out of my driveway, but after 20 minutes of idling the fans don't even turn on once and I can still touch the engine without burning myself.


Any help/ideas are appreciated.

Oil=black smoke
coolant=white smoke

You should be able to whats burning by what's low.

They have block test kits. They work by putting a special fluid in this funnel type thing and putting it where the radiator cap goes. It will change color if exhaust is present in the cooling system.

I guess I did forget to mention that the smoke is completely white now, there are no other colors present.

Oil = Blue
Fuel = Black
Coolant/Water = White

I know it is the coolant/water burning, I just can't seem to figure out how it is burning like that if the head gasket seems to be in working order. I will do a warm test tonight and report back with warm numbers. Maybe I am getting some separation at warm temps (duh).

I will look into the kit - thanks for the advice.

I am by no means a "turbo guy" but isn't there coolant going to the turbo for cooling. Maybe it's leaking into the turbo causing the white smoke you see. Just a thought.

This is another thought I had, but I don't know how to check the seals on the turbo other than by taking it out of the car and/or checking shaft play. I have checked shaft play and it doesn't budge. As I said before, it is a brand new turbo.

The lines are custom SS lines and are using the original bluebird T25 solid line banjo fittings. From what I have read and from what the previous owner told me, the restrictors present in the original lines are located in the banjo fittings themselves.

Small update -

Compression tester got stuck in #4 when I tried to do a warm compression test and it was a PITA to get out and I managed to damage the tester in the process so I will have to pick up a new one tomorrow before the game and give it another shot.

I dumped the coolant and filled it back up (didn't see any signs of oil but the lighting in the garage is not optimal), started the car and white smoke was coming out (of course). I buttoned everything up and decided to take her for a drive around the block (about 1 mile). I never got into boost, and I couldn't see if smoke was coming out or not because it was dark by this time. When I pulled into the garage after the drive the car wasn't smoking at all.

So tomorrow I am going to get my autometer temp gauge hooked up and get a new compression test and I will report back with my findings.

Compression test warm gets 150 across the board.

(Forgot to hold WOT when testing the first time and landed 130 across all 4 cyl.)

SR20DET is 156 nominal, with 128 minimum so it looks like I am ok. Remember that this engine has seen but 5 or 6 miles so the numbers could still change. Throughout the day, running the car for 10-15 minutes at a time I have noticed an inconsistent pattern in the smoking. Sometimes the smoke is much more evident after idling for 10-15 minutes and sometimes it is hardly there at all. There are times when I rev/hold @ 2.5-3k rpms the engine the smoke will flow out of the back end then other times when revving/holding will produce no smoke.

Anyone else have any ideas about this? Turbo/lines have been mentioned but if anyone has any specific ideas/info it would be appreciated.

I am getting this same issue.. anyupdates on this... ??