Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:58:30 -0800
Reply-To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: White smoke on startup, running rich?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
I don't understand it. What is the big deal here?
We are in the middle of February. It is cold.
White "smoke" is produced at start-up. That "smoke" is accompanied by little
non-coolant smelling drips coming from the tail pipe.
Its not so much that this question was asked, it is the hoopla everyone is
making over it, including an exhaustive (pardon the pun) treatise on how
someone else anal retentive break in procedures.
Doesn't any one get it? This likely isn't smoke. It is likely steam, also
known as condensation, which is a normal part of the combustion cycle. Does
this "smoke" linger in the air, or does it dissipate quickly, as steam will?
Have any of you ever noticed that in the winter an awful lot of cars, even
brand new cars, will produce a bit of steam until they are warmed up? Can't
anyone see this.
On the other hand, perhaps you aren't running the right tires, or your tire
pressure is off. Your answer lies somewhere in this reply.
If you hear hoof beats in the streets, think horses, not zebras.
The best of luck to all of you.
Bruce
motorbruce@hotmail.com
>From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: White smoke on startup, running rich?
>Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 23:14:05 -0600
>
>Dustin,
>
>When my engine was rebuilt, I was really particular about the break-in.
>
>It went like this. First, straight 30 wt oil was used during break in.
>After the engine was run in to 1500 miles, oil was changed to 20W50
>detergent oil. After the first startup, and everything was checked, the
>engine was run in the shop for two hours. It was then shut down and the
>oil changed and a new filter installed. Next it was put on the road for
>two hundred miles, varying the speeds but never over 50 mph. At the 200
>mile mark the oil and filter were changed. Next it was put on the road
>for 500 miles driving mostly around 50 mph. At at the 500 mile mark
>another filter and oil change. Then another 1000 miles driving mostly
>steady at 50 mph. At 1000 miles the oil was change to the multi grade
>20W50 and a new filter installed.
>
>The purpose of all this was to get a good wear-in on the moving parts,
>most particularly the rings to the cylinder walls. The thirty weight oil
>provides some protection, but allows a higher rate of wear-in. All the
>oil changes and filter changes are to keep the oil scrupulously clean. I
>recommend that you follow your re-builder's instructions for break-in.
>My engine was rebuilt locally with no instructions, but the installer
>was an old time with VW engines, and I went with his idea of break-in
>based on his experience over many years and many engines. Besides it
>followed my own knowledge and experience from the aviation industry, so
>I felt pretty secure about it.
>
>Now, all of that being said, given what is happening with your engine, I
>think that were I you, I would have a compression test done.A
>compression test will give you a baseline set of numbers and if you test
>periodically through the break-in you can really follow closely the
>break-in of the engine. The compression test on your engine is like an
>EKG on your heart. After all, an engine overhaul is your vans equivalent
>to heart surgery, and frequent compression tests after a rebuild are
>equal to frequent EKG's after heart surgery. It tells a lot about your
>progress.
>
>Good luck with your break-in and best of success with your engine.
>
>Regards,
>
>John Rodgers
>88 GL Driver
>
>Dustin Jones wrote:
>
>>About 200 miles into my engine break in afte a rebuild, my 2.1L is blowing
>>white smoke when I start it up. Smells like unburnt fuel, not sweet like
>>coolant. I can see little drips of condensations coming out of the tail
>>pipe
>>that quickly evaporate. Am I running rich? Leaky injectors? Maybe I should
>>take it to a shop and have the exhaust sniffed. I can't tell if it
>>continues
>>to smoke while I am driving, I don't see any trail of it. I hope it is not
>>the head gasket, I will flip a lid!! I just got my baby running again
>>after
>>a 3 year hiatus from throwing a rod and blowing a hole in the engine
>>block.....
>>
>>
>>
>>
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