Date:         Sun, 19 Jan 2014 19:28:49 -0800
Reply-To:     MICHAEL H <vwdash80@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         MICHAEL H <vwdash80@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: White smoke when cold
In-Reply-To:  <AA5F3095-92CA-450F-9109-54C5D4814DC0@TELUS.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Alain, thanks for bringing this up. I meant to question this occurrence last year. my `85 1.9 has 'the vapors' below 40F. faintly grey/blue white *smoke* that dissipates quickly in the air. it only last about 2-3 minutes after initial ignition and has no tell-tale, indicative odor(s). 'Vanagons use coolant' without obvious leakage, the overflow tank takes a month to drop about a half of an inch. I suspect low volumes of steam escape via the vents on the top, back of the tank. Scott belayed my fears of maladies (repeatedly, previously) suggested by Dennis (see below) so, I've come to accept this as the nature of the beast in winter. mine is a daily driver exxcept that I don't actually have to drive every day.     mike


________________________________
 From: Alain Thibault <alainthibault@TELUS.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 8:27 PM
Subject: Re: White smoke when cold
 

Allo all
Thanks to all for your explanations and patience. I checked the expansion tank today while the engine was running. I had opened the expansion tank  prior to start the van (not the one behind the licence plate) and it was full. Nothing budge before and after running the van.  The only bubbling I saw was at the top hose location  because when I  remove the cap, some coolant leaked as it was completely full and I may have allow some air to be introduced in the tank (does it make sense). Anyway, no white smoke today other than the condensation (second start in 2 days...maybe that is why) . The white smoke seem to be happening mostly when I start the van after 5-6 days without running. Maybe I should start the van more often.
Voilà

Alain

Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open...

The bubbling stopped within 1 minute... had  I guess but it stopped.Nothing from the lower hose


Le 19 janv. 2014 à 10:54, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> a écrit :

> I know others have already commented. Are you seeing smoke or "water vapor"?
> Water vapor is a normal part of the combustion process. It is more visible
> on a cold engine as it will condense in the exhaust and become apparent as
> the exhaust heats up to drive it out.  Water can actually puddle in the
> muffler and if hollow, the catalytic converter shell as well. When you drive
> it, are you driving it far enough to actually get everything warm enough to
> drive the moisture out? Just getting the coolant up to temp does not
> qualify. Are you driving it because you need to or do you think you have to?
> Weekly short cycles can be worse than just letting it sit. For short runs
> the oil will also hold some water and this will pass the rings and also add
> to the vapor cloud. 
> 
> Combustion chamber, head gaskets, and even cracked heads in the exhaust
> ports are all possibilities. Careful coolant monitoring and oil analysis
> will help determine if there is a problem or not.  
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alain Thibault
> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2014 7:11 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: White smoke when cold
> 
> Allo all
> My van sits in the garage for most of the week and I drive it only once a
> week. When I start it, there is a lot of white smoke...I mean a lot of
> smoke. Alter 10-15 minutes, when the engine has reached normal temperature,
> there is no more smoke. I know that it is normal that there is smoke when
> the engine is cold but that much, I have rarely seen it. Being fairly new to
> the Vanagon world, I wonder it this is normal? I would appreciate any of
> your thoughts on the subject. I don't know if it is related to that, but
> when the engine has reached normal temperature, it will need  2-3 cranks
> before the engine starts again...
> Thanks
> Alain
> 1986 Westfalia
> 
> Sent from my iPad 2
>