UK Supra MKIV Exhaust white smoke and smell of petrol - Advice needed

[Guest markolambo]

Can you help , I started my Supra up and after 20 seconds I get white smoke( not Steam) and a strong smell of petrol from the exhaust.

 

Does this seem like a potential head gasket issue and if so your advice as to who near Newcastle can review and fix and likely costs without messing me around and actually knows about these engines.

 

Car is a 1993 77000 mile UK Stock model.

 

Your support would be appreciated

 

Marko

[Nic]

Contact Jurgen at Jurgen-Jm-Imports

 

Has the car been stood for a while?

[Colin-mkiv]

Find Hodge on here as well, he'll be able to help you out.

 

Sounds to me like the car is running a bit rich, the steam is condensation in your exhaust, mine (although an N/A) does EXACTLY the same.

[tomgeer]

Is it misfiring at all when on boost?, if so i'd check sparks plug or coil packs/connectors and maybe the O2 sensor first. If none of those it's probably more complicated, so take it to Jurgen

[Nic]

White smoke is water vapour/steam, if it's been stood for a while it could be just condensation/water that's collected in the exhaust evaporating off once the exhaust starts to heat up. Have you tried leaving it idling for a while and seeing if it clears?

 

Head gasket leaks are not common on the MKIV Supra, a sniffer test will confirm if it is the head gasket or not.

[Guest markolambo]

Guys thanks for the initial advice - feedback so far is that :

 

THe car had not been standing for more than 36 hours. It is not mis firing and no loss of power whatsoever everything seems fine except the smell of petrol and white smoke /.

I took it to a local garage 200 yards form where I live and they did a check and a compression test and reported it as fine although they see the same symptons.

He said it could be head gasket starting to go but the reality is he does not know and is confused.

 

I will give Jurgen a ring in the morning but he is up in Cramlington and not sure if the car is fine to drive as its 8 miles from wherer I live , which is central Newcastle.

 

Any further guidance would be good.

[listy]

You could just take it easy on the way there mate and you should be fine.

I drove mine 12 miles with no exhaust when I got it sprayed as I needed welding done on the exhaust to refit it.

[Dnk]

Is it loseing any coolant ?

 

If the head gasket is failing from a cylinder bore to a water way then your expansion tank level

should drop and will keep dropping as the engine loses the coolant via the cylnder

Edited May 18, 2012 by Dnk (see edit history)

[tomgeer]

You state that the car is stock but you don't have a piggy back ecu such as apexi SAFC fitted do you?, is the car modified at all?

[Guest markolambo]

Thanks fro the response , in answer to the questions;

 

The car is a UK original and never modded

I need to check to see if I am losing coolant -I will check level but I am assuming the if I top it up and then drive say 10 miles it should be still at the brim, not sure if the issue will demonstrate it self for a short journey

 

Will ring Jurgen and risk the drive to Cramlington if it can not result in further damage

[Nic]

Any chance of posting a video of the exhaust smoke, it's definitely white not blue?

 

If the head gasket is leaking driving it could pressurise the cooling system and cause the coolant to overheat, check with Jurgen he may have a trailer or know someone who could collect the car for you.

[Jurgen-Jm-Imports]

hi mate been on away on hols you can call me now if you wish