White smoke!!!!!

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Jan 25, 2015 | 10:57 PM

Emil460

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White smoke!!!!!

Hey guys I just bought a 1990 f250 7.5 460 from an uncle. It won't pass smog because there is "visible smoke" coming from tail pipe. I just need it smogged so I can get it in my name and then do all the other awesome stuff I have planned for it. Any tips or advice to help it smog would be great.
Thanks

Jan 25, 2015 | 11:14 PM

Tedster9

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

White, acrid smoke indicates coolant being burned. Bluish smoke indicates oil, black excessive fuel.

Jan 26, 2015 | 05:55 AM

Emil460

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It's a white vapor like smoke, it's not thick. I spoke to the seller and he said when he put a new cat on he put a smaller one than the truck warrants

Jan 26, 2015 | 06:39 AM

Tedster9

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

That might be steam, tho they won't fail it because of that. When engine is fully warmed up, that won't be a factor. There shouldn't be any smoke once up to temp. In the automotive world, white smoke doesn't mean a new Pope, it means trouble. Or, maybe a undersized cat is the issue, good question.

Thing is, if you have to get smogged, how come the seller doesn't have to smog it?

Jan 26, 2015 | 06:40 AM

ponykilr

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From: NC Mountains

Constant white smoke means burning coolant. Head gasket, cracked head possible.

A converter shouldn't cause smoke once the initial oil of a new one burns off.

Jan 26, 2015 | 04:42 PM

aj88V

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From: NoVa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedster9

White, acrid smoke indicates coolant being burned. Bluish smoke indicates oil, black excessive fuel.

Ko-rect. I just noticed my VA emissions inspection had a block for VISIBLE SMOKE (mine passed).

If you've driven this any distance (as in, it's been driven a bit, not like a fresh engine install or hasn't been started in 5 years...),

Wipe your finger inside the tailpipe:

Gray, dry, sooty, mostly rinses off with just water. - Normal engine.
Black, slippery, smells sweet, mostly rinses washes off with just water - Burning coolant. (usually associated with White Smoke)
Black, slippery, smells like oil/gas, need soap to rinse off - Burning oil.

If it appears to be coolant, you probably have a head gasket leak, maybe a leak at the intake manifold depending on the engine. The correct advice is to replace the gasket(s) and resurface the head or manifold as needed. You might run that motor for years leaking coolant in the combustion chambers without much problem, or you could do major damage. Seen both.

You can try something like Barrs' Stop Leak. Might help you get through inspection. I hate this stuff (GM engines practically require it - or the GM equivalent). Keep an eye on your coolant hoses. I used the Heavy Duty version once - fixed the coolant consumption, but it destroyed my pretty new coolant hoses. Go figure.

Jan 26, 2015 | 04:57 PM

Emil460

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Tedster,
I bought the truck for 200 from my uncle, agreement was that I would take care of smog and registrAtion. A fare price for my favorite truck, thanks for the advice I will heat her up and see what happens