White smoke billowing
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Hermitage, TN
Originally Posted by vital49
How many miles are on it? Sounds like your lower intake gaskets have failed. Not uncommon on an engine with high mileage.
What is involved in that fix, work and/or price wise?
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From: Hermitage, TN
Originally Posted by bill buttermore
C'mon Mos, you're just jealous cause you didn't think of it first!
Seriously, and this is pretty serious car trouble - don't drive the car anymore! Check the oil for evidence of coolant - if the oil is milky or full of bubbles of coolant, drain the oil right away.
White smoke out the tailpipe means you are running coolant through a combustion chamber. If the leak is bad enough - and it sounds like yours is- you could destroy your engine the next time you try to start it.
Vital is probably right, you probably have an intake manifold failure of one sort or another.
You can pull all the spark plugs out and look for evidence of coolant. With the plugs out, turn the motor over by hand and see if any coolant comes out.
Lots of threads here on manifold failures for you to search and read.
Sorry it ain't better news!
Seriously, and this is pretty serious car trouble - don't drive the car anymore! Check the oil for evidence of coolant - if the oil is milky or full of bubbles of coolant, drain the oil right away.
White smoke out the tailpipe means you are running coolant through a combustion chamber. If the leak is bad enough - and it sounds like yours is- you could destroy your engine the next time you try to start it.
Vital is probably right, you probably have an intake manifold failure of one sort or another.
You can pull all the spark plugs out and look for evidence of coolant. With the plugs out, turn the motor over by hand and see if any coolant comes out.
Lots of threads here on manifold failures for you to search and read.
Sorry it ain't better news!
Pulling and cranking manually might be a problem, since I'm in TN, and all of my tools are still at my old place back in CA at the moment.
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From: Hermitage, TN
Update:
I finally got around to pulling the UI off (plastic POS) after fighting with the fuel rail and the half million bolts holding it down. Coolant flowed from the throttle body, and the number 5 and 6 intake runners had a little coolant pooled down at the bottom. I had to stop because of weather and light. Anything in particular I should look for on the upper or lower intakes? The upper looks intact, so I'm going to assume it'* the lower gaskets. I'm also assuming I will need the full gasket set? Any help would be appreciated.
I finally got around to pulling the UI off (plastic POS) after fighting with the fuel rail and the half million bolts holding it down. Coolant flowed from the throttle body, and the number 5 and 6 intake runners had a little coolant pooled down at the bottom. I had to stop because of weather and light. Anything in particular I should look for on the upper or lower intakes? The upper looks intact, so I'm going to assume it'* the lower gaskets. I'm also assuming I will need the full gasket set? Any help would be appreciated.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Enfield, CT
I'd agree aim for the gasket set.
While you have it apart to that point. Look at the UIM and notice if the tube that was connected to a short hose going to the intake. If it'* plastic it could be leaking and no matter what replace it while the car is apart. If it'* metal it'* been replaced and you can smile. Replacement part is about $15.
While you have it apart to that point. Look at the UIM and notice if the tube that was connected to a short hose going to the intake. If it'* plastic it could be leaking and no matter what replace it while the car is apart. If it'* metal it'* been replaced and you can smile. Replacement part is about $15.
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From: Hermitage, TN
Well, here'* my latest update. I got the lower, upper, TB, and T-stat gaskets replaced and back on the car, along with the T-stat and the coolant temp sender (on the backside). Car is running fine, although I now have a coolant leak that I can't find. It looks like either the sender, the t-stat housing (doubt it), or the big bolt next to that t-stat on the UIM. There is a small pool of coolant in the little well where one of the bolts is in the LIM.
My questions:
Any suggestions on figuring out which of these is leaking?
After replacing the sender, it worked until the t-stat kicked in, and then it died.
Are there supposed to be two wires coming out of that, or just one? If it helps, it'* the one that requires a 22 Metric deep to remove, and has a pin in the middle, and on the side within the connector. It'* not overheating, just leaking, and I have to keep putting coolant in it.
My questions:
Any suggestions on figuring out which of these is leaking?
After replacing the sender, it worked until the t-stat kicked in, and then it died.
Are there supposed to be two wires coming out of that, or just one? If it helps, it'* the one that requires a 22 Metric deep to remove, and has a pin in the middle, and on the side within the connector. It'* not overheating, just leaking, and I have to keep putting coolant in it.
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Enfield, CT
Hmm when you replaced the t-stat, one gasket or two?
Advance had only given me the rubber one that the stat sits in and not the paper for the housing. The sender died,... occaisionally failure can come in the form of the pressure pushing out the actual sensor itself. (Usually on high mileage sensors...could happen though.)
On the bolts and things, the vets need to help you out there.
Advance had only given me the rubber one that the stat sits in and not the paper for the housing. The sender died,... occaisionally failure can come in the form of the pressure pushing out the actual sensor itself. (Usually on high mileage sensors...could happen though.)
On the bolts and things, the vets need to help you out there.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Sheridan Wyoming
:( sheesh, that'* kind of disappointing, huh!
I'll just offer this: I had essentiall the same thing happen to one of my bonnies, and it was definitely the TB gasket. It was kind of sneaky to find, because the coolant would sneak around several places, especially along the seam between the UIM and LIM. (It was collecting in a pool on that little pocket on the transmission/transaxle housing.)
But the thing that seems odd to me, is that I think you have already replaced the TB gasket. -also, for what it'* worth, the GM TB gasket I got last time looked a little different, and it was made of black silicone, instead of the usual red. Mine has stayed nice and dry ever since installing the new TB gasket.
:?: I wonder if your TB gasket was either defective, or maybe got slightly out of alignment, or damaged during installation :?:
I'll just offer this: I had essentiall the same thing happen to one of my bonnies, and it was definitely the TB gasket. It was kind of sneaky to find, because the coolant would sneak around several places, especially along the seam between the UIM and LIM. (It was collecting in a pool on that little pocket on the transmission/transaxle housing.)
But the thing that seems odd to me, is that I think you have already replaced the TB gasket. -also, for what it'* worth, the GM TB gasket I got last time looked a little different, and it was made of black silicone, instead of the usual red. Mine has stayed nice and dry ever since installing the new TB gasket.
:?: I wonder if your TB gasket was either defective, or maybe got slightly out of alignment, or damaged during installation :?: