Exhaust Smoking Like Hell!

1. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

   #1 9th January 2012, 14:27

   My exhaust is smoking like hell and abit of smoke from the engine bay, the fan before the radiator is not spinning either?
   
   
   Really worried :s
2. Ben_SaxoForte Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project

   #2 9th January 2012, 16:53

   the fan not kicking in at all? i'd look at that 1st maybe the fan switch has gone
3. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #3 9th January 2012, 17:35

   What colour is the smoke?
4. PimpMySaxo Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2011 Lancing, West Sussex Posts: 134 Saxo 1.1i Desire 'X- Reg'

   #4 9th January 2012, 17:37

   Head Gasket?
5. user_34645 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2009 Rack City, Isle of Man Posts: 4127 GS300, MK1 VTS, Katy M 1190

   #5 9th January 2012, 17:39

   If its not been ran alot, ie; sat on your drive for a while..theres likely to be condensation/standing water in your exhaust.
6. PimpMySaxo Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2011 Lancing, West Sussex Posts: 134 Saxo 1.1i Desire 'X- Reg'

   #6 9th January 2012, 17:42

   Yeah but does it start alright etc it could be head?
7. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

   #7 9th January 2012, 21:11

   Its not doing it now, only heard the fan comes on after like 10 - 15 mins when the engine starts to get hot or is that not true? It doesn't smoke now though...
8. user_35090 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 west mids (dudley) Posts: 1201 cammed 106 flatty

   #8 9th January 2012, 21:16

   Condensation mate perfectly normal in this weather.
9. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #9 9th January 2012, 21:35

   Your first post said your exhaust is 'smoking like hell' which is different from a little smoke at startup which will be condensation....
10. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #10 10th January 2012, 11:02

    Was alot of smoke mind! haha
11. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #11 10th January 2012, 11:08

    Ok. If it's blue smoke or dark it's likely oil which could indicate head gasket failure.
    
    If your fan isn't kicking in, your thermostat could be stuck shut meaning the car will overheat then the headgasket could fail again.
    
    If it's a little bit of white steam on start up on a cold morning and it soon goes away - it's normal and nothing to worry about.
    
    Check your oil filler cap for a white sludgy mess.
12. Manu Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned

    #12 10th January 2012, 11:15

    Normals on cold/damp winter mornings. If it persists, then headgasket failure as said above. Not much to worry, then a couple of tips: if you're not going to drive your car for a few days, try to park it where it can get some sunshine. Then if you do short trips only, do a longer trip from time to time, this allows your engine to heat up properly and eject all the moisture from the exhaust. The point of that is that you don't get a fully rusted exhaust system every 2 years. Either that or buy stainless and don't worry about water in your exhaust ever again.
13. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #13 11th January 2012, 01:56

    There is abit of milky cream on my oil cap?
14. baker556 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2007 127.0.0.1 Posts: 4826 oem+ sax

    #14 11th January 2012, 02:00

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bondi There is abit of milky cream on my oil cap?

    BOOM!
    
    Headgasket
15. Pricklep Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5

    #15 11th January 2012, 02:15

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by baker556 BOOM! Headgasket

    Not really.
    
    BOOM!
16. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

    #16 11th January 2012, 07:55

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bondi There is abit of milky cream on my oil cap?

    Get a compression test done.
17. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #17 11th January 2012, 09:03

    As said the milky creamy crap is normally a sign of headgasket failure however if the car is only used for quick trips and doesn't get chance to heat up properly, it'll produce this stuff too.
    
    Compression test will reveal all.....
18. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #18 11th January 2012, 13:52

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt As said the milky creamy crap is normally a sign of headgasket failure however if the car is only used for quick trips and doesn't get chance to heat up properly, it'll produce this stuff too. Compression test will reveal all.....

    How much for a compression test and where just a garage? If it is gone how much would a head gasket set me back?
    
    
    Cheers guys !
19. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #19 11th January 2012, 14:00

    A garage won't charge much for a compression test. About £20 at a guess?
    
    Head gasket itself is a couple of pounds, it's just a bit of material. The cost of these jobs comes from the amount of stuff needed to be removed for access. And if the head is warped it'll need skimming which takes time and will cost a bit more.
20. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #20 11th January 2012, 14:16

    Will take it garage in a couple of weeks not been driving it as not passed my test yet, however I have kept the engine running for 30 mins at a time... ?
21. Pricklep Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5

    #21 11th January 2012, 14:19

    From what ive read (makes no odds to me) its best to be driven than sat warming up. Get the oil around the engine better etc. I only usually leave mine 5 mins than off i go.
22. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #22 11th January 2012, 14:24

    Only thing to consider is the 8vs do love to mayo up their breathers and under the oil cap a bit in the cold weather if the car isnt driven lots. You can get a head gasket kit for £50 from a motorfactors - all you'll need is a torque wrench, degree gauge and a place to refaced the head so its flat (its best practise to get this done anyway I find as it makes it nice and clean)
23. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #23 11th January 2012, 14:25

    Cheers, problem is driving it about, with no license or insurance fml! haha!
24. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #24 11th January 2012, 14:36

    Get a picture of the mayo under the cap, in the breathers and the "smoke". Might help diagnosis?
25. user_55471 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stockport (Manchester) Posts: 353 MK2 Saxo 1.1

    #25 11th January 2012, 14:40

    Will take one tonight or tomorrow depening on the lighting conditions (shitberry), but the smoking has stopped and very rarely happens now?
26. baker556 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2007 127.0.0.1 Posts: 4826 oem+ sax

    #26 11th January 2012, 16:28

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Prickle Not really. BOOM!

    What do you know you drive a micra
    
    This is what happend to me....
    
    
    
    
    BOOM, headgasket !

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