White smoke (steam) query

[The Baron]

We've just fitted a new Turbo after the car has been sat for over a year, probably only been run twice in a year, with a max distance driven of 6 miles and the car now continues to smoke, although it is a different pattern of smoke. We think it could be condensation in the large exhaust, as the car is very damp at the moment (been stored outside for 9 months). Just wondering if anyone else thinks that this is condensation?

Ideally we'd take the car for a long drive but with no MOT or tax this is not an option. We need it to stop smoking for it to pass its MOT. :(

Here's a bit more info on the car's "smokey" history.

Jun-11 - car fitted with new (second hand) T25 Turbo to stop smoking (smoke stopped).
Aug-11 - car blew on a track day - suspected head gasket failure.
Sept-11 - new head gasket fitted, car ran for 150 miles, but then started to smoke again.
Dec-11 - new performance head fitted with gasket. Car continued to smoke.

Feb-12 - car moved to lock up.
Feb-12 > Aug-12 lots of diagnosis, compression test gave good results.
Oct-12 - Turbo checked and found to be faulty. Confirmed by turbo specialist.

Feb-13 - new turbo fitted - still smoking, but completely different pattern e.g constant and white & steamy.

After fitting the turbo yesterday we ran the car for 10 - 20 minutes but it smoked constantly. The amount of use the car has had in the last 18 months really is minimal, possibly only 20 miles and after a new head and new turbo.

So, does it just need running for a long time, or should we expect something else to be wrong with it? How long do you think it could take before all the condensation is gone from the system.

Thanks :)

[andybond]

Give it death.

If its condensation it will be evaporated when you have finished.

If its anything else , you will be needing an AA / RAC man to recover you.

Take a bottle ( 2l + ) of water with you.

I suspect you will be fine - is it running lumpy ?

[The Baron]

No it's running really nicely. The problem is we can't take it for a run unless I find down one kind who has trade plates. Stuck in the cycle of, car too smokey to pass MOT, car needs a good run to stop it smoking :( can't see just running it in the drive will do too much?

[andybond]

Book it into a MOT center.
Give it an Italian style tune up on the way.
Get MOT

#profit.


Had EXACTLY the same issue with a smokey Clio Turbo I had. Booked it into a station 9mi away and gave it absolute death ( after warm up ) all the way there. Was perfect after that.

[Slammed 66]

Oil resedue in the exhaust from when the turbo went? It's happened to me before and I thought my rings were toast. 10 mile drive and all was good

[The Baron]

Very possibly oil residue, the exhaust looks to be pretty oily. Think you're both right long range MOT visit is the only option.

[R5MJH]

wev had similiar to this and it turned out to be no4 piston rings id check piston comps just incase boss

[The Baron]

Compression results*were:-

1). 10.8
2). 10.3
3). 10.6
4). 10.5

Do they sound about right?

[R5MJH]

Compression results*were:-

1). 10.8
2). 10.3
3). 10.6
4). 10.5

Do they sound about right?

sounds sweet mate so not rings

[R5MJH]

soz mate also do you have breather connected to telephone as sometimes the breathering may be heavy disconnect and block telephone and put breather in a empty bottle and try that

[The Baron]

Stupid question, what's a telephone? The oil breather goes into a black plastic catch can thing at the moment. Should I disconnect that and put into a plastic bottle instead?

[chris]

So you dont have a telephone hose is the engine standerd with standerd airbox mate?

[The Baron]

Pretty standard apart from head, turbo, air filter.

[The Baron]

Ok, worked out what telephone hose is now :)

[Tony Walker]

is the catch tank open to air..... can the system acutually breath or is it sealed??

[LeeR5GTT]

run it with the exhaust removed mate, see if the engine bay fills with the same smoke.... thats if you dont want to drive it. personally i agree with the other lads with regards to driving a distance for the mot.... andy quote "give it death" :agree: :laugh:

[The Baron]

It's pretty sealed, looks like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-5-GT-Turbo-Oil-Breather-Pot-/181071959441?_trksid=p4340.l3484

[chris]

Ok so you can take the pipes off and check there clear but as mentioned i would dissconect turbo from exhaust and run start trying to isolate the problem:agree:

[The Baron]

This was it running with the turbo off back in Sept
http://youtu.be/4t3jv3mS0oc

The only thing I didn't do was rev it. But it was clean for a good couple of minutes.

Since that test was done in September, it has not been run at all, which made us think it was the exhaust being full of gunk, condensation or both?!?

Exhaust is none standard and massive so could have a lot of stuff in it?!

[chris]

So now leave turbo on and disconnect exhaust just keep eliminating things buddy:)

[The Baron]

Thanks, disconnecting the exhaust is a pig of a job. But might be only option if it does not run clean on way to MOT.

[chris]

i suppose it never hurts to take breather pipes off to check there clean and clear ?

[The Baron]

Cheers will do that too.

[TNT ANDY]

Most likely condensation / oil, like the others say, book it in for an mot and drive normally - no need for big licks until you've ruled everything else out. Mine has done this on 2 occasions after engine builds.

All will be good.