White smoke
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Joined: May 2003
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White smoke
My W124 E420 is emitting white smoke from the exhaust. Its most likely water since my hands get wet when I put my hands near the muffler tips.
Most of the time there is little or no smoke, but lately it does produce some major smoke once in awhile. Ive noticed the smoke when idling, cant really tell if it also happens at partial or full throttle since I gotta keep my eyes on the road.
Have yet to check for coolant loss since Ive just replaced water pump and topped of the expansion tank.
Head gasket? Valve seals? Car has 56,000 miles.
How do I check? Take a look at the plugs? If the car is burning oil, I know the plugs will be oily, what about if its water its burning?
What signs should I look for?
I dont know if these are in anyway related to the above problem, but I have noticed the following problems:
1.) ticking noise in the engine, valves? lifters? (had this for quite some time already)
2.) exhaust gas smells bad, smells like engine is running rich. Punget smell thats kinda irritating on the nose and eyes. (started to notice this a few weeks ago)
Thanks.
Most of the time there is little or no smoke, but lately it does produce some major smoke once in awhile. Ive noticed the smoke when idling, cant really tell if it also happens at partial or full throttle since I gotta keep my eyes on the road.
Have yet to check for coolant loss since Ive just replaced water pump and topped of the expansion tank.
Head gasket? Valve seals? Car has 56,000 miles.
How do I check? Take a look at the plugs? If the car is burning oil, I know the plugs will be oily, what about if its water its burning?
What signs should I look for?
I dont know if these are in anyway related to the above problem, but I have noticed the following problems:
1.) ticking noise in the engine, valves? lifters? (had this for quite some time already)
2.) exhaust gas smells bad, smells like engine is running rich. Punget smell thats kinda irritating on the nose and eyes. (started to notice this a few weeks ago)
Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Is the white smoke emmited during the morning start up? Is it cold outside?
It's normal for some white smoke to come out when you first start it up in the morning, it should go away in a few minutes. Now, if it's cold (less than 20 degrees) like here in MA we a few weeks ago, then every car has white smoke coming out when idling or accelerating constantly, even after like 40 minutes of driving, cuz it's soooo cold outside, so thats normal if it's cold outside as well.
Burning oil would be a bluish kind of smoke, so I think your internals are fine.
I have a exhaust smell too at first when I start 'er up in the morning, but goes away...I'm guessing unburnt fuel from the last drive maybe? But it gets burnt off and no more smell.
Ticking...hmm...like a knocking noise? if it's knocking noise, it's not too good...may want to have that checked out. At that mileage, shouldn't have knocking problems, but ya never know.
Goodluck.
It's normal for some white smoke to come out when you first start it up in the morning, it should go away in a few minutes. Now, if it's cold (less than 20 degrees) like here in MA we a few weeks ago, then every car has white smoke coming out when idling or accelerating constantly, even after like 40 minutes of driving, cuz it's soooo cold outside, so thats normal if it's cold outside as well.
Burning oil would be a bluish kind of smoke, so I think your internals are fine.
I have a exhaust smell too at first when I start 'er up in the morning, but goes away...I'm guessing unburnt fuel from the last drive maybe? But it gets burnt off and no more smell.
Ticking...hmm...like a knocking noise? if it's knocking noise, it's not too good...may want to have that checked out. At that mileage, shouldn't have knocking problems, but ya never know.
Goodluck.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,438
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From: Genoa, NV
2014 GLK250 BlueTec & 2009 ML320 BlueTec
White smoke is most likely water, and if it happens when the car is already warm, it could be your cylinder head either the gasket or the head is cracked. Has your car ever overheated? Also check for water in the oil.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2003
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Nope, its very hot here. Im in a tropical country.
The noise is a soft ticking sound, not knocking.
I do believe I am losing coolant, I think I will have the head gasket checked / replaced.
Will first check the plugs and the oil to see if there is water.
Thanks.
The noise is a soft ticking sound, not knocking.
I do believe I am losing coolant, I think I will have the head gasket checked / replaced.
Will first check the plugs and the oil to see if there is water.
Thanks.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 713
Likes: 147
From: Aridzona
'15 S550, '10 E350 P1/P2, '02 ML320
The deal with most any engine is that if you replace something that was leaking, you will soon be replacing another part in the same system. This is especially true of the cooling system, since it is pressurized and operates through a rapid heatup/cooldown cycle everytime you run the engine. Really, at the age of the components in your engine I would have thought a heater hose or expansion tank would have been next.
Since you are loosing coolant, not leaking it, it would seem that your head gasket(s) are leaking, or you have a cracked block or head (although the gaskets fail far more frequently than anything else). Head gaskets are not that hard on a M119 engine if you have the inclination to do it yourself.
As for the smell, what you described is exactly what I smelled when the head gaskets on my 500SL started leaking.
-D
Since you are loosing coolant, not leaking it, it would seem that your head gasket(s) are leaking, or you have a cracked block or head (although the gaskets fail far more frequently than anything else). Head gaskets are not that hard on a M119 engine if you have the inclination to do it yourself.
As for the smell, what you described is exactly what I smelled when the head gaskets on my 500SL started leaking.
-D
