Possible head gasket blowout

[rooby]

$3600 delivered for a forged shortblock from the states, with gaskets... delivered for that price too. Scary pricing!

Yeah, customer bought one as he had a broken engine(from a workshop dyno tune)

You're almost making me wish it was broken

[Boostaddict]

This morning when I started my car it blew some white smoke.

Car sat at work all day then tonight when I started it it blew a lot of white smoke.

Only lasted a couple of seconds then no more smoke.

The car drives fine and sounds fine.
I have never had any overheating issues.
Oil and coolant looks fine (It had its 112500km service only last week).
There isn't any obvious leaks from anywhere.
I haven't had a chance to check for bubbling in the radiator, will check in the morning.
The coolant overflow bottle is at max level.

I will get it checked out by a professional asap but is there any chance it might not be something expensive?


I always said if the engine ever has to come apart it would be a lot stronger when it goes back together, but it's not good timing so I don't have the cash to do a proper rebuild and unfortunately viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18673 is out of the question.

But if I had an additional couple of grand to spare would it be worth doing anything else while it's out even if it wasn't a full build?

$3600 delivered for a forged shortblock from the states, with gaskets... delivered for that price too. Scary pricing!

I have heard this..... Isnt it just a factory sti bottom end... I. E factory forged, so not really THAT strong. I heard these were $2500......

[dr20t]

Glad it's nothing major reuben

The "forged" short blocks can be had locally for cheaper (2400 for a brand new short block and 600 for a set of cp's and rings)

Unless the 3600 includes forged rods (not eagle - stay away from these rods at all costs). When I was looking into it the freight was what killed the price

Don't forget you will still need to spend at least another 2500 minimum for removal and refitting and gasket / water pump / timing kits.

So it's not that cheap really.

Mick

[KiDo_Tuning]

This morning when I started my car it blew some white smoke.

Car sat at work all day then tonight when I started it it blew a lot of white smoke.

Only lasted a couple of seconds then no more smoke.

The car drives fine and sounds fine.
I have never had any overheating issues.
Oil and coolant looks fine (It had its 112500km service only last week).
There isn't any obvious leaks from anywhere.
I haven't had a chance to check for bubbling in the radiator, will check in the morning.
The coolant overflow bottle is at max level.

I will get it checked out by a professional asap but is there any chance it might not be something expensive?


I always said if the engine ever has to come apart it would be a lot stronger when it goes back together, but it's not good timing so I don't have the cash to do a proper rebuild and unfortunately viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18673 is out of the question.

But if I had an additional couple of grand to spare would it be worth doing anything else while it's out even if it wasn't a full build?

$3600 delivered for a forged shortblock from the states, with gaskets... delivered for that price too. Scary pricing!

I have heard this..... Isnt it just a factory sti bottom end... I. E factory forged, so not really THAT strong. I heard these were $2500......

Only the 2L engines came with a factory forged bottom end All 2.5L STi motors use same cast pistons, just small differences to WRX ones for lower compression etc.

This is a full forged assembled short motor with gaskets. Oil pump + head studs + heads = on the road

[<GB>]

Blue smoke is valve stem seals not white!!! Too much oil will be blue too

[rooby]

Blue smoke is valve stem seals not white!!! Too much oil will be blue too

It's possibly it was blueish, I didn't get the best look at it.

[senator]

I always filled mine with 5ltrs of oil and never has an issue, would an extra 200-300ml really make that much difference?

[rooby]

I always filled mine with 5ltrs of oil and never has an issue, would an extra 200-300ml really make that much difference?

I would have thought you would have to have more than that to really hurt it.

[Zaccy182]

Yeah bevanL - (rexnet) had the same issue after a service from subaru recently. He wasn't happy! Imagine starting up your 2011 sti and see smoke

[KiDo_Tuning]

Yeah bevanL - (rexnet) had the same issue after a service from subaru recently. He wasn't happy! Imagine starting up your 2011 sti and see smoke

Serious? Fark.

Been for a drive in it with him yet?

[Sheik Jabooti]

I've done this a couple of times myself. My driveway is on a backwards slant so every time I fill the oil it looks less than full. When I get the car level it appears right.

I've been told it's common with the Subaru's because of the horizontally arranged pistons. While straight pistons will drain away oil quite quick, the horizontal arrangement tends to leave oil...hence the smoke on startup. Usually it disappears after a week or so but I guess that depends on how much extra was added.

I don't know whether too much is better than not enough?

[Dropz]

Too much can cause high pressures and blow seals/rings. Not enough can fail at life and munch pistons.


2012 STi in at work atm. 32,000kms. Currently getting it's FIRST oil change (he has never even topped it up)... Along with a bottom end, and big end bearing shards went through the turbo, but he won't replace that (shards came through the breather hoses, into the intake and then did whatever they wanted). Also, clutch is fried, completely. And we are fitting a towbar. I expect he will come back in 5,000km for a clutch because of the extra stress of towing.

[<GB>]

I put a little extra oil in mine as the cam seal leaked a little was only a couple of ml over the high line never had any smoke, it will.

It's funny u said white, blue is easy to tell. And there is a big difference between what's wrong with those colors

[Zaccy182]

Yeah bevanL - (rexnet) had the same issue after a service from subaru recently. He wasn't happy! Imagine starting up your 2011 sti and see smoke

Serious? Fark.

Been for a drive in it with him yet?

Actually did today soooo quick. Me and Kate need a tune though sounds like we have the same boost cut issue

On the note of those engines my mate has just ordered a ej257 short block from the states for $2300 delivered. He was quoted the same amount to source a n/a 2.5 (spun a bearing - impreza RS supercharged) and $5k for a local ej257. Car modsAus has them for $2600 on sale I think.