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Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:38 pm
by rooby
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?

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:42 pm
by jacks-GTB
no good rooby....have a look to see if its miky under the oil cap?

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:53 pm
by Boostaddict
Too much oil.....!! Serious!!

When i bought my car and drove it eveyday, after a week or 2 it started to blow oil on start up. Sometimes massive amounts came out, then sometimes it would do nothing.

Found out there was simply too much oil. Drained or sucked 500-700ml out and bobs your uncle!! No more smoke and has NEVER blown any more.!

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:32 pm
by senator
Could also be burn from blow by or even the top end cleaner solution still burning off.

Keep an eye on oil in the overflow or water in the oil, also if its leaking into the exhaust you will smell it from a mile away

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:39 pm
by Dropz
Could also be valve stem seals

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:42 pm
by jaydece
Sorry to hear about the above......hope its noting major man :(

could it be a blown turbo? oil seal ?

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:55 pm
by Newbie GT
Hope it works out Rooby keep us posted will be interesting to hear if any white sludge under oils cap :roll:

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 9:05 pm
by rooby
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions guys.

I'm pretty confident the root of the issue is too much oil as it is pretty over-full.
I was so worried about the gasket that I was paying so much attention to milkyness my brain completely didn't register it's over-full-ness.

Looks easily like they put a full 5 litres in, so I'll be getting up early to drain some before work.
Considering the price of the service I want to show them but I don't want to drive it like it is any more. Plus they probably won't care.

I drove it a couple of days last week after the service then not for about 4 days and then today, so hopefully no damage has been done.

I have to remember not to trust that mechanics always get it right.
Especially after seeing other things like Bates' track day experience.

Just confirms my thoughts that log books are meaningless and I'm just going to do my own servicing from now on aside from really major ones, for which I was already going to switch mechanics anyway.
If only everyone who bought used cars thought the same :lol:

:rant over:

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:39 am
by Robbks
Subaru's very rarely mix the oil and water for a blown HG anyway
Exhaust gasses in the coolant is the tell-tale

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:58 pm
by chook
Damn dude hope its all good, where do you get your car serviced? I highly recommend Johny at Capital Mechanical in Kaleen, never had a problem with him.

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:28 pm
by rooby
Got them to pull some oil out this morning.
They were good about it.

Hopefully will be all good again.

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:04 pm
by Robbks
One benefit of the Fumoto Oil Drain Valve i have fitted.
very easy to drop 1/2 a litre of oil if needed

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:10 pm
by KiDo_Tuning
rooby wrote: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!

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:20 pm
by Rome_BRZ
KiDo_Tuning wrote:$3600 delivered for a forged shortblock from the states, with gaskets... delivered for that price too. Scary pricing!


:shock:

Re: Possible head gasket blowout

PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:52 pm
by KiDo_Tuning
Rome_STI wrote:
KiDo_Tuning wrote:$3600 delivered for a forged shortblock from the states, with gaskets... delivered for that price too. Scary pricing!


:shock:


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