[SOLVED] Major work done, now thick white smoke

[tombguard4]

I just changed oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, differential gasket, rear main seal, plugs and wires. Upon startup, thick white smoke out of the exhaust. Did I break it? 2009 Tahoe LT, 5.3

 

[West 1]

None of the reported work you mentions would affect the exhaust system? White smoke out the exhaust is coolant in the exhaust. Slight chance it could be gasoline in the exhaust but coolant would be my first guess.
Has this engine been overheated? Did you wash the engine and maybe get coolant into the intake?

 

[tombguard4]

None of the reported work you mentions would affect the exhaust system? White smoke out the exhaust is coolant in the exhaust. Slight chance it could be gasoline in the exhaust but coolant would be my first guess.
Has this engine been overheated? Did you wash the engine and maybe get coolant into the intake?

Engine has not been overheated. Radiator and coolant were not touched during this repair. There have been no problems with that. I did wash the engine with solvent and water, and the underside.

 

[LsHart]

How did it run before the gasket changes?

 

[swathdiver]

I just changed oil pan gasket, transmission pan gasket, differential gasket, rear main seal, plugs and wires. Upon startup, thick white smoke out of the exhaust. Did I break it? 2009 Tahoe LT, 5.3

What does the engine oil and coolant look like since the white smoke episode?

 

[tombguard4]

How did it run before the gasket changes?

It ran perfectly. I just hit 200,000 so thought I would do some maintenance. There were a couple of small leaks anyway.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

As recommended above, take a look at the oil on the dipstick and the coolant in the reservoir. Do they look normal?

 

[tombguard4]

What does the engine oil and coolant look like since the white smoke episode?

Coolant level is the same and the oil on the dipstick is brand new.

I should add...both transmission and oil pan were soaked in purple power for a couple of days, rinsed with water really well, air dried, sprayed with brake cleaner and wiped down with shop towels. I did a lot of purple power, water, and brake cleaner on the underside and engine bay. Usually, when cleaning the externals in this way, I will get thin smoke from the externals for a short while. This time is scary because none of the externals smoked at all, all the smoke is coming from the exhaust, thick white and stinky.

 

[Fless]

Was the exhaust disconnected (opened up) while any cleaning was being done? Any possibility of water getting into it?

 

[SpareParts]

Does the smoke/steam smell or seem kinda sweet at all?

 

[homesick]

Is it still doing it?

joe

 

[West 1]

Years ago I had a power brake unit fail, it allowed brake fluid to be sucked into the intake and burned. It put out huge clouds of white smoke. The smoke was stinky. Your mention of the smell triggered that memory. My issue was in 1986 and the vehicle was my 1968 Dodge dump truck. New brake Master cylinder and power booster fixed it. Long Shot but who knows where your problem started……….

 

[tombguard4]

Was the exhaust disconnected (opened up) while any cleaning was being done? Any possibility of water getting into it?

yes

 

[tombguard4]

Does the smoke/steam smell or seem kinda sweet at all?

it stinks real bad, not sure I would say it is sweet

 

[tombguard4]

Is it still doing it?

joe

I'm afraid to start it up again, that is why I came here to see if I could get advice. Redo the work, keep it running to burn it off, or take to the shop?

 

[tombguard4]

Years ago I had a power brake unit fail, it allowed brake fluid to be sucked into the intake and burned. It put out huge clouds of white smoke. The smoke was stinky. Your mention of the smell triggered that memory. My issue was in 1986 and the vehicle was my 1968 Dodge dump truck. New brake Master cylinder and power booster fixed it. Long Shot but who knows where your problem started……….

Interesting, I did also bleed brakes and change both rotors and pads. I didn't think to mention that because I thought it was highly doubtful that was the cause. Ive been changing my own brakes since I was 16 and never had a car smoke out of the exhaust after a brake job.

 

[West 1]

Easy to see if you are losing brake fluid in the reservoir.

 

[tombguard4]

Ok, that wouldn't be it. Brake fluid reservoir has not changed since the bleed.

 

[Doubeleive]

the only way your going to get heavy smoke like that is a blown head gasket and these simply do not blow headgaskets unless something extreme happened
I would double check your work and make sure you somehow didn't connect a coolant line to the vacuum line or something crazy
pull a few random plugs, inspect if they look good then it's probably not coolant and it's something just burning off (maybe some oil seeped thru while it was sitting)
funny story i had something like this happen on a nissan but it's a stupid design and coolant was getting in the engine, luckily I got it straightened out right away and there was no damage.
i also use purple power a couple times a year and pressure wash, but never had any smoke come out the tail pipe because of it.

 

[mikez71]

Perhaps water got sprayed up into the exhaust manifold and through an open valve into the cylinder?

If it sounds ok, should be fine to run it for awhile and see if it burns off after a few minutes...