White/blue smoke?

[K. Roman]

The story goes...my distributor broke a few weeks ago, I found a replacement, had it installed at a wrench that I'm not familiar with in the Los Gatos area, (my bro in-law's mechanic) now the mechanic is saying that there is white/blue smoke coming from the exhaust.
He also said the oil is overfilled, yet I was driving back up from LA to SF and the oil had no problems. It was the distributor that broke. Is there any relation between the dizzy and the smoke?
I'm a bit worried and now want to have it towed to my own mechanic here in SF.
Any thoughts people?

[ruf-porsche]

Sound like a Newbie Question

White smoke usually condensation (Water Vapor in the engine).
Blue smoke oil burning.
You didn't ask but black smoke too much gas in the mixture.

You can check the oil to see if it is over filled. Run the engine until it is at operating temperature, park the car on a level surface and with the engine still running pull the dipstick from the oil tank. The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick. If the oil level is above the top mark, the engine has too much oil in it.

[K. Roman]

Thanks, I know at least that much.

Sorry I wasn't making myself clear.

I'm just dealing with a mechanic that said my car was four quarts under and now he's saying it's at least 3-4 quarts over.

Constant white smoke and no sign of letting up.

I'm concerned because I think he filled it thinking that it was under. If he thought it was under, it must of been that he checked the dipstick without the car running/level surface.

Now I'm dealing with him saying it's over and what I want to do.


I drove it to LA then halfway back to SF and the oil was fine, checked it before the trip and on the way back up from LA.

I smell something fishy.

I never had any problems with smoke before.

what could have happend to my car?
The cap broke off the dizzy while driving, the dizzy needed replacement, now there's billows of white smoke.

what gives?

My SF mechanic said it was impossible that I could have driven it 400 miles then another 100 without having any smoke if it was overfilled.

The Los Gatos mechanic is saying that the oil must have burst some seals.

I'm very frustrated.

[Rot 911]

There is no way overfilling the oil tank will burst any seals. It does sound like someone has overfilled the oil tank though. I don't think I would let that mechanic do any more work on your car!

[K. Roman]

Yeah, I thought so. I'm just worried about oil doing damage to the engine and muffler. I'm also going to have to tow it to SF. $$$!!!

[Early_S_Man]

K. Roman,

Don't despair! The white-blue smoke is probably nothing more than oil that is being ingested by being blown into the airbox! I doubt any seals have been damaged.

My suggestion:

1. Call idiot mechanic's shop and tell them to cease all work!

2. Prepare to pick up car and have with you ... one new set of spark plugs, siphon pump to drain 2 - 4 qt oil from tank, roll of paper towel & spray carb. cleaner to clean mess from airbox, new air cleaner element, 3 ea 16-oz cans Berryman's B-12 Chemtool or Swepco 503 fuel additive cleaner.

3. Go to shop and pay for dist. replacement, and nothing else! Tell shop owner you are prepared to file BBB complaint for gross incompetence!

4. Check oil level in tank, cold. Drain down until at lowest mark on dipstick. Clean out airbox. Change spark plugs if oil-fouled! Add B-12 or Swpco 503 to fuel tank ... all 3 cans! Start engine ... if smoking continues, check oil level in tank, again, and reduce down to lowest mark -- no danger at lowest mark, as there is at least 8 - 9 quarts of oil still in system!

5. When oil level is at satisfactory level with engine warmed-up for 10 minutes ... drive home. White /blue smoke should dimminish after 10 minutes of driving -- if oil level is between the two marks on dipstick!

6. After thorough systems check ... drive car for 1 - 2 hours at highway speeds ... to clean out intake runners, ports, cylinder head, and exhaust system. Take along full tool kit, spare spark plugs, etc.

Good luck!!!

[addictionMS]

great advice, I live in Morgan Hill, about 10 miles from Los Gatos, and can provide back up if you need it,

Where is your car, PM me if you don't want to advertise where it is.

Two very trust worthy shops are inches from Los Gatos in Campbell, SmartRacing and Sportech.

Jim

[K. Roman]

Thanks, great advice. I really do appreciate you guys.
Will follow up and let you all know how it goes.

Cheers,

K.Roman

[ruf-porsche]

Did you ask the mechanic how he check to determine that the engine was 3 to 4 quarts under? Was the engine running when he did the check? If the engine was not running and he just pulled the dipstick out of the oil tank, it will give a false reading of being low.

I think that the PORSCHE 911 engine is the only engine that requires the engine to be running in order to check the oil level. Every other engine because of their wet sump design requires the engine to be off when checking the oil level.

Here's a link to a thread on how to check the oil level in a 911.

http://www.performance2and4.co.uk/oil_1_n.htm