Exhaust

usma41 · Post by **usma41** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:46 pm

What is the meaning of white exhaust, too rich, too lean or points set incorrectly?

keats · Post by **keats** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:09 pm

In my humble experience white exhaust may mean water/coolent somehow entering cylinders and burning during combustion. Head gasket leak or creak in head ,etc. Could be other reasons I'm sure but just my personal experience.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:15 am

Often it is just the result of moisture or condensation buildup in the exhaust. This can also occur on very humid days when you first start up.

It's easy to check for coolant issues by removing the radiator cap and warming the engine up as you observe the flow of coolant in the radiator. As the thermostat opens you'll nitce the current moving. If you race the engine a bit and see many bubbles appear in the coolant then you ahve a leak between the coolant and the cylinders.

If you notice excess bubbling a leak down check is next. Remove all four spark plugs.Get each piston down at BDC (bottom dead center) with both valves closed and add 80 PSI of pressure to the spark plug port. This will give you a very good indication if anything is wrong. A blown head gasket or crack between the coolant jacket and the cylinder will show up as constant bubbling in the radiator. A blown head gasket between cyliners will reult in a loud hissing from the adjacent cylinder plug hole. A leaking intake valve will result in a loud hiss at the carb inlet or air cleaner. A leaking exhaust valve will result in a loud hiss at the tailpipe.

usma41 · Post by **usma41** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:26 pm

I believe I found the problem. I may have put some Marvel Mystery oil in the tank without checking to see if there was enough fuel in it. I took the carb off and dumped the fuel that was in the fuel bowl into a container. The fuel was the same color as Marvel Mystery oil. I lit it and it put out black smoke and smelled like kerosene. Besides all of that it was the INTAKE manifold where I found the oil. Since this being a flat head engine, oil will not come that high to leak into that manifold, plus the pressure that will not allow it to anyway. I will dump the fuel in the tank and clean it out and reinstall the carb and see what happens. I'll let you know.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:55 pm

But the intake can pick up oil from the vacuum system, both from the PCV valve and the vac side of the fuel pump if the lower diaphram in the pump is leaking. That smoke would have been blue. The Marvel when used in excess will smoke white.

usma41 · Post by **usma41** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:32 am

Thanks Wes, thats what it was. And the moral of the story is: When putting an additive in the fuel tank, make sure there's fuel in there too. Daaa