White Smoke at Startup and Other Issues

[MarcZ]

my co-worker told me of a much better way to check compression that mosts shops should have that is a "big machine that test it, threading into the no.1 cylinder and hooking up to the distributor that tests all the cylinders". Anyone know what he's talking about?

[JAKEJR]

White smoke is most often coolant leaking into one or more of the cylinders. Get the pressure tester I mentioned before. It's MUCH easier to use and is cost free to borrow.

A low reading from doing compression test could mean rings, or valve(s) leaking. Squirt a little oil in the offending cylinder and if the compression increase a lot, it's rings; if not it's valve(s).

A leak down test is better, but requires the tester tool and a compressor. Using a Leak down test you can many times actually hear where the air is leaking - oil pan; throttle body, exhaust system.

Yes, you can change head gaskets in the driveway. Once the heads are off, wipe the cylinder wall with a heavy weight engine oil, like Valvoline VR1 60W, to prevent surface rust from setting in due to moisture in the air. Wipe off the heavy weight oil just before you re-install the head.

Jake

West Point ROCKS!