Hey guys, I came back from the dragstrip yesterday and now I noticed my car has lots of smoke coming out of my tailpipe. Yesterday I missed shift 4th and redlined, and finished the run and pulled to the side and noticed my car smoking. So I drove home thinking everything is going to clear up but it didnt. Today, I drove the car to get some food at McDonald's and everytime I stop and go smoke comes out of the exhaust, even when I start up the car. The car feels the same and idles the same and my EGT gauge never goes up at the red light. The EGT goes down little by little as I stop.

Now can this be a blown piston or anything blown in my engine? It really scared me and I dont know if I can still drive the car. If any of you guys know what the problem is, I wouldn't mind. Thanks in advance.

 

Get a compression test done ASAP. That will tell you if you have a ring or valve problem.

 

yep compression test, that happened to me on my celi and it was a blown piston (not misshift, the white smoke...)

Good Luck!!!

 

What color is this smoke?
Stop and go smoke could be related to busted oil seal in the turbo.

 

it is greyish white, not black. So I will have to go get a compression test? Where do they do that at? Can the shop that installed my turbo do the test or do I have to take it to like repair place?

 

It's really easy to do. You can pick up a compression test kit at Autozone for about $20.00
you need to remove the sparkplugs and hook up the pressure gauge on cylinder 1
then hit the throttle and crank the engine for 5 seconds. That will give you the reading for the cylinder. repeat for the other 5.
It's easier if you have someone to help you.

I don't know what the correct psi range is on the Z so maybe someone else can answer that

 

How hard is it to replace the spark plugs? I have my NGK Iridium plugs at home waiting install. I might just take it to the shop and see if they can do it for me.

 

it's really simple but annoying on the Z there's a link here somewhere to the maintenance manuals that has step by step instructions
If you haven't done that before you probably should bring the car to the shop to check everything out

 

Man I wish you would have ran those colder plugs before running it hard!

 

Do you think it would make a big difference with the NGK's in? Damn now I hope this doesnt cost too much money. I will have to take it back to Midnight Performance to have them check it out.

 

Removing the spark plugs is not hard just a pain as some of the wiring gets in the way so you have to also losen some of the harness brackets.

Bring the engine to operating temparature, then you need to relieve the fuel pressure by pulling the fuel pump fuse and starting the engine until it dies and then crank it a couple of times to make sure.

Then remove one of the coils and plugs, install the pressure guage, it screws in like a plug, then crank the engine for a couple of seconds and check the pressure, it shuld be in the 190-200 range for a good reading but might be lower depending on the condition of your engine. So while you are doing this you can just put int the new plugs instead of the old one.

But like said before it would have been good to have the colder plugs in to help prevent any damage.

 

So if the pressure is off, what would be the problem?

 

If the pressure reading is low it means shot rings as it would mean the air is getting past the rings and the rings are not sealing.

 

how much would you think the cost will be to repair what it is? I know it is very minimal info but just a rough estimate. I am not car smart and surely cant do it myself. Thanks Gus!

 

Well if one of your rings is shot you have to disassemble the engine to replace rings so no cheap way out. it might be rebuild time if you have to tear the engine down. If the pressure is low but liveable you could keep going but from your description of the large amount of smoke you can't.

Just to clarify what I meant by air getting past the rings was during the pressure test, during car operation it means oil would get past the rings and into the combustion area hence the smoke out the back.

 

Did you also *** something up? I hope not!

 

You might want to monitor how much oil you are consuming as well. I think I'm having same issues you're having but I'm burning through oil like nothing else.

 

White smike......could be head gasket too.

 

I was thinking head gasket as well.

 

A compression and leak down test would be the first step. Since it sounds like you'd rather have a professional do it, then I would just take it to a good repair shop. They do compression tests and diagnostics all the time. The VQ35 is a nasty motor in terms of access to the plugs, coils, etc....so you have to do some fishing and remove the intake pipe to the TB to get to things. Sometimes, I wish it were like a Honda...sooo easy to get to the plugs.

Once the compression test/leadk down is done, you can quickly determine which cylinders, if any...are bad. Sounds like ring damage, a bent valve, or possibly head gasket. Have you checked your coolant? Do you see any oil residue in it? That would be a sign of a blown head gasket.

Hopefully...your test come back ok. Nissan OEM spec is...IIRC...between 180-200psi of pressure with no more than 14psi between cylinders. Someone might have the manual handy to double check that for you. If the tests are OK, then I would check the turbos for oil, intercooler piping for oil, and double checking things like PCV valves and hoses.

good luck...hope its nothing serious.