My girls car has white smoke coming out of the tailpipe and it over heats very quickly what the heck is wrong?

Answer 1

White smoke means it is burning oil. It sounds to me like the rings are probably pretty bad and compression is in the cellar.

Overheating suggests the engine is probably in need of an overhaul. Depending on the age of the car replacing the engine with a used engine might be a better idea than an overhaul.

If the car is young enough and has low enough mileage it could be covered by a warranty, but that is probably not the case if the engine is worn enough to burn oil and overheat.

Answer 2

This is a classic head gasket problem. The coolant is leakin ginto one or more cylinders and the white smoke is water vapor or steam.

At the same time soe of the compression/exhaust gases are getting into the water jacket and it overheats very quickly once the engine is warm.

The only repair is to have the cylinder head pulled and gauged and resurfaced and re-installed with a new head gasket. Price range is from $200 to $500. They might just swap the head out for a rebuilt one and install this one.

The cylinder head(s) slightly warp a fraction of a millimeter and this lets the gasses and sometimes oil escape in to the water jacket and the coolant will often either leak into the piston cylinders or out on the ground through the head gasket.

If the engine is really old or in bad shape I'd recommend swapping it out for a rebuilt motor with a decent warranty like a Jasper engine.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Common problem with cars that have an aluminum head(s) Lots of coolant loss? Probably head gasket is leaking coolant into the combustion chamber causing the white smoke or a cracked head itself....easiest way to tell is do a pressure test of the radiator---buy or rent a tester at a local parts store and install it on the radiator where the cap normally goes....pump up the pressure on the tool and see if it leaks down or holds pressure. If it leaks down, the head or gasket are leaking. There are chemical kits you can buy also that test the coolant for evidence of combustion byproducts which indicate a head or gasket leak but I prefer the pressure test to be positive. You'll have to pull the head and have it checked for cracks and warpage at a machine shop---if ok, then replace the head gasket(s) and new head bolts usually---consult a shop manual for details on procedure or have a shop do it. Make sure to not let the car overheat as this causes the head to warp if it's aluminum.

Answer 4

It sounds like either a blown head gasket or cracked head. What you can do to check it yourself is fill the radiator with water and let it idle for about ten minutes while continuing to fill the radiator.

Then shut it off and pull all the plugs. Let it cool down a little if it's to hot. Put the cap back on.

After pulling the plugs let it sit for about ten minutes. Pull the coil wire so it wont start then turn the engine over with some one looking at the spark plug holes and see if you see water coming out of one the holes. If so, you'll have to pull that head off.

If you have any questions feel free to E-mail me.

Sincerely yours,
Fred M. Hunter

Answer 5

Sounds like a cracked block with the water and oil leaking into the cylinder causing the white smoke. Could pray about it and then when nothing happens take it to a mechanic who can fix it.

Answer 6

first look at the oil on the dipstick, if there is water....not good
then look in the radiator(engine cold) and if there is oil there, again not good......white smoke out of the tail pipe=head gasket issues

basicly looking at $800- to $1000.00
they have to pull the engine apart to find the leak
if the leak is a cracked block=new engine

Answer 7

Probably burning oil or the headgasket is bad and water is mixing with the oil--causing the smoke--it won't get better by itself--get to a dealer or a good shop ASAP, before you ruin the motor

Answer 8

Sounds like it needs Head Gaskets and they are EXPENSIVE. Check your oil it may have coolant and water in it from a bad Head Gasket it will look almost grey if there is a leak.

Answer 9

Mostlikely the headgaskets or a cracked block.
Headgaskets will cause oil burn and overheating constantly
There ususally around 800-1200 and installation is about double that.

Answer 10

check the coolant level and does smoke hav sweet smell to it . one way or other its a big problem take it to mech quickly. either ur burning oil or radiator fluid. either ar major and need looked at now as engine in dire straights