White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

[turtle1173]

First, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get this thing running. Today I finally got her to go into gear without dying!! <br /><br /> While under load there was a very obvious and sometimes heavy white smoke coming out of the exhaust with the water stream. Understand that this motor hasn't run under load for 10+ years. Would this be normal?? I pulled the plugs and all 3 were wet with fuel, so it seems they are working. However I had little power like it wasn't hitting on all 3.<br /><br /> I did a search for "white smoke" and it seemed that white smoke indicated water in the chamber being vaporized. I have just replaced the head gasket and with wet plugs (from gas) it doesn't seem like this would be the problem.<br /><br /> Should I continue to run the engine even though I have the white smoke? Could the white smoke be because it hasn't been run in so long and there is perhaps some carbon burning off (or something)? Might this also contribute to the low power?<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Shane

 

[Safevet]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Just wondering how bad the white smoke is? This can be just the oil burning from your oil gas mixture.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Well, I went ahead and pulled the plugs again. I noticed some droplets on the #1 cylinder, so I proceeded to take the compression (90, 110, 130). I was happy that my #2 cylinder was up because that has been my "problem cylinder." I pulled the head and I couldn't believe it... my head gasket was blown again! <br /><br /> I guess I'm just about ready to give up on this. I don't know what to do. I suppose this means that there is an obstruction somewhere in the cooling line? Could it be the pressure relief valve?<br /><br />Does anyone have any dynamite I can borrow? <br /><br />Shane

 

[Hooty]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Are you sure the deck and head are flat and nothing is warped? Did you use any adhesive on the gasket?<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[jim dozier]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Don't know what other problems you have, but if you put it back together have the head machined flat for a nominal fee at a machine shop.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

No, I'm not for sure everything is perfectly flat. I mean it looks that way but my eye may be lopsided. <br /><br /> The head gasket didn't just leak but it is busted. If the head wasn't flat I could see it leaking but the water pressure breaking a hole in the gasket and in the ring on the gasket seems like something else. Am I wrong??<br /><br />Shane

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Just going back a step, did you make sure that every bit of the previous gasket and all gunk were removed before fitting the new gasket? Gunk on flat surfaces can have same effect as not having flat surfaces.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Yes, I made sure that all previous gasket material was removed.<br /><br /> I will definitely take the head to the machine shop before putting it back together.<br /><br />I just thought it sounded like more of a restriction problem which created excess water pressure thereby breaking my gasket. Especially since the manual talks about that water pressure relief valve being a problem. But everyone seems to think that the head isn't flat so I'll go with that. I've never done anything to the head other than to look at it. It may very well be off.<br /><br /> I was also going to mention that I didn't put any adhesive on the head gasket. My manual said not to. The previous owner had permatex spread all over the thing. It was a pain to clean up but I managed.<br /><br />Shane

 

[iRich]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

Go with your instincts man...if does sound like something is causing it to blow head gaskets besides the head being factory fresh, although it won't hurt to have it machined. I think you are right to look for a restriction though. was the motor running hot? have you serviced the water pump recently?<br /><br />Rich

 

[turtle1173]

Re: White Smoke - 1972 85HP Chrysler

I really don't know if it was running hot or not because I only had it under load for 15 minutes or so. I did notice that there was less water being pumped out when in gear, along with the white smoke. Of course there might have been less water coming out because it was going into the cylinder and coming out as white smoke.<br /><br /> The water pump was replaced 3 weeks ago.<br /><br /> I'm not really sure how to look for a restriction other than to take the exhaust manifold apart. I hate to do that because that usually mean busted bolts <br /><br />Shane