[LCML] White smoke in exhaust

[Jeff Zepp]

William Sampson <wdshpbiz at aol.com wrote:

>Head was not magnafluxed for cracks. I cleaned it, checked it for flat, lapped the valves and put in new valve seals. Gasket was aftermarket from Cruiser Corps. Looked like a good gasket to me. I re-used the old head bolts, which I have done on previous head gasket projects with no ill affects. Have not done a leak-down test. The truck just got to 500 miles. Re-torquing the head bolts, changing oil and filter, the whole 500-mile check thing, were all slated for this weekend, then the smoke happened...

In reply to:

Tim at Landcruiser Specialties <nkt at landcruiserspecialties.com>

>Yep…sounds like a HG or cracked head. Was the head rebuilt as well? Magged for cracks? What gaskets were used? Aftermarket or Toyota? Did you re-use the old head bolts or use new? Did you re-torque the head after 500 miles? If not, try re-torquing and see what happens. Have you done a leak down test?

Yikes! I have to agree with Tim. White smoke is usually coolant somehow getting into the combustion process. I would certainly check coolant level and oil appearance on the dipstick as far as white milkshake. Other than the white smoke, were there any other symptoms of anything wrong? Local kids putting potatoes into your tailpipe? Lots of local fog making huge white plumes when you exhale?

I just picked up my block and head and crank from my local machine shop for my '71 and will be assembling this weekend and installing the whole thing weekend after that. Certainly hoping for no issues in that process...

Jeff Zepp
Kittredge CO USA
1971 & 1976 FJ40s, 1978 FJ45, 1987 FJ60
Rising Sun 4WD Club, TLCA #4063
http://rzeppa.org