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Wierd exhaust cloud

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by BenB, Jul 7, 2007.

  1. Jul 7, 2007
    BenB

    BenB Member

    Stevensville, MD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2006
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    72
    When I start my jeep after it has been sitting over night it it emits a cloud of white steam/vapor from the exhaust. The white cloud produced looks kind of like when an engine is burning oil, but I know it's not oil. When the engine warms up the cloud dissapears. It is really humid here and I don't know if that makes it easier for the "fog of exhaust" to appear.
     
  2. Jul 7, 2007
    66cj5

    66cj5 Jeep with no name

    NorthWest Indiana
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    Sep 10, 2003
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    2,084
    does your coolant level change?
     
  3. Jul 7, 2007
    MOP

    MOP Active Member

    Pullman, WA
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    Sep 25, 2003
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    White smoke is usually water vapor, oil is blue-tinted, and incomplete fuel burning is black.
     
  4. Jul 7, 2007
    BenB

    BenB Member

    Stevensville, MD
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    Jul 30, 2006
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    If my coolant level does change what does that usually mean is wrong. Would that affect how the vehicle runs as far as interfering with the combustion of the engine.
     
  5. Jul 7, 2007
    MOP

    MOP Active Member

    Pullman, WA
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    Sep 25, 2003
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    head gasket?
     
  6. Jul 7, 2007
    green71jeep

    green71jeep work in progress

    Riegelsville Pa
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    Sep 6, 2005
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    144
    Check your plugs for a white ash that will tell you if it is burning collant or not . It sounds like as MOP said you have a bad head gasket or you could have a bad intake gasket.
     
  7. Jul 7, 2007
    BenB

    BenB Member

    Stevensville, MD
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    Jul 30, 2006
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    72
    Is replacing a head gasket something I would want to take to a mechanic or can I do it myself. If it is something I decide to do about how long could/should it take consiering I haven't done it before.
     
  8. Jul 7, 2007
    BenB

    BenB Member

    Stevensville, MD
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    Jul 30, 2006
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    Another question is why does the cloud go away after the engine warms up.
     
  9. Jul 7, 2007
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I wouldn't hesitate to do it in a weekend. I would do it by the side of the road if I had to. Pretty easy access in a Jeep. DO you have the factory manual?

    The cloud probably does not go away, but instead becomes invisible. Water vapor is colorless and odorless, like air. You only see the vapor when it condenses into tiny droplets, like a cloud. When you start up the car, the exhaust system is cool and cools the exhasut gases, causing the vapor to condense. After the car heats up, the exhaust exit ing the pipe is much hotter, and the vapor dissipates into the air without condensing.
     
  10. Jul 7, 2007
    BenB

    BenB Member

    Stevensville, MD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2006
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    Just pulled the jeep into the driveway and looked at the exhaust, green fluid.
    Pulled the plugs and two looked OK, but the third was moist looking, after that I didn't pull the fourth. What all will I need to replace the head gasket, besides a new gasket of course.
    No, I don't have the factory manual, I have a haines or chiltons I think(It doesn't have a cover anymore).
     
  11. Jul 7, 2007
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Besides regular wrenches you'll need a torque wrench for the head bolts, and a feeler gauge to adjust the intake valves when you put the head back on. If the manual you have doesn't have the info you need we'll be able to talk you through what you need to do. Under the carb is a head bolt so you'll need to remove the carb too.
     
  12. Jul 8, 2007
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    what engine you have will help us help you,may want to take the head to a machine shop and have it checked for cracks and also to see if it is warped,depending on experience a head can be removed and replaced in about half of a day,but that is for someone with experience and air tools,parts washer etc,not a hard job,just have to make sure that you do everything right the first time
     
  13. Jul 8, 2007
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Says F134 on his "clickable" info.
     
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