AX keeps smoking white even when warm

[taffy]

intake looks mad

[Mandrake]

do you mean bathroom sealant ???

Is it a petrol engine ?

If silicone based sealant has been used on the intake manifold and in enough quantity to produce smoke you can kiss the oxygen sensor good bye as it will be completely contaminated and probably non functional by now.

Oxygen sensors are sensitive to even small traces of silicone based substances used on intake manifolds, sump gaskets etc. I'd be checking the oxygen sensor still functions before the next MOT...

[Hell Razor5543]

Remember all the problems several years ago with car breaking down? That was due to silicone on the petrol.

[jsp]

can you clarify what you are saying?????

found bathroom kit between the intake manifold . so water is entering through the intake manifold. fingers crossed.

so are you saying someone has installed a shower head or toilet cistern in the inlet manifold

no seriously joking aside

do you mean bathroom sealant ???

yes by previous owner.

It just passed the mot without problem with loads of steam.

[jsp]

can you clarify what you are saying?????

found bathroom kit between the intake manifold . so water is entering through the intake manifold. fingers crossed.

so are you saying someone has installed a shower head or toilet cistern in the inlet manifold

no seriously joking aside

do you mean bathroom sealant ???

yes....... what the **** and not around the coolant line but, around the fuel/air mix only.

[jsp]

Got it sorted now. Running fine.

[Peter.N.]

What was it?

[Mandrake]

Burning bathroom sealant by the sound of it!

[jsp]

Bathroom sealant let loose coolant can enter the intake manifold hence the smoke. Got some black liquid gasket redo the whole gasket and smoke free now.

[Mandrake]

How does a leaking air inlet manifold gasket let coolant into the intake ?? What does "loose coolant" mean ?

I would have thought unless you have a bad external leak in the cooling system that is leaking coolant all over the exterior of the engine, or a blown head gasket it wouldnt be possible for coolant to reach the inlet in any quantity...

A leaking intake manifold gasket should only cause a vacuum leak that makes the engine run lean. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Northern_Mike]

I've dealt with engines in the past where the inlet manifold has coolant running through it and the inlet manifold gasket has provided a "seal" for the waterways in and out of the head. Saab 900 16v Turbo for one. I was not aware of this until we fitted the wrong inlet manifold gasket after an engine replacement and got a shower on startup, therefore I could see how it would be possible.

It looks like there's a carb base heater arrangement on that manifold in the pic with similar outlets at the head end of the manifold. If there wasn't a good seal I could see how water could get sucked into the cylinders.

[citronut]

Simon if you look at the manifold to head surface there are to ports below the intake ports, these will have coolant running through them

[Northern_Mike]

Simon if you look at the manifold to head surface there are to ports below the intake ports, these will have coolant running through them

That's exactly what I meant Thanks Malcolm

[jsp]

How does a leaking air inlet manifold gasket let coolant into the intake ?? What does "loose coolant" mean ?

I would have thought unless you have a bad external leak in the cooling system that is leaking coolant all over the exterior of the engine, or a blown head gasket it wouldnt be possible for coolant to reach the inlet in any quantity...

A leaking intake manifold gasket should only cause a vacuum leak that makes the engine run lean. Doesn't make sense to me.

Citroen makes weird coolant lines through the intake manifold.

[Mandrake]

Ah, so is that a carburettor model ? It's so long since I've seen a carburettor engine I'd forgotten that the intake manifolds are sometimes heated. (With exhaust gas on my old GS though, I haven't owned one with coolant heating of the manifold)

It just goes to prove my comment earlier though that you can't rely on checking for a drop in fluid levels when looking for the source of what was being burnt - you specifically said no coolant was being lost in your first post. (as well as no brake fluid or oil) Clearly some was being burnt but not enough to cause a visible drop in the level.

Glad its sorted!