White smoke blowing out the exhaust pipe

Ronny Bennett Sr.

• 6988 Answers
• Posted on Jul 04, 2009

SOURCE: 1997 buick lesabre, temp needle showing 200

lots of reasons why it got hot but now u have warped cracked ,or blown head gasket

SOURCE: white smoke from buick tailpipes, wont start

I had the same problem with my '87 Buick LeSabre 2 years ago. But it didn't seem to fit right, the car was running fine up until it just didn't. I had 3 professional mechanics swear it was a blown head gasket. I researched thoroughly and found out this particular engine make has a DEFECTIVE upper intake manifold which can break down and cause coolant to leak into oil, simulating a blown head gasket. The NHTSA had issued a recal on SEVERAL GM cars with this engine, EXCEPT for the '97. I filed a complaint with the ODI and as of today it is now COVERED as a "Defect & Recall". NHTSA ID number 96V116000. This MAY be your problem if it is NOT the "usual" blown head gasket. Hope this helps.

honeymokey

• 3113 Answers
• Posted on Apr 23, 2010

SOURCE: I have a 1994 buick lesabre it starts ok but stutters and stalls

Try a crank sensor yet?

SOURCE: 1997 Buick lesabre stutters at Idle and a fuel

carb is flooding,float needle may be worn,or the air filter is chocked giving a rich mixture

Iron

• 3018 Answers
• Posted on Aug 24, 2011

SOURCE: I have a buick lesabre

• Hi, I can help.

• When you rebuilt the heads I assume you replaced the head gaskets as well?

• What I am wondering is did you do an immediate oil flush of the entire system? If you did not there will still be plenty of antifreeze with in the oil system. The oil pump, oil cooler lines in the crank case etc you have to get it out of there.

1. I recommend an immediate oil flush on your engine.
2. After the oil flush then immediately drain all the oil real well.
3. Install a new oil filter.
4. Ad five quarts oil.

• The not starting right away can be due to fouled plugs from your recent problems.

1. Even if you have recently changed the plugs you need to check them again and more than likely change them again. If you have not changed them since you did your heads them change them right away.

• Keep in mind that just because the heads were rebuilt and the gaskets replaced does not mean that somehow the gasket was placed right. I have seen people not place the gasket right or the gasket had a tear or rip that went undetected and the gasket never sealed right.

• Also keep in mind that some cars will have some white smoke exit the tailpipe after it has sat for a while or on a cool morning. If the smoke clears up within a couple minutes then this is normal.

• Check the PCV valve on the top of the valve cover gasket and the PCV valve hose real well. Make sure there are no crack and the PCV pipe sits well. The PCV valve hoses tend to rot after a couple of years so make sure that has not happened. Make sure they are both real clear.

• Often antifreeze coming out the tail pipe will have a hot sweet smell to it. It is very distinctive.

• If you have any comments please feel free to leave them here and I will respond.
• Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa.