Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Dear Friends,

I am from India.

I own a 1996 Suzuki Alto car.  This has 800 cc (0.8 litre) 3 cylinder engine. I have been driving this car single handedly right from the beginning and I ride the car very very sedately.

After running 35000 km (kilometer)(1.6 kilometer = 1 mile) in petrol (gasoline), I fitted LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) kit in 2005 and since then I have been running mainly in LPG. Now the car has covered around 76000 km.  Performance of the car is really good both in petorl and in LPG.  I usually get 17-18 kmpl (kilometer per liter) in petrol and 15-16 kmpl in LPG.

Recently I have noticed a problem.  When I start the engine (after parking it for 8 - 10 hours), there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust.  This comes for about 1-2 minutes and then it stops. There is only a mild smell in the white smoke.

This actually started after one of my regular services.  At that time, I had asked the mechanic to adjust the engine valves since there was some kolokolo kolokolo noise coming out the engine.

When I discussed it with my mechanic, he wanted to know, whether the coolant is draining faster or is the engine oil draining faster than usual.  I studied for some days and found that the coolant level is draining faster. But this may be also due to the LPG effect, since the LPG generates more heat than the petrol.  There is no noticable reduction in engine oil level.

What I mean by draining of Coolant is that, some amount of coolant could get inside the engine due to sealing problem between head and engine block and when the engine is fired, this coolant liquid could come out as smoke.  Experts say this could be one of the reasons for smoke while starting the engine.

Similarly the engine oil may slip in between the piston rings due to the wearing of the rings. This may also cause smoke while firing the engine.  But this smoke may not be white in colour.

I discussed with different people and after that, I asked my mechanic to change the head gasket (because if there is any coolant leaking between joints this change will stop it).  But even after changing the gasket, the smoking continues as before.

My mechanic says, that the piston rings might have worn out and the same should be changed.  But I am not fully convinced.  This is because, I never drive the car harshly (I am very light on the clutch and drive at a sedate speed between 40 - 80 kilometer per hour)and even after 14 years, I have only driven 76000 km.  I am not fully convinced and even now I feel that the mechanic has done something during the valve adjusting (in the earlier serive) which could be the real culprit.

I am thoroughly confused, can anybody give a solution to me?

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Chensaro  

Chensaro, I will try to walk with you threw this problem, first the valve adjustment most likely was not the cause. I say this because if your mechanic failed to adjust them correctly, he would have gotten them to tight and you should have noticed a ruff running engine, plus you might use more oil, if he got them to  lose you would still have the tic-tic noise.I am leaning more toward a problem with the LP system, the water converting the gas to liquid, perhaps you have a leek at the converter, the pressure after shut down would be greater in the water system because of the gas electric valve being shut down, there for no pressure on that side of the system, would allow water droplets into the intake, thus on startup you get the steam or white smoke.
   The idea here is to be sure of the smoke, and what it is!  Have your mechanic do a pressure check on the water system, this is none invasive and should be a reasonable price job.  I will keep my eye on your post to see how it is going.  

Dear Fordruner,

Thanks for your reply.  i will check with my mechanic and post further developments.

Regards,
Chensaro  

Hello sir, I got into my computer this morning and found your post, I do not know your particular vehicle, but I have had experience with the LP systems on fork lifts and some class 8 vehicles( big rigs). Your first concern is your water loss it can be for only a very few reasons, leaking into the engine or out of the engine.
 Leaking into the engine it will show up as a milky tan color, and most see it on the top of the dip stick first, If it is really bad the oil in the pan will get that same foaming tan sludge.
 the other type of internal leak happens at or around the intake system very small amounts of water collect in low areas and then are sucked into the combustion chamber and are turned into steam. This some times happens when an intake manifold has a crack in it.
 Head gaskets are much easier to diagnose, with a full radiator you would see air bubbles and a strip of paper with a chemical on it could be bought at part stores to detect gases in the water system. I would have done any of those including a pressure test to determine the need for replacing the head gasket, why do the work if not needed?  You should never diagnose the trouble your self, unless you are very sure, if you give your car over to some one for repairs tell them what it seams to be doing and tell them to diagnose the auto before doing any work, this gives you the opportunity to say yes or no, its your money don't throw it away!after having a well diagnosed auto you can plan for those things that might need to be fixed in the future. so you get a problem solved and peace of mind.
  since your statement at the beginning, I have given more thought to the fact that I do not know your type of car, and wonder if the mechanic had to remove any part of the LP system to perform his valve adjustment? could he have damage a gasket? or a seal or o'ring?  look at the car logically and you will find your answer.