V8 headgasket blown or paranoia?

[RunninInGA]

2003 V8 with 145k miles. Bought it about a month ago. Search does not give many V8 threads with HG problems - mostly V6 it seems. Maybe I'm paranoid - what do you guys with a little more 4th gen experience think?

Symptoms:
Puff of white smoke at startup when it's been sitting for a couple hours. First noticed it yesterday after I replaced a power steering hose, rotors, and pads on all 4 corners. Happened again this morning and again this evening but only after it's been sitting for a while.

It is dark and the engine is still hot so I can't remove the radiator cap, but overflow reservoir is the color that it should be and the level hasn't moved since I've had it. I changed the oil last weekend and all was good there. Oil in it now is still fresh and doesn't offer any odors other than what it should. I haven't seen any spikes in the temp gauge since I bought it and I've driven a couple hundred miles on several occasions.

No codes or lights on the dash and I haven't noticed any loss in power. That said, it hasn't been more than 10 miles away from home since I noticed the puff of smoke.

Does anyone have any thoughts or recommended next steps? Any ideas are appreciated. Fire away with questions to help diagnose.

 

[RPS13]

In a higher mileage motor I've seen both a PCV valve (sticking) and leaky valve guide seals do this. If it's a brief puff, nothing to worry about.

I'd watch the oil level like you should any new to you car to note the consumption level, but I doubt you'll see anything alarm based on that.


My BMW E39 540i would give a freakin' smoke show on start-up as the PCV valve was failing (and of course, since it's a BMW, it's a $95 part and a total PITA to change out). No other real symptoms, but the diaphram was very brittle when I took it out.

 

[RunninInGA]

Here's a short video from this morning. It sat approximately 10-12 hours overnight before this. I didn't notice any extraordinary odors from the puff - it isn't sweet and doesn't smell sweet like coolant.

https://vimeo.com/134615326

 

[RunninInGA]

In a higher mileage motor I've seen both a PCV valve (sticking) and leaky valve guide seals do this. If it's a brief puff, nothing to worry about.

I'd watch the oil level like you should any new to you car to note the consumption level, but I doubt you'll see anything alarm based on that.


My BMW E39 540i would give a freakin' smoke show on start-up as the PCV valve was failing (and of course, since it's a BMW, it's a $95 part and a total PITA to change out). No other real symptoms, but the diaphram was very brittle when I took it out.

Thank you for the response - I'll check the PCV this week and continue to monitor fluid levels as I would prior to the white puff occurrence. Seems odd that I started noticing it after the PS hose replacement this weekend but it is entirely possible it was there prior to and I just didn't see it. I'm gonna check under the hood when I get home this afternoon to see if I jiggled anything loose while wrestling with the PS hose - can't imaging that I did though.

Temp display warms up to just below half on the scale and stayed there the whole time on my way to the office this AM. I'll hook up my OBD scanner this evening and see what I can gather from that.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?

 

[Robs08Runner]

I'm gonna 2nd the opinion of valve guides. I was taught that if it goes away, you're fine. If it smoked like that all the time, I'd worry.

 

[ch1414]

If you just replaced a power steering hose, consider rechecking the air control valve ( on the power steering pump) for damage. They are fragile and can sometimes break in weird ways allowing the engine to suck power steering fluid into the intake manifold.

 

[loner]

Leak down compression test is where I'd start.

It doesn't smell like gas, does it? (leaking fuel injector)

 

[RunninInGA]

If you just replaced a power steering hose, consider rechecking the air control valve ( on the power steering pump) for damage. They are fragile and can sometimes break in weird ways allowing the engine to suck power steering fluid into the intake manifold.

This might be the trick. I googled it and sure enough, people report similar symptoms with the puff of smoke on startup.

Some folks report an increase in engine oil due to PS fluid making its way in there. If this does occur, how harmful is this if I cannot correct the problem for 600 miles or so over the course of a week of driving, most of that in a single day?

RockAuto sells the valve for $62 but I'm going to see if I can find it locally tomorrow before I place an order with them in an effort to negate the harmful affects, if any.

 

[ch1414]

I have seen them fail in 3 different ways:

1 They leak power steering into the intake manifold. The potential short term problems are making a mess inside the intake manifold, puffs of smoke, and sending power steering fluid chemical remains through the cats. Probably not a big deal for 600 miles, but I would probably bypass it.

2 They leak power steering fluid externally. The potential short term problems are making a mess and dripping on the alternator. Probably not a big deal for 600 miles.

3 They allow a vacuum leak. The electronic throttle body will compensate for the leak so it won't cause driveability problems, but that small amount of air may be unfiltered. I would bypass the control valve if I needed to drive it like that for 600 miles .

You can also try bypassing it for a few days to see if the puffs of smoke go away before you replace it. Just unplug the 2 vacuum hoses from it, plug both, zip tie in a safe spot, and monitor for external leaks.

 

[RunninInGA]

I have seen them fail in 3 different ways:

1 They leak power steering into the intake manifold. The potential short term problems are making a mess inside the intake manifold, puffs of smoke, and sending power steering fluid chemical remains through the cats. Probably not a big deal for 600 miles, but I would probably bypass it.

2 They leak power steering fluid externally. The potential short term problems are making a mess and dripping on the alternator. Probably not a big deal for 600 miles.

3 They allow a vacuum leak. The electronic throttle body will compensate for the leak so it won't cause driveability problems, but that small amount of air may be unfiltered. I would bypass the control valve if I needed to drive it like that for 600 miles .

You can also try bypassing it for a few days to see if the puffs of smoke go away before you replace it. Just unplug the 2 vacuum hoses from it, plug both, zip tie in a safe spot, and monitor for external leaks.

This is good info - I think you're spot on. It's dark outside so I didn't get to remove the valve but I did notice the PS reservoir is a little lower (maybe an ounce or less) than where I filled it up to after I installed the hose, but that could be where it settled after the air in the system escaped. Thanks again for responding.

 

[RunninInGA]

I replaced the air control valve last night - this seems to have solved the problem as it didn't smoke on start up this morning. I'll follow up in this thread if the problems reappear.

Thanks again [MENTION=92785]ch1414[/MENTION].

 

[ch1414]

Great! Glad to help.