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MG MGA - Uh oh - white smoke coming from engine

Hi gents,

The car has been running pretty smoothly until just a few minutes ago. When I parked it, I saw some white smoke coming from the front carb air filter. Got back in and drove it home. White smoke coming out in spades from the front carb and from the back of the engine - it appears to be the seam between the cylinder head and the short block. Finally, one small leak from one of the bolts holding the exhaust manifold to the engine block.

I have no idea what this could be, sort of smells like oil.
Rich

White smoke is generally from water getting into the cylinder, either from a cracked head, or a blown head gasket. Hopefully it is just a blown head gasket.
Jeff Schultz

Hi Rich. Cracked head or blown gasket, needless to say you should stop driving the car. The cause of the problem needs to be remedied, and then the oil and oil filter need to be changed, (Use cheap oil) to ensure that there is no antifreeze mixed in with the oil. The oil should problably be changed AGAIN after running the cheap oil through the system for an hour or so, to make sure that ALL antifreeze is purged from the engine lubrication system. Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

The car has probably elected itself a new owner!
Steve Gyles

Steve, I think that you've got it!
mike parker

Nah, I've made it this far, this little setback won't stop me.

Fortunately, there's no antifreeze in the car yet. I have been using plain water since the rebuild a couple of weeks ago.

Any good resources on how to properly do this job? I may as well do a valve job and decarbonize while I'm in there.
Rich

Hey guys,

Compression test results: 133, 120, 115, 136.

This was with the engine cold, as I'm a bit afraid to run it again with the current problems. Still, this is starting to look like a blown gasket.

Should I try something else before dismantling the engine?

-Rich

Rich

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2005 and 10/09/2005

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