Need help with water and smoke from exhaust - Honda Prelude Forum

ake11 · 05-01-2011, 02:47 PM

Hey guys so the car seemed to be running fine, then i did the coolant bypass and blocked the fast idle and the car started to smoke (white from exhaust) i put everything back to normal and the car still smoke like crazy when you gas it and spits out a LOT of water.

Any idea if this could be related? or what it could be thats causing this?

Thanks everyone

Shimee · 05-01-2011, 02:52 PM

A leaking head gasket.

ake11 · 05-01-2011, 03:00 PM

excellent..hah so its time for a new HD? also the car runs hotter then usual and when fans start they only stay on for a min or so and turn back off..im assuming this is do to the HD?

Thanks

ake11 · 05-01-2011, 06:23 PM

is there anything else that can cause smoke and/or water to come out of the exhaust?

realred96 · 05-01-2011, 08:31 PM

Yes, a warped head or block which will manifest itself as a blown head gasket.

Any sign of smoke water AT ALL before you messed with the car?

Kronn 98SH · 05-01-2011, 08:38 PM

Is it doing this at operating temp or is the engine still cold? What's the outside temp?

ake11 · 05-01-2011, 10:09 PM

there was no sign of smoke or water before i messed with it. thats why i thought maybe it has something to do with what i messed with.

Yes its doing it at operating temps and its warm outside..so i dont know...maybe running too rich? anyway to check that?

there is no sign of coolant/oil mixture in oil cap, dipstick..no clue..

i appreciate any help...thanks

realred96 · 05-02-2011, 06:35 AM

I would do a compression check. Something went south. What you are describing is exactly what happenned to my Prelude. One day it started putting out coolant vapor and liquid coolant from the tailpipe. After the car warmed up coolant vapor would 95% go away. It is very hard to see in daylight, that is why I was wondering if you saw anything before you did your mods.

I did a compression check and found that holes 2 and 3 were down on compression.

It seemed it was ok when I drove it but when it cooled down over night the water would start seeping into the cylinders and I assume the car eventually blew the coolant out the tailpipe

I would be very careful about driving the car until you figure this out for sure.

My problem turned out to be much more serious than a head gasket. The block deck was warped from a PO overheating the car. If you do eventually pull the head BE SURE you check the head and block surface for flatness. If either is warped you can put head gaskets on the car until the cows come home and it will blow it pretty quickly.

GL

97PreludeDOHC · 05-02-2011, 08:21 PM

Leaking coolant from the exhaust is a head gasket every time.

The head gasket seals the cylinders from the cooling jacket inside the cylinder block.

when the head gasket blows, the coolant gets in the cylinder and burns with the fuel mixture. hense the smoke....

Time for a top end rebuild.

New head gasket
New Timing belt.
New coolant
New oil and filter change

Important!!

the Cylinder head should be taken to a machine shop and checked for flatness on a piece of granite and a feeler gauge.

any reputable automotive machine shop will check it.

also have the carbon deposits cleaned from the valves..

the engine will breathe easier and run better.

Approx cost. 200 to 800.. depends on labor.

Take it to a good Honda Mechanic. these engines are very precise... and the valve train has to be put exactly back to spec or the Valves will hit!!!

ibeezakkary · 10-20-2011, 01:31 PM

mine has this same problem but sometimes its blue smoke aka burning oil and a honda mechanic told me that 99% of the time its the valve seals before the head gasket