This may be a bit of paranoia, but I'm starting to fret about my cars head gasket.

My last car had its blow three times in three years.

Two days ago I noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust when revved, even after a good two hour drive, so it was warm.

The temp has never gone over half way, coolant and oil is clear but I have noticed a small coolant leak, the catch here is I'm using the aircon a lot so I don't know if that will have an impact.

I changed the coolant a couple of months back, as well as the heater valves so it's possible the leak is from there, but I can't see it or any evidence of it leaking from there.

What do you guys think? I've never owned a v6 before but can't see any external leaks.

 

If you are really bored and want to look deeper, and if you want to change plugs...
Pull the plugs and look for any that are noticeably cleaner than the rest. If it is a water passage to combustion leak, that cylinder will be effectively steam cleaned.
I'd start with keeping a close eye on coolant level, maybe early each morning after fully cooled down. If there is a noticeable drop, then look further. Also keep a close check on oil level, to ensure coolant isn't leaking to crankcase.

 

Or, when you see the white smoke, stick your head down by the tail pipe, and see if it smells like antifreeze. Antifreeze has a very distinctive odor.

 

If you replaced the coolant valves, they are very prone to leak a wee bit if not assembled exactly right.
You might want to revisit them.
I took mine apart a few years ago just to polish them ( yes, don't say it ), and didn't get them back right.
I had a minor leak until I redid them.

 

Warning
Sniffing the tail pipe for extended periods of time is dangerous to your health and can lead to the missus looking for the life insurance policy.

 

This and also you can put your hand in the steam and then let your hand dry. Antifreeze will feel slimy on your fingers.

 

Or let it condense, and let your neighbor's cat lap it up to test.
(just kidding)

 

Slight update.

Drove the car to a garage today for exhaust work. Took two hours, during the journey I got out a couple of times and stuck my hand behind the exhaust pipes and let it very very warm/wet. No actual steam coming out, but I tried it anyway. Gave it a lick and it was a tiny bit bitter, but nothing like the face crunching bitterness I got when I tasted the fresh coolant I had stored in a small bottle in the trunk for emergency situations.

While the car was running I also popped off the coolant cap. Noticed there is white smoke coming out from it, gave it a whiff and I *think* it was smelling of exhaust fumes, but its hard to tell as the engine is right next to the tank.

I noticed if I revved the car, more smoke came out of the header tank.

What do you guys think, something to worry about or just leave it?

 

This is a two year old thread. What does the forum braintrust think was causing the white smoke in the header tank?

 

Oops, a one year old thread, but I am very curious.

 

Op here.

It was paranoia.

Coolant levels have not dropped at all, and oil/coolant is clear.

So yeah no issue. Bogging down was caused by TB o ring not seated properly.

All good now.

 

Steam.............

 

If you even THINK you might have a head gasket problem, send off an oil sample to be analyzed.
Blackstone will tell ya.

 

OK, I'll bite. WIH is a "header tank"?

 

max. max, max, max. wake up !
It's the one with the nipple on the bottom that you have to move to access the passenger side headlight.
( it's where you check and add the coolant goop )

 

Just an FYI to anyone reading this thread later on, while doing research on what I believed to be a blown head gasket I could find absolutely NO documented cases online as far as the SRT and its benz counterpart. In fact I even called a merz specialist and he stated that he didn't even think it was possible.

 

Its definitely possible. I know of someone with an XF that had his go. The merc specialist I use mentioned it is very rare, but does happen.