White\grey smoke

Discussion and technical advice the SW20 MR2. 3S-GTE, 3S-GE, 3S-FE etc
Anything and everything to do with maintenance, modifications and electrical is in here for the Mk2.

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AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

My rev 2 turbo seems to smoke when idling not masses of smoke it looks like what you get in a cold morning however once warmed up if I take it for a drive soon as I got a bit of boost I can see noticeably more smoke coming out, after say 30 mins of driving there's no smoke what so ever even on boost ? Once stopped again there's light smoking but it seems to only come out the right tailpipe

Temperature always stays normal
It idles just over 1k rpm ?
EML flickers on and off randomly throughout a drive but never stays on

Im thinking maybe head gasket is on its way out or turbo ? Anyone have any idear what the problem could be?
Bear87
Posts: 300
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:05 pm
Location: Essex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by Bear87 »

Flickering eml light is often the capacitors failing on the way. Take covers off and check the caps are not leaking. This has been the cause of multiple running issues from no start to bad fueling. I would start there! Could be turbo seals on the way out but hopefully something simple :thumleft:
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Thanks for the info mate it's just one of them annoying things that could be a number of things if the capacitors are failing what would be a fix ? I would be surprised if it was the head gasket as it's been a standard car all its life and only on 72k

If my turbo is blown I was thinking of going down the ct20 route I need to do some research to see what's involved

Also where is the best place to buy performance parts and service items ?
Bear87
Posts: 300
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:05 pm
Location: Essex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by Bear87 »

Could be head gasket if it's still the original. Rev 1 and rev 2 both used a paper gasket from factory ](*,) but you can replace with something like a cometic or hks gasket which are multi layer steel. You will have to if you want more boost. I'm running a ct26 hybrid. Personal preference over the ct20b there is a divide between owners as to preference. It's practically a bolt on swap although an injector upgrade goes a long way.

If the capacitors are failing as long as the printed circuit board isn't damaged from the acid electrolyte stuff inside them you will be able to solder in some new ones (maplin for about 20p each). I have had to fix every rev 2 I've ever had. The worst one i have seen is on my current tubby 56k miles on the clock and the ecu was toast.

Tcb parts are the guys you want to talk to for all genuine/oem quality service items.
Upgrade items is a hard one. You have fensports who offer a good service but I search everywhere for the parts I want. On here is a great place to ask for things. Lots of us have garages full of parts we have bought and never used or replaced with something that works better for our cars.

:thumleft:
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Well if it is the head gasket I might aswell forge it while the engine is open? I haven't had it long it had been standing for a long time so I just don't where to start it needs new brakes needs a service etc now the head gasket might be on the way out im not sure where to begin to be honest

Does the ct26 hybrid still have the same characteristics as the satndard ct26 pulling harder low down compared to the ct20b which pulls to redline pretty much ?

I'll have to have someone have a looks Nd see what they can find it's just full of problems at the moment it's a right headache

I've had a look at fensports I found tuning developments also not sure what they are like

I'll have a little look in the for sale section see what's about

I just want to get it sorted such a good chassis so it's worth saving
Bear87
Posts: 300
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:05 pm
Location: Essex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by Bear87 »

If it's been sitting try starting with service. Oil filter, oil and plugs etc. I have a little rev 1 daily and there is mayo in the oil cap. But it's not head gasket its condensation as i warm the cars up before I drive them.

My ct26 comes in at around 3200 rpm and holds to redline. Offers a big kick when it hits and doesn't run out of puff at 17psi
I'm running a forged engine. JE pistons I think, eagel h con rods and Brian crower cams. Fast enough to scare anyone who has been in it

I haven't used tuning developments personally but someone will give an honest review.
Also ATS offer some amazing parts if you want big power but they are in the USA so be prepared to be stung with import duty (ask me how I know!)

The 3sgte is fairly bomb proof tho. Unless your goals are 300-350bhp and above standard internals are good enough!

Don't cheap out on parts like brakes. Save your penny's and do it right. It's taken me years to build what I have and its still miles off from where I want it.
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Right I'll be buying some service items tonight , I'll buy oil , oil filter , plugs , coolant, petrol filter , I think I'll go with Fuchs titan pro race 10w40 people seem more keen on using as for coolant what do you use? Plugs I'll go with irridium heat range 7

I get a little Mayon in my oil cap but after a drive there's literally just clean oil on the cap if my head gasket has gone I think whilst it's open I'll forge it is there any mr2 specialist near to Sussex?

I think I've always had a 300-350 bhp in my mind however I'd want to keep drivability and reliability

I agree it's always best to do things right rather than try doing it on the cheap then your have to pay twice mines a bit of a restoration project so I have plenty of time on my hands I'm in no rush but I want to make sure I'm buying the right parts and doing it all in the right order

Where did you get your engine forged or did you do it yourself?
yokomomr4bx
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:06 pm
Location: Cardiff

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by yokomomr4bx »

Only thing I would suggest from your list of bits you're ordering tonight is to cheap out on spark plugs. There's a lot of hype about plugs, especially the expensive iridium and platinum examples. Save yourself the cost, which could pay for another entire service kit, and just get some NGK BKR7E (if you want the colder plug) otherwise if you're running standard boost just stick with a BKR6E. These are a bog standard copper electrode plug that you can pick up for about £10-12 a set. You would have to be going through plugs a rate of knots to reach the cost of one set of the fancy ones!

Definitely check those capacitors, even if they just look like they're getting a little puffy I would replace them.

Coolant is coolant, you'll probably be draining it out and replacing it for one reason or another before you can reap any advantages of long life fluids etc ;)

You might want to note the cost of heading down even a basic forged engine build (i.e. just pistons + likely re-bore, bearings and a metal head gasket) against fitting a rev 3 engine... the rev 2 to rev 3 transition is surprisingly dramatic and has satisfied many. The rev 3 engine is seriously impressive for low/off boost torque for day to day driving and similar to what Bear87 said, it will hold 17psi as long as your right foot!

I would consider a swap before a rebuild :)

(If you are desperate for the rebuild though, you might want to snap up the set of forged pistons for sale on here, I think they're £200/250!!)
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Ok thanks mate appreciate that , it's good info to know , my car is completely standard as it is and does have a few issues like the smoking and boost doesn't seem to be right

I have thought about a rev3 engine swap however it's trying to find a decent one with the loom and all t he bits you need etc that's why I was thinking of forging the rev2 engine

I'm just not sure what's the best route to go down
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Definitely check those capacitors, even if they just look like they're getting a little puffy I would replace them.

How do you check capacitors ? My engine has just cut out after I started it ram lumpy for a few seconds flickering engine light then died and now it gets to start but it won't
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

Just a quick update I found a guide on how to remove the ECU and check capacitors I have found that capacitor c810 which is idle control I beleive is leaking and on the small board capacitor c512 has been leaking bad as it has traveled down the board (lines)

I'm no good at soldering so I'm guessing I'll be looking for a good second hand ECU off here if I can find one
yokomomr4bx
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:06 pm
Location: Cardiff

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by yokomomr4bx »

Would you be able to post some high quality photos of the capacitors and the board on to here? You'll need to host them through imgur.

If the board isn't too badly damaged you will be able to send it to someone to replace the caps for you. I would only charge a tenner if you paid postage to put some new ones on for you, or I'm sure there are other people who would be happy to closer by.

Having said that, if the caps have been leaking long enough to streak down the board, it would probably be better in the long run to get hold of a new ecu. I'm not sure how available they are for the rev 2 but finding one for the rev 3 is a real pain!!
AdsMr23sge
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:50 pm
Location: Sussex

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by AdsMr23sge »

I've found a local mr2 specialist near me that I'm dropping the ECU off to tommorow so he's going to have a look and fix it hopefully

It's strange how it's been running recently had high idle engine light flickering but never cut out untill last night it literally fired up ran low idle and really lumpy (sounded like it wasn't running on all cylinders) then cut out , I couldn't start it again I'm now wondering could this be anything else other than the leaky capacitors like a snapped cambelt maybe?

The leaks seem to have stayed near the area of the effected capacitors both have black goo on top of the original solder points and one on the small board c512 has black down some of the lines near the capacitor if that makes sense?
yokomomr4bx
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:06 pm
Location: Cardiff

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by yokomomr4bx »

Well, a snapped cambelt you would definitely know about, the engine would be spinning over at a fair old pace with the characteristic no compression sound. So I wouldn't worry about that.

That leak sounds like it's caused a fair bit of damage to the PCB board which will be intermittently affecting function. I would wait until your ECU has been fixed and then see what sort of symptoms you have, one thing at a time. If you start changing too many things at once you won't known which was the cause of the problem :)
Alex O
Posts: 648
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:28 am
Location: Guildford, Surrey

Re: White\grey smoke

Post by Alex O »

AdsMr23sge wrote:I've found a local mr2 specialist near me that I'm dropping the ECU off to tommorow so he's going to have a look and fix it hopefully

It's strange how it's been running recently had high idle engine light flickering but never cut out untill last night it literally fired up ran low idle and really lumpy (sounded like it wasn't running on all cylinders) then cut out , I couldn't start it again I'm now wondering could this be anything else other than the leaky capacitors like a snapped cambelt maybe?

The leaks seem to have stayed near the area of the effected capacitors both have black goo on top of the original solder points and one on the small board c512 has black down some of the lines near the capacitor if that makes sense?


If you still need the ECU to be looked at try "ECU Doctor". They fixed the ECU on my Hilux where the capacitors had leaked everywhere. Was £250 and they were really good. This was 2 years ago and still works fine.
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