R

Ross03

New Member
Hello,

Pure white steam/smoke pours from my Range Rover L322, when I mean pours out I can't explain how much! It literally looks like someone has thrown a smoke grenade!

After speaking with many friends etc everyone seems to think head gasket with possible cracked head.

Would you recommend a complete recon engine both bottom and top/rebuild just the top? It's very high mileage 194,000 miles with LPG conversion.

Does anyone know of any reputable garages or independents in the South East (I live Gravesend,Kent) A company called NGEAR in Basildon, Essex has quoted £3800 inc VAT for full engine top/bottom rebuild all new parts/block etc 2 years warranty, anyone heard of them??

Sorry for long post and so many questions! Hope someone can help!
 
hi ross03, i've just gone through same process for different reasons, and also live in gravesend, but i did the rebuild myself, took alot of hours, getting engine out stripping rebuilding onto new block pistons etc probably cost best part of 2k, and had to do on my own, so although seems expensive, if you have neither the time, skills or inclination! There is a guy at luddesdown who dabbles in LR's for a living, he originally told me expect about 2.5k upwards.

i could give you his details, for a second opinion etc

regards

stroicker
 
Hi,

You did the rebuild yourself! I would not have a clue, no idea!

I started it up again last night and the smoke is more white/blue, I take it this means it's burning oil. So perhaps not what I had originally expected ie pure white smoke. Any ideas??

I would be interested to speak with him maybe he can help.

I suppose the other option is to source an engine second hand or something? I was told that the BMW X5, 744i and some of the 5 series BMWs use the same engine. Apparently it's only when you start talking about Range Rovers it suddenly gets more expensive!

Ross
 
Ross03 said:
I started it up again last night and the smoke is more white/blue, I take it this means it's burning oil. So perhaps not what I had originally expected ie pure white smoke. Any ideas??
Click to expand...

Is smoke the only symptom that something may be wrong ?

Is the engine overheating, is there any mechanical noise, is there a severe lack of power ?

Does this white smoke linger or does it disappear almost immediately (within 5 secs) ?
 

Since developing this problem (ie the smoke) I have only had it running a couple of mins. Yesterday I turned the key, starts and smoke just pours from the exhaust. Left it running for 2 min, too much smoke to leave running for longer! Never seen anything like it, looks like a bomb has gone off the whole street is consumed in smoke! Smoke lingers!

I'm too scared to run it for longer than that as it may do more damage? So unsure if lack of power and overheating, although after the radiator change the temperature gauge did not overheat?

Perhaps a video may help explain?

Ross
 
I had to think then! but yes petrol and lpg.

Starts on petrol and switches to lpg after couple of mins, do you think it could be lpg related?
 
Can you switch the LPG off fully? Maybe somewhere to start. To have that much smoke I would suspect that if there was an engine issue, you would either be losing coolant very quickly or emptying your oil at an alarming rate. How are the levels on these?
 
jdennington said:
Can you switch the LPG off fully? Maybe somewhere to start. To have that much smoke I would suspect that if there was an engine issue, you would either be losing coolant very quickly or emptying your oil at an alarming rate. How are the levels on these?
Click to expand...

I agree entirely and that's my point. If the only symptom is loads of white smoke, then maybe the engine's basically fine and there's something else going on.

If the smoke lingers then it's unlikely to be water from a leaking HG as that would generate steam which looks like white smoke, but condenses quite quickly.

Is it an auto as ATF getting burnt gives of clouds of white smoke and I believe that there is a vent between the gearbox and the engine ?

Definitely start by disabling the lpg completely ....
 
Coolant warning did keep coming on because there was a leak in the radiator hence having it changed?

Is there anyway that changing the radiator and coolant etc could have caused this ie too muh coolant/anti freeze?

The did start 4 hours after the rad change or perhaps it's just coincidence????
 
Changing the radiator shouldnt cause anything like you are experiencing. Does the coolant run through the LPG system at all? It may be that you have an air lock causing a problem if thats the case, is the heater blowing hot air. I think the best thing is to start from the beginning and cross off what isnt causing an issue. Turn off the LPG lift the bonnet and start the car, is there any smoke from the off or does it only appear after a while, are there any signs of any leaks anywhere, is the top coolant hose pressurising too much, i.e. can you still squeeze it once the thermostat has opened. Are there any cold spots along the cooling system? etc, etc
 
Ross03 said:
The did start 4 hours after the rad change or perhaps it's just coincidence????
Click to expand...

We do seem to be hindered by a lack of information here ....

(a) Is this a petrol or diesel engine ?
(b) Auto or manual gearbox ?
(c) Have you tried starting and running engine with LPG disconnected ?
(d) Have you tried starting and running engine with radiator cap removed to see if it blows water out ?
(e) Have you listened for unusual engine noises while running ?

You should try (c), (d) and (e) if only to get more info because if the only concern is excessive white "smoke", then that does narrow down the options .....

You say you don't want to run it too long to avoid damage, but trust me here, if it was rattling badly you should hear it within 5 seconds of starting it, if you don't hear it, you can probably safely leave it running while you investigate further, after all, how much worse can it get ?
 
I'll sort his details out for you, if the prob started after the rad was changed, and although it may not be relevant, surely the first action is back to the garage for them to identify the issue as this could be the affect of the work carried out?
 
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