De-Cat scorpion smoking constatly

[lagz33]

Hello All

Not sure if this is anything to worry about, I have a decat scorpion system, and now that the colder weather is settling in I have noticed that on idle I have plooms of white smoke sitting behind me even when up to temp, is this potentially from the lack of cat?

[UrS4boy]

White = coolant

[lagz33]

Ye I was hoping it wouldnt be that considering I had the head redone in Jan this year....

[s2driveruk]

Are you sure it is smoke...if its coolant you can definitely smell IIT sickly sweet exhaust

[piotr]

Have you got coolant level going down?if you need to top it up from time to time and no external leaks then you might suspect that this smoke is burned coolant.if you are not loosing any coolant then your smoke might just be a normal steam.mine does it now when it gets colder even when engine is up to temp.

[lagz33]

Thanks for your input so far,so, just drove to work and didnt have any smoke from cold start all the way to running temp when I arrived. It was very icey/cold yesterday and it was very "smokey" but warmer today and... no smoke.

I have had to top up coolant, but on a long trip to ikea couple months ago I parked up and she was leaking alot of coolant from somwhere above the nearside wishbone, which I havent yet got round to finding

Oil and coolant both look untainted, no lumpy running.

I really hope its not the head again, my next step was 996 calipers and then power upgrades. If the head is gone again, I feel like getting rid


P.S-Am i right in thinking decat will be any smokier than catted?

(Oh, and I'm only smelling fuel type smell from exhaust, not really that sweet, I'm no connoisseur though)

[GazzaG60]

on anew sainless system you may get this. the cat usualllllly stops it.

does it smell like coolant. put your hand to itsee what its like.

also a key factor. areyou losing coolant.

if its a 16v did you iuse the abf gasket and new headbolts. tbh it sounds like standard new stainless smoke.

[Ross]

Most likely it's just the change in weather. When my car was parked outside I'd get white smoke for a long time, lots of moisture and it's vaporising as it hits the cold air. It goes away pretty quickly now she's garaged again. I have a decat scorpion too but that's coincidence...

Definitely keep an eye on coolant levels but I wouldn't make preparations for a head gasket change just yet.

[s2driveruk]

on my decat, I get loads of steam on idle in cold weather from the exhaust - nothing lost coolant wise. As I say you will really smell it if it's being eaten an thrown out the exhauast.

Check the header tank for cracks or the bottom of the main rad where the thermo switch is.

[lagz33]

Thanks for all your input guys, I am going to get a sniff test done after work today to be 100%, will let you all know how it goes.
If its ok, I wont be selling her just yet

[rynaqui]

I get white smoke on cold days when it's left outside as well, when up to temp no smoke.

[Tony Stark]

What are the spark plugs looking like?

[lagz33]

Ok so, had a test done and its ok. I must admit he wasnt eager to test for very long only about 4 squeezes of the tester as he wasnt charging me. (Hopefully that was enough)
And we also found that the water pump seems to be leaking even though it was only replaced a year ago, so will get that changed over as soon as!
Thanks again guys for all of your suggestions!!

[lagz33]

For anyone that doesnt have a sniff test and could do with one in their tool box, don't spend £40 on a kit buy the liquid from fleabay and throw something together with a length of pipe, plastic bottle and rubber bung. Save yourself £30 odd quid...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2812060129...84.m1438.l2648