Well I fired up the car today, idled for 5 minutes and suddenly smoke starting pouring out of both headers.

I only changed a flange gasket in the passenger side header to exhaust.

What could be causing it on both of them? I was told to start it later and let it run for 15mins or so and see what happens then.

Should I just change my headers? If so does anyone have a set for a '73Roadrunner, 400ci?

 

Are these new and have you run them before?

 

Nope, these are the original headers. And yes I've run them before, since I've gotten the car I've started it up numerous times, let it idle. It has never done this until after the exhaust change.

 

What exhaust change?

 

How bad was it smoking?

you may be dripping brake fluid out of the MC on the driver side..

Also possible you're leaking oil from somewhere..

 

I changed out 90% of the exhaust pipes, mufflers, I took off the pipe leading to the header on the passenger side and changed a gasket.

 

What color is the smoke and is it out of the pipe or off the pipe?

 

It's coming straight off the headers, not out of anything. color is gray'ish white.

 

I hope you don't have a head gasket issue, but then again, thats an easy enough fix.

Sounds like coolant is burning inside the pipe

Is it think white smoke ALL the time?

 

Fired it up 3 times today, 5mins each, smoked after 5min idling. I was told to run it for 15mins and check then. So I'll do that tonight.

 

That makes no sense. So it DOESN'T smoke for 5 minutes?

 

Nope, absolutely NO smoke up until 5 minutes later, then it smokes on the driver side, then a few seconds later the passenger. Literally 5 minutes. Lol

 

RR -

OK, the 5 minute thing isn't "odd", it's smoking as it heats up. Check for any "burn" marks, like from oil, or any fluid. Might even be one of the header bolts that reach the water jacket (sorry, forget what engine you have).

Archer

 

I was under the assumption it was ALREADY warmed up, and it happened everytime he shut it off/restarted it

 

Archer. this never happened at all before I changed the gasket. In the morning I'm letting it run for a while, hopefully it just needs to be broken in.

 

RR -

Just to cover all the bases, are you SURE it's coming from the headers? Something smoking from below the level of the headers can float by the headers and make it look like it's coming from there.

Dumb trick to see if it's coolant is to start er up without the radiator cap on. Without that to build up pressure, if there a pressure induced leak, it should take longer to smoke or not smoke at all.

Archer.

 

Nope, I'm 100% positive it was coming off the headers. Even covered both sides next to them and it was coming straight off.

 

Have you had your greasy hands all over them while working in the engine bay? Sounds like you are just burning off whatever is on them.

 

Like I said, while we did the brakes and exhaust, we NEVER touched anything in the engine except to put brake fluid in.

 

I'd let it run for at least 15 if not 30 minutes to burn off whatever is on there, if the smoking continues look for coolant or other fluids leaking onto the headers. As long as the smoke is on the outside of the exhaust pipes everything inside the motor should be ok.

 

are the headers painted?

 

Nope, a bit rusted, (Original headers) but not painted over.

 

odd not painted,nothing dripping on them, and its coming off the pipe not out of the pipe.

 

keep an eye on oil pressure and temp and just let it run to see if it goes away

 

You low on any fluids?

 

Looks like alot has been covered hear but lets try a smell. Does the smoke smell kind of sweet? if so its antifreeze, does it smell like burnt oil? Maybe your valve covers are leaking. Not sure what burnt brake fluid smells like but if it smell like nothing you ever smelled before maybe its brake fluid......just my two cents worth

 

assuming the above, I would take it on the freeway and put about 20 miles or so on it

 

Any pics?

 

The smoking seems to have stopped. I have no anti-freeze but I don't think it would cause that. My radiator seems cold after idling for a bit, I can't really describe the smell.

 

Top off the coolant to where it need to be, a long with all your other fluids and try it again.