fatjay
Elite Member
I was working with my bobcat m600 moving dirt. All was going well then something happened. Engine pitch changed and started blowing white smoke. It was a sudden change, not gradual. Any idea what might have caused it?
Blowing white smoke
- Thread starter fatjay
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Slowpoke Slim
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Many things could be the cause. Did you get it hot, are you sure your temp gauge is working? I'm thinking overheat and popping a head or head gasket. Water in fuel could cause some white smoke, but doesn't sound like it with the symptoms you describe. Are you losing coolant?
BrokenTrack
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I do believe you just blew a head gasket.
Molalla1
Super Member
Sounds to me that it lifted the head . . . popping a head gasket.
OP
fatjay
Elite Member
Its a wisconsin v4hd air cooled 4 cylinder gas engine. I've never seen anything like this before.
Here's a video with sound. THe engine sounds good when it's running, but definitely not normal.
Bobcat issues - YouTube
Here's a video with sound. THe engine sounds good when it's running, but definitely not normal.
Bobcat issues - YouTube
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fatjay
Elite Member
Also no temp guage. I was working it pretty hard when it happened. The first time it happened it blew the oil cap and dip stick off.
Industrial Toys
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I had that engine on a Vermeer Stump Grinder. I seem to recall I once had the oil issue and attributed it to stuck valve. But, I don't think it ran and then had issues, rather it was the first start of the season kind of thing.
It's AIR cooled so it can only be oil that it's burining.
It's AIR cooled so it can only be oil that it's burining.
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fatjay
Elite Member
My other thought was that it may be water in the fuel which builds up in a cylinder until that big poof. I’ve never seen an intermittent big poof like that before.
Industrial Toys
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I'm no gasoline engine expert or any other for that matter, and tried to consider the water scenereo, but couldn't think of one.
TimberHole
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I think I’d start with a compression test. I’m guessing that might tell the story.
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fatjay
Elite Member
Someone suggested a stuck valve. I'm guessing the exhaust valve.
JDAOWNER
Silver Member
WHITE SMOKE COULD BE OIL BURNING. WITH THE DIP STICK BLOWING OUT AND THE OIL CAP BLOWING OFF, I WOULD GUESS YOU GOT WAY TOO MUCH AIR IN THE BASE. I THINK YOU MAY HAVE BLOWEN A PISTON. LIKE WAS SUGGESTED, A COMPRESSION TEST WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
airbiscuit
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Time to try your favorite additive!
metalbender
Veteran Member
Where exactly is the blast of smoke coming from? Looks like an internal crankcase pressure build up, not from the exhaust. Excessive blow-by, possibly igniting fuel in the crankcase when a faulty cyl fires. Odd one for sure.
airbiscuit
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To me, it looked like the exhaust outlet. If so, I am thinking an exhaust valve is sticking open on the combustion stroke. Back in the day, we used to pour a little diesel fuel down the carburetor when it was running - or spray in your favorite "miracle" additive.
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fatjay
Elite Member
It's coming from the crankcase. I ordered valve cover gaskets and head gaskets. Should I get rings too? Or wait to see what it looks like when i get it apart?
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I'm with those that have suggested doing a compression check. As I work for a diagnostic tool company, everyday I see users of our tool pour money into parts that were not part of a problem. Fatjay, as you are fellow Pennsylvanian living on lock down as am I (I'm from Ambler), I would invest in a compression guage and learning how to use it. That would eliminate problems with the pistons and valves.
The fueling issue can produce white smoke but usually when fueling problems occur in a gas engine, the engine does not run well. Often white smoke when it's a fueling issue would come out the the exhaust because the engine is running very lean.
I'm not saying you won't use your gaskets, but the pressure build-up in the crankcase - that is the concern.. Didn't you write that the oil check dip stick and the oil cap blew off? I think the compression check is the way to go. Find why the engine pressures are not right. Remember, an engine is nothing more than an air pump. It sucks the air in and it has to blow it out. If the air cannot go to the exhaust port, then it goes somewhere else... The question is what is causing the diversion.
The fueling issue can produce white smoke but usually when fueling problems occur in a gas engine, the engine does not run well. Often white smoke when it's a fueling issue would come out the the exhaust because the engine is running very lean.
I'm not saying you won't use your gaskets, but the pressure build-up in the crankcase - that is the concern.. Didn't you write that the oil check dip stick and the oil cap blew off? I think the compression check is the way to go. Find why the engine pressures are not right. Remember, an engine is nothing more than an air pump. It sucks the air in and it has to blow it out. If the air cannot go to the exhaust port, then it goes somewhere else... The question is what is causing the diversion.
