White fuel smelling smoke

[VR4_Menace]

Any ideas wat would cause my car to have white smoke out the exhaust with a strong smell of fuel and it sounds like it's misfiring as well.
Thanks

[BadDog]

can you check oil color from dipstick, may be head gasket?

[VR4_Menace]

I dont have the car atm, its at my father in laws because i dont have room for it here if im not using it. What other symptoms would it have if it were to be a blown head gasket??

[Nick Mann]

Blown head gasket is not that common. And the symptoms can vary depending on which part of the head gasket has failed, there are oil ways, water ways and cylinders all at different pressures, so any two or all three can mix in a variety of different ways.

I'd suggest that you check the inlet pipework for leaks. A pressure test would be perfect. How does the smoke manifest? Only on tickover before you drive the car? If so I'd say that is normal for a VR4, especially one with a modified exhaust. If it is worse after a good drive then I'd start thinking of other things.

[VR4_Menace]

It's undrivable, it started doing it once it had warmed up and now does it all the time, from cold right through to warm. It also has a really bad misfire as well.

[elnevio]

My money at this stage would be on a pipework issue. Check all the big pipework - the throttle inlet elbow is known for popping off under boost and then reseating under vacuum so that it looks fine. Check that and check all intercooler pipework too!

[Nick Mann]

As a quick check, unplug the maf and start the car. If it runs better then you have a bad maf or more likely a large intake pipework leak.

[VR4_Menace]

What does it mean wen the oil smells like petrol?
Checked pipework and maf already.

[swinks]

What does it mean wen the oil smells like petrol?

Actually means nothing, one of the myths. In vr4 due to engine construction old oil can smell bit of petrol, that strongly depend on oil brand and grade. Ester oils have very dinstinctive sweet smell when drained, some people confuse one with coolant smell
If engine is high mileage with piston rings worn due to age that may also contribute to smell in question.

Anyway, as suggested, there maybe various different reasons, where blown headgasket is less likely.
- hardpipe leak
- vacuum leak
- overfuelling (lambda, injectors)
- coilpacks
- engine temp sensor

In a meantime do monitor coolant level because we can't fully rule out headgasket.

[VR4_Menace]

It did push water out the overflow on short trips before the radiator cracked now have to fill it up after every trip lol. The oil doesnt just have a slight smell of petrol it smells more of petrol than it does of oil and it never used to smell of petrol at all.
I could do another check for leaks but to me it's pointing towards head gasket.
it's totally undrivable, again :-(