difficult start and white smoke

[ralbani]

My car (a 230 sl 1966)was running fine until it went for body repair and total clinig (including the engine). When I picked up the car from the work station it had trouble starting and a dense white smoke started comming out of the exhaust pipes. As the engine goes for a while the smoke decreases. When I stop I find a watery fluid coming out of the exhaust pipes.
I am not an expert mechanic (not even an amateur!), but I am afraid something seriously wrong is happening. Anybody has an idea?
Thanks,
Bob

[rwmastel]

Bob,

I'm no expert either, but isn't white smoke engine coolant?  Perhaps a head gasket problem?  Maybe they cleaned a hot engine with cold water?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[ja17]

Hello ralbani,

Yes, Rod may be correct. However there are other possibilities. Start with the inexpensive possibilities first.  Could be raw fuel, change the spark plugs. Could be water in the exhaust or intake, drive the car a bit and keep a close watch on all the gauges especially the temperature gauge. Check all fluid levels for change. Lastly a ruptured modulator diaphragm in the automatic transmission can cause white smoke.  Look for automatic transmission fluid in the intake, decreasing fluid level or a fouled #6 spark plug.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[jstuart]

Sounds to me like you lost the seal around a water passage on the head gasket...more than one reason for this to happen.  Check your coolant level and also check the color of your oil for water contamination.  If it becomes progressively harder to start the motor, pull the plugs and crank the engine...if water shoots out the hole you will know for sure.

Hope it turns out to be a simple issue!

Jay

1969 280SL

[waltklatt]

Bob,
Could you give some more information to the problem and situation.
Did they pressure wash the engine bay?  Underside of the car? Have the engine idling when they cleaned it?  Automatic or manual tranny?
Strange odor from the tailpipe-smell the white cloud from the back.  Smell sweet or sour(acrid).   How long till it goes away?  Engine temp when it disappears?
My former 280SL had the same problem-headgasket blew.  But it was a sight to look in the rearview to see the huge billowing clouds.  The gasket blew when I did a fast acceleration from 55mph to 95mph, with pressing the pedal to the floor.  Was too much for the old gasket.  
Now it's a gentle Miss Daisy driving for me.
Walter
1967 220SL-diesel

[Benz Dr.]

When did you take the car to the shop? If it was warm then and now it's really cold out the white stuff might be condensation. The fluid coming out of the pipes might be water and not coolant.
A head gasket leak will have steam coming out and long after the engine is warmed up. It will be a much bigger cloud than normal condenstaion from a cold engine.

Washing the engine should'nt cause any problems. I've never had anything more than the odd starting problems if the distributor got too wet. I wash right over the spark plugs and wires on a fully warmed up engine with hot water. Never hurt anything yet. I doubt I ever will eiter. The heat from the engine will dry everything off if you do it right.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061