I need help, spark plugs, smoke

[nawarkk]

I just went and bought new Iridium Spark Plugs for my car. They are made by bosch I think, from GM. Anyways.. I replaced the old ones with the new ones which was really hard. I started the car up and it started fine, but after a minute of idle, light white smoke started to come out of the engine.

It was coming out of the back of the motor around spark plug 2,4 and 6. We undid them to check if there were and cross threads and there weren't any spark plugs that were cross threaded. We replaced the back ones with the front to see if the smoke would cange location to the front, but it didn't. None of the spark plugs looked damaged and none of the wires looked burned.

We kept the car on for about 4 minutes of light smoke to see if it would go away, but it continued to get worse.

The car was running perfect before and even with the smoke there it idles perfectly and smoothly.

This is a 2002 Grand Prix GT with no mods besides a CAI and no mufflers.


What could be the problem, I need help fast since this is my DD.

Thanks for any help

[matt5112]

The issue is, thats where the exhaust manifold is as well so knowing just where the smoke is coming from is kinda difficult but also vital to being able to figure this out.

Are you sure the plugs were threaded by hand and torqued to spec?

[nawarkk]

We first tightened them by hand. Then we tightened them with a spark plug socket and a wrench. Did not Torque but got it tight.

[matt5112]

Did you try to see where exactly the smoke is coming from?

I'm all out of ideas here, short of the valve cover gasket going and oil dripping and burning that, I can't think of anything else.

[shawnz90]

Well a little bit past hand tight is fine. Personaly i would just take a 10min ride and see if the smoke goes away.

[nawarkk]

well I would do that but I'm scared it might catch fire or something worse would happen. Somebody I was chatting with told me that it may be the upper and lower intake manifolds that may be leaking coolant.

[TheOtherNick]

Look and see if you can see were it is leaking.

[busmech]

Check the elbow on the front of intake manifold,its a little plastic piece...sometimes these can start leaking coolant just by being bumped a little...

[QUICKSILVER462]

Sounds like water condensing on the inside of the exhaust pipes, aka water vapor, perfectly normal.

[nawarkk]

Thanks guys for the help, I figured out it was from my dirty engine dropping dirty **** on the spark plugs and burning it. Cleaned them out and now the car is running fine. I was really worried though!


Ok this can be locked

[matt5112]

If you've got **** in there you might want to consider getting it out and keeping out. Not exactly healthy for the engine.

[toolguy]

Yes road grime falls on the headers and then burns off when started. Glad you figured it out!

[BillBoost37]

Anytime you paw the engine, expect a little burn off. It's quite normal.

If it's bad, it's time to clean the motor down.

[TorqueAutoMotiv]

yea engine grim is a nasty thing when i first got my gp i hit it with engine klean and waited 15 min sprayed it of i guess it soaked in to some caked on grim in the heat shield and after the engine warmed up the exhaust caught fire pretty funny seeing me freaking out at the car wash
but a 32 ounce gatorade knocked the flames out pretty quick

[Liquifire]

yes, please get some engine de greaser and clean out your engine bay.

[nawarkk]

For sure I'm gonna get some soon