'03 PT Cruiser GT 2.4L Turbo Loss of Power and Thick White Smoke Out Of Tail Pipe

[stephbice0789]

Hi! I have a 2003 pt cruiser gt turbo. It started emitting white smoke from tail pipe only on startup but now it does it constantly and when I get into fifth gear it begins blowing huge clouds of white smoke from tail pipe and losing power. ANy ideas what might be going on?? THis is my only vehicle and I have two kids. All help is appreciated

[stephbice0789]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE RESPOND AND HELP ME OUT?????

[Chip18sw]

STOP DRIVING IT!! White smog is usually a head gasket, white smoke on a turbo is pretty much most certainly a headgasket!

Check the oil look for anti freeze, pull the plugs see if they are wet, while the plugs are out do a compression test! The compression test will give you your answer!

If the compression is good..it will be someone else's turn to take a stab at it.

[Ray_Dockrey]

Sometimes it takes a while to get an answer back. Two hours isn't very long. Been a couple of threads lately about something like this and a pcv valve replacement was recommended. I would try that first and go from there. Usually white smoke is an indication of a blown head gasket. I guess it could be the turbo going bad too. Here is a discussion from recently:

PCV Valve On 2004 PT Cruiser GT

[cruserdad1976]

well IAM NOT A TURBO GUY
but from what i have ready that sounds like a oil line going to the trubo is leaking or the turbo is bad and since im NOT a turbo guy I dont even know what going bad means except i guess the berarnings are shot and the spinner is allowed to wobble

so some one is going to need to know the following

Year--
Miles on CAr---
Synthic oil or Regular oil---
stick or anto---
what has been dont to the car---

[Chris_TurbosUnleashed]

Aside from the smoke are you experiencing anything else out of the ordinary? reduction in power? Strange whistling noise? Rattling noise??

Chris Wright
TurbosUnleashed.com
602-762-6678

[Chip18sw]

I know the carbon seal can fail in a turbo but wouldn't that be blue smoke (oil) not white (water)?

Pulling spark plugs and doing a compression test cost nothing, "assuming" the OP is capable of doing it himself?

[NitroPT]

Are you overheating, is the white smoke also accompany with moisture, is there excessive pressure in the coolant tank,does the engine sound as it is mis-firing,is the oil pressure higher then normal?

Sorry changing PCV valve has no effect on oil control to the engine.
Unusual noises need emeadiate attention of at least a qualified ear.
No need to jump into compression testing yet.
We don't really need to know what type oil you use , miles on the engine or what the transmission is


You should limit or stop driving your PT until you answer some of these questions.

Be a little patient with us not all of the member are Auto Technicians.

[Busted_PT]

One note. If they are using synthetic, you don't usually see if it is burning oil. No blue smoke. Not sure of a major amount of oil.

[NitroPT]

Never did the oil test I told you about?



You may not have posted that oil thought?