Is White color smoke from the exaust a problem in a New FE GTS?

[SF Final 286]

Okay, Here is the story:
I bought a new FE GTS about a month ago. I then drove it for 900 miles and followed proper break in procedure. This past weekend I started to drive it a little more agressively, taking it up to 4500 rpm and testing out the abs. Did a little spirited driving in the mountains. Drove for 30 minutes then I noticed white smoke coming from the exaust whenever I drove off from a standstill. When cruising I didn't see any smoke. And it did not occure all the time. It happend maybe 7 out of 10 times I drove off from a standstill, like at a stop sign.

In addition, it when I slammed on the brakes from 60 mph, to test the abs, I would notice a chattering sound that lasted about 2 seconds that occured as I drove away from the stop. This is not under real hard acceleration, either. The chattering sound, sounded like a fan was rubbing on something or like a clutch chatter.

I noticed no performance change during all of this. But then again I was not totally going all out either. So by not pushing the car to it's limits, I may not have noticed any decrease in power. The breaks worked great. No problem in break performance.


These 2 things really worried me so I took the car home and brougt it into my garage. I shut it down and noticed a smokey odor like burnt plastic or something. I re stated the ignition and noticed white smoke again! So I shut it down and let it sit overnight.

The next day I re stated the ignition and noted a small amount of white smoke and alot of condesation from the tail pipe. Along with the water, there was black stuff in the water. The black watery stuff landed on the ground 2 feet away from the tail pipe. I let the car idle for about 5 min and then took it out. The drive was fine. No white smoke. No chatter after hard braking. The oil level was fine. The oil color was normal.

But there is now a new problem, The heater does not work! The fan just blows ambient temperature air. I drove about 60 miles yesterday and did not notice any other new problems.

What do you think I should do?
I definitely need to get the heater fixed but does this relate to the white smoke and condensation and black color water left on my garage floor? Does it all tie together?
Where should I take it for warranty work in the SF Bay Area?
Please help.
Thanks,

Dennis

 

[BigCarrot]

Are you sure the white smoke wasn't coming from your tires?

 

[KenH]

Under hard braking, the breather vent tubes can dump oil into the intake plenum resulting in the white smoke. Causes no harm, but doesn't look very cool. There are alternate ways to vent the system which fixes this problem though I haven't done it yet and I am not sure the best way to go about it. This one is on my list of little issues to fix on the Viper that Dodge didn't get quite right, along the lines of the 1-4 skip shift, dustless brake pads, etc.

The first time I tried a 0-100-0 run in my '01 I had the smoke and a strange disturbing clatter sound when I took off as well. The sound never returned, and I'm not sure what it was. Perhaps someone else can shed light on this. Perhaps something to do with the ABS?

--- Ken

 

[HOGDEALER]

You got to post your pic!!!

 

[Nexus-6]

I had lots of condesnsation from my FE as well - nothing to worry about though. Weather will affect this and I've noticed it to be less and less as it warms up.

I haven't noticed any smoke like you describe and I'm just over the 1000 mile **** and have several burst runs on the car...what temps/humidity/etc did this occur in?

Plastic/hot smell - normal smells of a new car heating up and cooling off. Personally, I savor the smell.

Have you checked for leaks (diff, driveshaft, etc)? I ask only because one of my other cars exhibited a similar problem with only 300 miles on the clock - it turned out that the rear main seal wasn't installed properly and the driveshaft was leaking (and thus spinning violently) tranny fluid all over the exhaust pipes resulting in large plumes of white smoke under acceleration.

 

[ledfoot]

My daughter walks into the garage after i've driven the car,and says 'it smells like Viper".....ahh,the unmistakeable smell of heat and brake-dust.......................You know the heater only works from the floor vents... ,you may have a case of new car parrinoia (sp)....oh, and these cars do spit- out the exhaust sometimes......

 

[genXgts]

The HVAC is confusing on Vipers, do a search for some advice as to what position on the dial does what.

One would think all positions divert air to the different areas at the temp position but it's far from that easy, I would say the chance of the HVAC acting up is not too high!

Keep us posted......

 

[SF Final 286]

Hey KenH
Can you elaborate on your answer. What is the Breather vent tubes and how does oil get "dumped" into the intake?
Thanks

 

[Warren S]

Haven't ever seen white smoke on mine, only normal steam condensation at first startup. If oil was getting through the breather tubes, then I'd figure oil would be burning and hence, blue smoke. Had you had someone follow you behind to confirm this?

I believe the rear muffler has "weep holes" to clear out any condensation.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

I think they all slobber out the tail pipes, I know my two do until the exhaust warms up and evaporates all the condensation.
They also blow alittle black **** out the pipes when you burp the throttle as well.
As far as the smell, I think that's NEW car your smelling. Just my guess, of coarse it's possible it's something else, but not likely.
The white smoke? Hmmm, what was the ambient air temp? Based on your location I would assume the weather is warm. However if the exhaust is warm enough and the air temp is cool enough, you could be experiencing a phenomenon we northerners call exhaust fog .
If this is not the case, than my only other explanation would be coolant. Coolant is the only thing I know of that could burn white (sleeve issue, leaky head gasket). Highly unlikely though.
I think some good hard spirited driving would likely make you feel a whole lot better.

 

[KenH]

SF Final 286,
There is a vent tube that I think comes off the valve cover and connects to the air box. It tends to collect oil in it over time. Under maximum braking, that oil is forced down the tube due to the g forces and dumps into the intake. If you pull your intake tubes off, you will probably find oil in one of them or if you look through the throttlebodies you will see oil in one side of the intake plenum. The oil always ends up on one side and I think it is the drivers side. It is annoying, but harmless.

I don't have my Viper here to look at, but I think it is the same tube that is shown in Vipermeds intake photos where he has a small braided hose connected to a very small air filter inside the airbox.

--- Ken

 

[Viper Specialty]

white smoke is most likely Oil from hard braking like mentioned above. as far as heater not working, it is only SUPPOSED to come out of the bottom vents if thats what your referring to, otherwise, cheack the heater core valve cable on the passenger side firewall-(look for two hoses going through firewall right behind heater fan) make sure the cable is connected. sometimes they can pop off.

Condensation out of pipes is normal until the car is completely warmed up. especially in cooler weather.

the smell could have been clutch, or even the body resins "cooking" if it was one of the first times you started to "beat" on the car.

Lastly, the chatter could have been the clutch if it glazed over a little, or more likely, the half-shafts. the stock shafts have a tendancy to make a spring-chatter like noise from time to time, especially when downshifting to a dead stop, or reverse to a stop, then accelerate.

Also guys, if I remember correctly, Mobil 1 Syn will NOT burn the same way conventional oil burns, hence it is white or black, not blue.

 

[SF Final 286]

I have not had anyone follow me to confirm if the smoke was white or blue. I just looked throught the rear view mirror.

What are weep holes in the muffler? How do I locate them? I did see some black water on the ground underneath the mufflers too.

 

[Warren S]

Weep holes are just tiny pin holes purposely manufactured to seep out condensation. I've also seen it on my F-150. On the Viper, it's probably on the back of the muffler, you'll have to crawl deep underneath. Yes, mine has the black water too. It's snake venom! Right now my battery is disconnected (BTW it's behind the rear wheel cover), but you can see what the black water does to my garage floor paint underneath the battery pic...

You must be registered for see images

exhaust mixed with condensation = acidic enough to eat garage floor paint

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

I think the heater only puts out if the control knob is to the right side of off. (side opposite the snow flake)

 

[Viperfreak2]

My 99 RT/10 made the white smoke and valve chatter after the first 100 to zero panic stop. Scared the crap outta me. I thought I blew the engine. Just a lot of oil going forward and starving the rocker arms for a few seconds. Never happened again. I won't do this with the GTS.

 

[Warren S]

What are weep holes in the muffler? How do I locate them? I did see some black water on the ground underneath the mufflers too.

this...

You must be registered for see images

the opposite side of the rear muffler