# '94 Montero, White Smoke AFTER Head Gasket Change **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** montero, gaskets, mitsubishi\ **Created:** [May 27, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435 "2010-05-27T00:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![douglaswelcome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@douglaswelcome](https://community.cartalk.com/u/douglaswelcome)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435/1 "2010-05-27T00:49:52Z")
First off, this is a great community. Second, I really could use any advice anyone has out there. I just finished a two month long process of changing a head gasket on my 94 Montero. I haven’t run the car much, few minutes here and there, just testing it out. My question is how long should white smoke be coming out of my tailpipe? And should I let the car sit and idle for a while to burn it off? Just kind of at a loss. If it isn’t the head gasket, (and all the other gaskets I replaced along the way) way else could cause the white smoke? I read something about a PCV valve. Possibility? Any help comes with great appreciation… Thanks Cartalk community. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435/2 "2010-05-27T01:55:36Z")
Did you check the cylinder head for flatness using a precision straight edge and feeler gauge? Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435/3 "2010-05-27T02:03:06Z")
If the engine is running well and the oil looks good you need to carefully operate it at a high cruising speed to boil and burn out the coolant that has puddled in the catalytic converter and muffler. If, after a few miles, the smoke(steam) clears and the coolant looks OK, the oil is OK and the gauge indicates all is well then likely all truly is well. If in a few weeks you experience a power loss it may be the catalyst. It often fails soon after repairing a blown head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435/4 "2010-05-27T03:07:07Z")
How much white smoke (steam) are we talking about and what is the ambient temperature outside? ---
**Author:** ![douglaswelcome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@douglaswelcome](https://community.cartalk.com/u/douglaswelcome)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/94-montero-white-smoke-after-head-gasket-change/49435/5 "2010-05-27T13:12:45Z")
Well, I went ahead and drove it a couple of blocks to fill the tires and the smoke stopped, but it still runs rough and there is a slight burning smell. Could be timing. Also, I still don’t get a lot of oil pressure on my gauge, and I see a drip so at this point I think it is time to take it to the shop and get this thing running again…