[MurderedOutST]

I just had my 2016 Focus ST with 106.5k miles have a diagnosis at a shop for coolant loss and white smoke at start up. They did a compression test, all 4 came back 150psi exactly , the coolant system held 20psi for 30 minutes . No leaks. They suspect a leak from the water jacket going into an exhaust port is causing this. The heavy smoke stops after abt 15 seconds. And the smoke stops Completly at around 150 to 170 degrees oil temp. Smoke happens only while idling and deceleration. I’m going from Max to min coolant in about a week of daily driving. I was thinking based off some research it could be a bad water pump seal maybe. Since the car has run dry of coolant at one point from when a hose popped off and I didn’t know till I got home. ( months ago) . Any ideas, cause I really hope it doesn’t need a head. Also, I’m scheduling tommorow to have my local trusted ford dealer to look at it. See what they think. This is a video of the cold start, and excuse my annoying dogs lol. https://www.reddit.com/r/FocusST/comments/u19hpb

 

[TurboGT]

Cylinder heads have been cracking inside the exhaust port more and more often as these cars have been aging.

Fyi, if it turns out to be this, it's cheaper to put a used engine in (parts and labor combined) than it is to install a new cylinder head.

There are multiple different models that use this single scroll 2.0 Ecoboost. If you search you can find the couple threads that have lists of those vehicles.

 

[MurderedOutST]

Cylinder heads have been cracking inside the exhaust port more and more often as these cars have been aging.

Fyi, if it turns out to be this, it's cheaper to put a used engine in (parts and labor combined) than it is to install a new cylinder head.

There are multiple different models that use this single scroll 2.0 Ecoboost. If you search you can find the couple threads that have lists of those vehicles.

I did see that there are a bunch, where I am with the car though, I think I will sell as is to someone who will do the head job them selves. And offered to buy it . See what i can get for it . And move on. Loved the car, but for the mileage and bass model it is, I don’t know if it’s worth it.

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

Use a vacuum leak down test not pressure.

Also if it's in cylinder then those gases under pressure will enter the coolant.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

If no gases are detected you need to inspect the water jacket near the turbocharger and hedifold (prone to cracks) or the turbocharger seal weeping.

Just my 2 cents

 

[SSgtjrobertson]

@TurboGT beat me to it 🤘

 

[MurderedOutST]

Use a vacuum leak down test not pressure.

Also if it's in cylinder then those gases under pressure will enter the coolant.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

If no gases are detected you need to inspect the water jacket near the turbocharger and hedifold (prone to cracks) or the turbocharger seal weeping.

Just my 2 cents

I’ll definitely try that , also, it’s got a brand new oem turbo put in it in Jan of this year. Any chance it could be a bad water pump or water pump seal. Asking cause a friend was researching and found pages that found similar symptoms from bad water pump seals.

 

[TurboGT]

I’ll definitely try that , also, it’s got a brand new oem turbo put in it in Jan of this year. Any chance it could be a bad water pump or water pump seal. Asking cause a friend was researching and found pages that found similar symptoms from bad water pump seals.

Zero chance it's the water pump.

 

[MurderedOutST]

Zero chance it's the water pump.

Good to know. I’ll definetly get that kit from advanced and hope for the best lol. But my cylinder 1 smells like exhaust and none of the other cylinders do. So I don’t know if that’s anything.

 

[W4R]

100% cracked cylinder head, leaking coolant to the hotside of the turbo.

Do you hear sizzling?

edit: when I had this issue I had zero misfires and no CEl and was boosting like a champ.
the only problem was the cars behind were getting blinded by the smoke

 

[MurderedOutST]

100% cracked cylinder head, leaking coolant to the hotside of the turbo.

Do you hear sizzling?

edit: when I had this issue I had zero misfires and no CEl and was boosting like a champ.
the only problem was the cars behind were getting blinded by the smoke

Yep. After I shut off the car I hear sizzling in the exhaust, and Same story here, boosts like a champ, except it deosn’t smoke, any time I’m on throttle even when kinda cold it doesn’t in throttle, and then at 150 -170 degrees and above oil temp, it doesn’t smoke at all.

 

[MurderedOutST]

Yep. After I shut off the car I hear sizzling in the exhaust, and Same story here, boosts like a champ, except it deosn’t smoke, any time I’m on throttle even when kinda cold it doesn’t in throttle, and then at 150 -170 degrees and above oil temp, it doesn’t smoke at all.

Only smokes when the engine is cold at idle and deceleration, and then at idle immediately after start up even if warm. But the heavy white smoke that is like headgakset levels, happens as you see in the vid only in like 8hour plus cold starts. For the first 15 or so seconds then the smaller amount of smoke steam happens till I’m on throttle or it warms up.

 

[kjschling]

Only smokes when the engine is cold at idle and deceleration, and then at idle immediately after start up even if warm. But the heavy white smoke that is like headgakset levels, happens as you see in the vid only in like 8hour plus cold starts. For the first 15 or so seconds then the smaller amount of smoke steam happens till I’m on throttle or it warms up.

Did you ever figure out if it was a cracked cylinder block? I'm having the exact same symptoms as you right now

 

[rob99rt]

Did you ever figure out if it was a cracked cylinder block? I'm having the exact same symptoms as you right now

The guy was last seen 6 months ago, so odds are you won't get a reply.

You need to do a compression test on the motor, and you can borrow the tool from just about any auto parts store to do it.

The other most likely options for generating smoke are a cracked cylinder head between cylinders 2 and 3, or a failing turbo. If compression checks out, then it's one of those 2, quite possibly.

How many miles on your motor, and what mods do you have on it?

 

[kjschling]

The guy was last seen 6 months ago, so odds are you won't get a reply.

You need to do a compression test on the motor, and you can borrow the tool from just about any auto parts store to do it.

The other most likely options for generating smoke are a cracked cylinder head between cylinders 2 and 3, or a failing turbo. If compression checks out, then it's one of those 2, quite possibly.

How many miles on your motor, and what mods do you have on it?

Car is completely stock and has 37,000 miles on it. I just recently purchased the vehicle and brought it to the dealership to get the purge valve replaced. I noticed the coolant was low and had them pressurize the system for any leaks. They said it held pressure well and no leaks were found. The car has white smoke on cold starts and when it warms up, however goes away once oil is at temp. Temperature here in Virginia is in the 30-50 degrees since I bought it, so maybe its condensation? However the exhaust definitely smells sweet. My question is if the head was cracked wouldn't the system not hold pressure? That's what makes me think its maybe the turbo? But you're definitely right I should get a compression test done.

 

[rob99rt]

Is the coolant level going down after driving it for a bit? You can also get a tester from AutoZone/Advance/O'Reilly that checks for combustion gases in the coolant.

Any coolant in the oil or vice versa?

 

[kjschling]

Is the coolant level going down after driving it for a bit? You can also get a tester from AutoZone/Advance/O'Reilly that checks for combustion gases in the coolant.

Any coolant in the oil or vice versa?

I got the coolant topped off when they pressurized the system a couple days ago. I haven't noticed a drop since then. Ill pick up one of those testers today.

 

[TurboGT]

See post number 10 regarding the crack.

Head gasket AND cracked turbo???

Making this post to pick minds, also this is coming from my phone apologies for formatting. So a while back i did my first road trip in my 17'. On my way back home i got a code for "cylinder head over temp", and sure enough a few weeks later white smoke. After changing head gasket and...

www.focusst.org

As far as the white "smoke", these cars do emit a large amount when it's cold or humid.

The best course of action here is to check coolant every day, and top off when/if necessary. Make sure you write down how many miles it's driven in-between top offs, If that happens to be the case. Because for all you know, this car may have had a cooling system repair before you bought it and they didn't top it back off after the last of the air bubbles made their way to the reservoir.

 

[MurderedOutST]

Did you ever figure out if it was a cracked cylinder block? I'm having the exact same symptoms as you right now

Hi, the original poster here. I never officially figured out what it was. But it has perfect compression and coolant pressure , no leaks in the coolant system. I deduced it’s a crack in the head at the exhaust port. I’ve learned it’s super common on these cars. And happens no matter how you drive then or how many miles or on them. It just happens. Although that was tested after I put block seal in the coolant. And I’ve been running the car with bars leak block seal in the coolant for the past year or so. And it’s been fine. Just running it like this because it’s cheaper than a head or used motor.

 

[colewhateva]

I would like to point out that while the sealer in the coolant can work, its not a long term solution. If you do use the sealer you should be using the time you have to source a replacement motor or cylinder head.

 

[kjschling]

Hi guys, thanks for the reply's. I going to keep track of the coolant level and see if it goes down. However, I bought the car with a two month warranty so I would like to get a diagnosed as soon as possible if there is an issue. Is there anyway I can narrow down a cracked head? Would a leakdown test/compression test show anything? I don't hear any sizzling in the exhaust after running it. Should I ask a shop to pressurize the coolant system with the turbo slightly disconnected? I guess there also the possibility that I'm just over thinking it and its just condensation, but I believe the exhaust smells sweet.