Technical Bravo 1.6 sx white smoke problem

[onur16]

Hello,
I’m a new member of the forum. Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen such an active Fiat forum worldwide, and it makes me really happy.

I own a 1998 Bravo 1.6 SX. Unfortunately, in the country where I currently live, no mechanic wants to work on my car.

Right now, I have a white smoke problem. At the same time, I can hear noise coming from the lifters. There is no blow-by in the engine — in fact, it’s the opposite: when I do the oil cap test, it’s strongly pulling vacuum.

The entire radiator system has been replaced, and the head gasket and seals have also been changed. According to the sensor I installed, the engine temperature is running at a maximum of 106°C — most of the time it’s between 97–98°C.

Somehow, coolant is still getting into the combustion chamber, but I haven’t been able to find where it’s happening.

What do you think the problem could be?

 

[jackwhoo]

Crack in cylinder head?
Warped head?

 

[bugsymike]

A simple test will be to inspect the spark plugs to see if one cylinder plug is discoloured. I assume it clears after a short bit of driving?
Before I retired if I had a customer with a slow loss of coolant but no obvious leak, I would do a leak test, it can be fairly conclusive, but does need a mechanic who is interested in finding the problem.
I know you say head gasket has been changed , but as @jackwhoo mentions a cracked or warped head is possible if not picked up when head gasket job done.
Apart from that the engine temp. you mention seems high to me, although maybe not where you are?
Is it possible the old radiator was blocked causing engine to run hot and eventually damaging the head gasket and warping the cylinder head, which if it was my I would have tested for flatness and possibly had it machined flat before cleaning everything and fitting new head gasket etc.
Before fitting the head gasket I would have wanted to know what was the cause of it's failure, they don't just fail from old age, there has to be a reason.

 

[onur16]

A simple test will be to inspect the spark plugs to see if one cylinder plug is discoloured. I assume it clears after a short bit of driving?
Before I retired if I had a customer with a slow loss of coolant but no obvious leak, I would do a leak test, it can be fairly conclusive, but does need a mechanic who is interested in finding the problem.
I know you say head gasket has been changed , but as @jackwhoo mentions a cracked or warped head is possible if not picked up when head gasket job done.
Apart from that the engine temp. you mention seems high to me, although maybe not where you are?
Is it possible the old radiator was blocked causing engine to run hot and eventually damaging the head gasket and warping the cylinder head, which if it was my I would have tested for flatness and possibly had it machined flat before cleaning everything and fitting new head gasket etc.
Before fitting the head gasket I would have wanted to know what was the cause of it's failure, they don't just fail from old age, there has to be a reason.

Spare Parts Used in Service​

• 7 m step hose (16 pcs)
• 30 m step (3 pcs)
• Cooling feed outlet
• Radiator lower hose
• Radiator upper hose
• Nickel head
• Cylinder head outlet
• Intake manifold outlet
• Exhaust manifold outlet
• Cylinder head bushing (2 pcs)
• Manifold bolt (12 pcs)
• 40 cm rubber hose
• 10/16 valve
• Injector

Spare Parts Supplied from Outside the Service​

• Intake manifold gasket
• Water temperature sensor
• Valves (9 pcs)
• Injector O-ring (6 pcs)
• 11 bar upper valve
• Timing belt lower cover
• Adjuster
• Injector cleaner
• Radiator
• Water hose
• Bushing
• Washer gasket
• 28/48 valve
• Timing lifter (2 pcs)
• No.10 silicone
• Oil filter
• Crankshaft machining (turning)

These are all the operations that were carried out. Of course, proper assembly may not have been performed. This is the invoice given to me by the previous owner.

 

[bugsymike]

As you say "Of course, proper assembly may not have been performed".