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Did I get ripped off?


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Cheeder
New User

Aug 7, 2019, 10:45 PM

Post #1 of 6 (1272 views)
Did I get ripped off? Sign In

Hi, I have some questions about some work I had done on my car. 2006 Camry had some white smoke coming from the exhaust. They said it just has a lot of carbon buildup and they talked me into a BG Dynamic flush. Then they called me back the next day and said that after they got all that gunk out they found out that the upper and lower oxygen sensors were bad. So another $500. They say they can’t give me a copy of the engine scan. I’m thinking that the o2 sensors prolly showed up on the scan in the first place and that was prolly all it needed. Whatcha think?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 8, 2019, 1:34 AM

Post #2 of 6 (1263 views)
Re: Did I get ripped off? Sign In

Huh? You had white smoke coming out exhaust then this happened? Carbon what was supposed to be cleaned out? Whatever that procedure did probably wrecked the O2 sensors.
White smoke complaint first thing would be check coolant level and for head gaskets problems not all this IMO. First step weren't done to diagnose this so now it's all messed up for a short while try again but would seek someone or a place that would do things in order. That sure failed,


T



Cheeder
New User

Aug 10, 2019, 1:52 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1232 views)
Re: Did I get ripped off? Sign In

Thanks Tom. I thought Christian Brothers was a reputable place but I am thinking not this particular one maybe. Car still has white smoke coming from the exhaust and they say drive it for 5 days and see if it gets better. Ugh!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 10, 2019, 2:19 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1228 views)
Re: Did I get ripped off? Sign In

I wouldn't know that place and isn't the point each could be of any caliber or just the tech(s) you dealt with - anywhere.
White smoke- out exhaust is only normal when it's freaking freezing cold out metal parts make it fog out tail-pipes can quit when warmed up fully too.
Not this time of year anywhere you did say doesn't matter really.
Just check yourself for coolant too low both reservoir and if this has a cap on radiator that should be spilling full BUT DO THAT WITH ENGINE COLD pressure if any can be very dangerous.


Put a white paper towel (cool parts please) in tail-pipe it may come out with yuk of some sort or color of your antifreeze?
This color mean water or water vapor is in antifreeze mix. Blue or bluish is an oil most common.
July-August are the hottest two months where 90% of all the world's population lives the 10% it's the coolest it will be - kinda works that way. IT'S hot all of N. America stresses out cooling systems is when things happen.


IDK why this carbon thing was done? Not there didn't look just sounds fishy cars don't do that like now ages ago,
T



Cheeder
New User

Aug 11, 2019, 12:08 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1211 views)
Re: Did I get ripped off? Sign In

T, thanks so much for your help and thoughts. I checked with my niece and she confirmed that the white smoke is only after starting the car after it has sit for at least 8 hours and then stops smoking after a minute or 2. She had failed to tell me that part. So with that information and the ideas I got from ur post I think it may be some bad valve seals.
Thanks for your comments about the carbon thing also. So now I am pretty sure that was something we could have done without and they probably make a lot of money on it.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 11, 2019, 12:21 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1207 views)
Re: Did I get ripped off? Sign In

8 hours or not it's white smoke. You could smell if (AYOR) and know if visible.
Just FYI, carbon build up was or still could be from additives once LEAD (Pb) that stuff and most engine had a choke you either self adjusted or carbureted many automatic but really fussed with fine tune adjustments. In short over fueled the raw gas/smoke would build up a crust make compression too high even make engines knock.
Wicked ages ago it was routine to pour water down carbs or allow them to suck it in. OMG - not now this doesn't waste a drop cold, warm thru hot.


That raw cleaner if it could work would ruin sensors and hard or ruin converters unless very special stuff. It wasn't called for by the "white" smoke!
One more: It could wait to get antifreeze/coolant into combustion chamber(s) at a certain temp cooling down or just a certain pressure. It doesn't take but a baby tea spoon to make a cloud of white so not much to find always.


I wont beat on it more it not something I would do to a current era of engines - ever!


T







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