I have just bought a second hand automatic Ford Laser, in good condition and runs fine, except for one thing; Now and again, for apparently no reason, white smoke comes streaming from the exhaust, lasts for a few seconds, then disappears completely, only to happen again 10 minutes later.
Any suggestions?
2007-05-20 00:42:16 · 13 answers · asked by Justme 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Could be just moisture built up in the exhaust.
you don't say weather it is hot or cold when this happens.
if it is happening often even when hot then i would suggest to you to take the car into your local workshop, as white smoke is an indication of water being burnt, and as experience tells me the laser's had a nasty habit of blowing head gasket's.
2007-05-20 01:33:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
White smoke is often from water (condensation build up) in the exhaust system or coolant being burnt. Black smoke is carbon or unburnt fuel and blue smoke is from oil.
Condensation build up, if you do short drives with frequent stops, live in an area with high humidity, or vast temperature changes between night and day it is easy to get a substantial amount of condensation build up in the exhaust. This is harmless unless you account for the shorter life of your exhaust system.
Burning coolant will have a slightly sweet smell to it. And sometimes depending upon the coolant you use, by placing a white cloth or I have a white painted metal plate, behind the exhaust pipe you can collect the moisture and have a better idea of what it is.
If it is your coolant this can be a problem as pointed out above, head gasket, cylinder head, block. There may be other cause but these would be the exceptions not the rule.
Visit a garage, at my shop we have a piece of equipment that by testing the coolant will tell if the head, head gasket are bad.
2007-05-20 02:16:01 · answer #2 · answered by DeSaxe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Smoke Exhaust
2016-11-10 00:49:57 · answer #3 · answered by tenofsky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Is the coolant in need of regular topping up & is the car maybe running a little rough? If so then it could be the head gasket, or one of them if it is a V configured engine (V6, V8, etc...) Is it running a little rough with a sickly sweet smelling exhaust? If so then it could be a leak into the intake somewhere. Does the exhaust smell like fuel? Could be over fuelling. If this is a bigger engine then chances are its is nothing more than condensation. Combustion can produce water vapour & bigger thirstier engines will produce more than the average. I had a Ford Cougar 2.5 V6 24 valve & a Volvo 960 3.0 24 valve & there was always a mist coming from the exhaust at idle but they were both running perfectly. However, if in doubt, check it out. Very best regards Geordie
2016-03-19 08:51:59 · answer #4 · answered by Karin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully it's as simple as having the wrong spark plugs fitted, but I doubt it. In my experience, anything to do with oil burning does not produce white smoke, but blue.
Quote off net: White smoke when first started is normal. If white smoke continues you have an internal coolant leak, i.e., cracked head/blown head gasket. Black smoke is caused by a rich fuel condition. Blue smoke is caused by oil consumption.
So keep an eye on your temperature gauge and check your coolant daily to see if it is dropping.
2007-05-20 01:56:58 · answer #5 · answered by =42 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
White smoke is normal - At startup and when engine is cold - It's a combination of condensation and just fuel/air not burning fully - If it happens when the car is warm - Then you may have a problem with burning engine coolant - You should never have to add engine collant - If you have to add engine coolant - Then you are either leaking it or burning it....
The fact that it hapens and stops and happens again... I would say your burning it and have an interal leak...
Ron...
2007-05-20 00:50:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Usually, white smoke is moisture burning.
If it only happens when cold, it's probably only condensation burning off, no problem.
If it happens all the time, water is getting in the cylinder somehow, and could be a problem.
Either a blown head gasket, or a cracked head or block.
2007-05-20 00:46:49 · answer #7 · answered by strech 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before you start your engine, check the coolant levels, especially on days after that occurs, generally speaking, black smoke is indicative of oil being burned by the engine, white smoke is indicative of coolant being burned. If you see that your significantly low on coolant, chances are you have a a bad head gasket OR a crack somewhere in your block. One other thing to check, on occassion, the white smoke can also mean that your engine is running too "RICH" (too much fuel in the intake) if you see a plume of smoke.... smell it to see if it smells alot like gasoline. if not then thats NOT the problem. Coolant will smell kinda sweet.
2007-05-20 00:50:29 · answer #8 · answered by amadeus_tso 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you may have oil leak and when it drips on the exhaust manifold it is burning causing the white smoke. Hopefully you won't need a valve job or new piston rings. Check the valve covers for oil leaks.
2007-05-20 00:53:54 · answer #9 · answered by nosey rosey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
more then likely as said due to condensation and short journeys.
Have this problem myself sometimes and if traffic light will take longer way home just to warm engine exhaust through.
Try going longer way round on journeys in possible.
2007-05-20 00:50:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋