White smoke when starting car?

Question

I'm getting some white smoke when starting my 1996 Nissan Maxima. It only happens in the mornings when I first start it. I don't know much but I do know enough to know white smoke isn't good. What would be causing the smoke?

Answer 1

It's most likely condensation evaporating. Pull your oil dip stick. Depending on your last oil change, it should either be dark honey colored to an espresso color. If it looks like a melted chocolate milkshake, you either have a cracked cylinder head or a blown head gasket.

Oil is blue smoke.
Fuel is brown smoke.
Antifreeze/water is white smoke.

Answer 2

maybe while your car is shut off during the night, your oil is getting inside your engine. or it could just be an old vehicle. i had a truck that did that for a long time. it is either water or oil. my truck spewed out white smoke and we were told that it was an oil leak. it did it alot in the morning but after it warmed up it would start to go away. but it still smoked.

Answer 3

Actually that is normal, it is the burning off of condensation that occurs when an exhaust is hot and the temperature is cool. As long as it stops after the car has warmed up it is no problem.

Answer 4

Water in the oil which = blown gasket. And that all depends on how much and how long it smokes for.... need more details.

Answer 5

white smoke is usually water. Maybe head gasket.

Answer 6

white smoke is either antifreeze or fuel i would say fuel leaking over night from injectors but if you are loosing anti freeze i say headgasket

Answer 7

piston rings do not seal cylinder wall from allowing oil to get inside combustion chamber,rings might be dirty,worn,,,,,& need replacement,,,carburetor additive might clean up gunk inside