I am not professional mechanic but have good knowledge of car engines. I know it is usual for winter time or routine engine job but it is strange for me why it happened recently.
2007-08-10 10:32:26 · 16 answers · asked by d* d 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sounds as though your valve guides are worn and need replacing ~ sh!t happens..
2007-08-10 10:38:34 · answer #1 · answered by treving 42 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your car is running how it always ran, don't worry too much about it. It usually happens when temperature drops at night and condensation builds in the exhaust.
When the car and exhaust warms up, particularly after a cold night/day where it's been sitting for some time, it boils the water and steam comes out. Cars which have the muffler is located all the way in the back by the rear bumper, (Hondas have mufflers way in the back) tend to build and hold even more water than a mid-muffler car. So, they'll produce even more steam.
Now if the smoke has color, like blue or black, then there's something wrong. People obviously didn't read your question thoroughly. Your car is not burning oil if the smoke is white.
Is your car overheating? If it is, it could be coolant that you're burning. If not, then most likely steam.
2007-08-10 17:50:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't imagine that its condensation if it came on all of a sudden.
Try standing behind the car after starting it and take a good
sniff, it might smell a bit like oil or petrol.
If it smells like fuel then it could be one of a few things. Possibly an old worn out cat which isn't working properly until very hot (or if your car has an airpump to warm up the cat quickly this may be defective) that would be most likely.
If it smells more like oil burning then its most likely to be stem valve oil seals, these can breakdown over time and will leak trace amounts of oil into the combustion chamber which will burn off when first started. This will need to be addressed quickly as burning oil will destroy your cat and any other sensors attached along the way.
If its odourless then I wouldn't worry, just condensation (unless your using lots of water)
Its a bit of a pain to try to diagnose properly as the only real way to find the fault would be to keep replacing the most likely parts till you find the faults gone!
2007-08-10 21:10:07 · answer #3 · answered by t r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a diesel and only does it when it is cold, the first start of the day, it is probably your glow plugs, each cylinder has a small electric probe that heats up to aid starting, if they wear out then unburnt fuel will pass into the exhaust where it will burn on contact with the exhaust gases producing white smoke, as the engine gets warmer the cylinder or cylinders that are not running will start to run due to the temperature rise of the engine warming up and the smoke will stop.
New heater plugs are around six or seven quid each and pretty easy to fit.
2007-08-11 14:23:45 · answer #4 · answered by cedley1969 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
possible internal coolant leak(headgasket). the smoking is coolant burning away and out the exhaust. it maybe a small leak, not making it overheat but sitll a problem.as the engine cools down, coolant pressure is leaking into one of the cylinders. when you start up the coolant is forced into the exhaust system. it gets trapped in the cat. converter where the heat cooks it away.
2007-08-10 17:47:12 · answer #5 · answered by Gary G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is condensate being burned off. It could be that the humidity is up a little. I wouldn't worry about it just yet. As long as the car is running fine now.
2007-08-10 17:40:32 · answer #6 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Makes lots of white smokes"... What, then, ARE these "white smokes"; cigarettes or joints?!?!?! In all seriousness, the "white smoke" is probably burned oil which is slipping past both oil and compression rings... As your engine heats up, the metal (rings) expands, thus "self-sealing" the leakage.
2007-08-10 17:43:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
have you got a diesel if so its OK if not check for water laying in the back box then check the oil cap for white. slug if you see that check the head gasket.
2007-08-10 17:43:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
Is this a diesel engine?
Best regards
Geordie
2007-08-10 17:44:56 · answer #9 · answered by Grizz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is temp high?maybe head gasket.i presume it is petrol car.if it is not loosing power i would not worry.on make.ask a mechanic friend.
you probably bought it cheap because you are looking for a quick-fix here ha ha
2007-08-10 17:45:37 · answer #10 · answered by Mikey A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋