Grand Am 3.1V6 exhaust smokes a lot, white smoke..?

Question

Pls help whats the cause of abnormal smoke..Pls take note this is 1996 model.

Thanks Guys for all very informative ideas...Here's the additional infor of the engine...

Engine Oil is clean, I have it changed oil, last month, ang the flushed old oil is clean.

Collant is still in the level. I think it didnt leak cause it is still in the level.

The engine oil right now is not milky, its clean...

Also, the car runs very well...
For the air filter setup, its not the stock one, I replaced it with the cold air intake filter.

Answer 1

since the white smoke is coming out of the tailpipe, the very first place I would look is check your antifreeze level in your radiator, if it is way down more then likely you have a bad head gasket, also symptoms of this will be the car running rough and maybe stalling at times, if you have a radiator cap on your radiator (some cars 96 and newer do not) you can take the cap off when it's cold and start the engine (stay clear of open cap) If it has a bad head gaskit, the antifreeze may bubble out of the radiator or even violently hit the hood of your car. Goodluck!

Answer 2

others have said that your head gasket is blow and i can ashore you that it is not you have a VERY common problem. Its your intake manifold gasket that has started leaking these gaskets have a poor fit from the factory and as a result they will start to leak over time the coolant passages run through the intake manifold and when they start to leak the coolant will leak inside your engine and into the oil so when the oil that is mixed with your coolant gets forced into the piston rings under normal oil pressure it is then burned and makes a white smoke. it will cost you in the neighborhood of 500 to 600 to have fixed. Fell pro makes a problem solver gasket that will remedy the problem so it wont happen again. the 3100 3400 and 3500 V6 engines all have this problem some will last for 100,000 miles before it happens and some will never have this problem. I would not drive this car for too long in this condition because the oil is now saturated with the coolant wich has diminished the oils ability to properly lubricate the engine so as a result you can damage the cylinder walls and bearings from lack of lubrication. however like others have said it could be the transmissions modulator valve has gone bad, and the 4T60-E transmission that is in your car has one its at the front of the tranny and it is gray in color and its shaped like a cylinder if it leaks than it can suck up tranny fluid and send it into your engine wich would also make it burn white smoke.

Answer 3

There are 2 kinds of white smoke.
One is steam and the other is unburned gas.
If it is unburned gas, you might need a tune up or have a bad sensor.
You probably have sensors for throttle position (on the throttle body), air flow (by the air cleaner) and trying to think here.
Pollution control device on your manifold might be bad. Can't think of its' name but it is used to recirc exhaust gasses (reburn them). It also might have a vacum line going to it. I think it's the EGR valve. exhaust gas recirculating, wonder why I couldn't think of it, lmbo!!
If it is stuck open, then to much exhaust gas would keep your car from having the proper air/gas mixture to get proper combustion.
Also, if your choke is stuck, this would increase the amount of gas being injected to keep your engine rpm's where the cpu wants to keep them.
And last but not least, if your air filter is plugged up, it won't let enough air through which means once again that more gas would be needed.

Answer 4

I agree with Captain Genius. This is a common GM V-6 ailment. When you finally get it fixed, flush out your cooling system and use Mercedes Benz coolant instead of the dex-cool from GM. It is gentler on gaskets and will outperform the factory stuff. It protects plastic, aluminum, and water pump bearings better due to it's lower phosphate content. Good Luck!!!!

Answer 5

Constant white smoke usually means a coolant leak into the cylinders. You can try (and try is the watchword here because it only works sometimes) a sealer. The best for this type is the brass powder type.

Good luck

Answer 6

The oil return port could be clogged. Top valve oil must flow freely back to the pan or will be exhausted as bluish white smoke. I hope this is it because it's not that serious and you'll thank me.

Answer 7

that is coolant burning that is probably your head gasket

big money for repairs around 900$

if it is also burning oil which is blue smoke or there is oil in your coolant or coolant in your oil then yes it is your head gasket

Answer 8

well its not looking ood for your car. there is a crack in the cyclined that is causeing water to get into the pistion. this cuase white smoke and willl cause to have repairs.. take it to a dealer to get it check out i could be worng

happynew year

Answer 9

if you don't have water in your oil , it could be the modulater valve on your transmission , the white smoke could be trasmission fluid , easy and usally cheap to fix

Answer 10

white smoke means you have a bad head gasket