White smoke from Exhaust

[SwissSteve]

I just took the car out for a run tonight. When I started it, there was the usual white smoke
from the exhaust. I was expecting this to stop after th car warmed up. But when I come to a stop
at a junction, I can see some white smoke from the exhaust.

Is this normal for such cold weather?
Is a bit of white smoke ok?

Dont use the car much in the winter so was wondering if this had something to do with it.

[Gresley]

Mine does this all the time in cold weather, when I stop at traffic lights, when parking etc. I think it is perfectly normal condensation and nothing to worry about as long as it stops when driving along the road. Even then I sometimes get a little at low speeds...

Brian.

[SwissSteve]

Good to hear. Thanks for the quick response.

[Guest]

I've been using my car this week, quite cold and damp and mine has white smoke/steam even when warm, I'm not worried about it!!

Jason

[SaskStag]

Here, when it gets down to -40oC, all the cars emit clouds of white 'smoke' and it can be tough to see. Like driving in a fog.
Tanya

[jasper]

Same here . cold weather n old cars ....

[wilf]

My 2003 Jag S type 3.0 petrol steamed like a good'un in cold weather, so not just old cars.

[4x4]

I just took the car out for a run tonight. When I started it, there was the usual white smoke
from the exhaust. I was expecting this to stop after th car warmed up. But when I come to a stop
at a junction, I can see some white smoke from the exhaust.

Is this normal for such cold weather?
Is a bit of white smoke ok?

Dont use the car much in the winter so was wondering if this had something to do with it.

Unless your brake fluid is disappearing - then you have a servo problem......................
Which I hope you don't!


Adrian.

[ChasR]

Both my Stag and my modern (also a 3.0 oddly enough (a Mk3 Mondeo)) do this albeit much less than when the car is cold. The levels are fine and once on the move they are OK. I guess with how cold (and wet) it is the exhaust probably does not get a chance to fully warm up. The Mondeo seems to do it a little more, but the exhaust on that is convoluted at best (3 silencers and 3 catalytic converters anyone?).

[SwissSteve]

That is reasuring so I can now go and smoke out the village without worry.

I just need to investigate the new smell of petrol now that I have the
hood up for the winter.

Always something to keep one busy :-)

Thanks for the feedback on this issue

[Motorcycle mad]

Hi Steve
Interestingly I had a similar problem a few years ago with my Stag, in my case it was a nice sunny evening and I decided to go for a run, the car started up fine, set off and covered about ten miles. On approaching a roundabout, took my foot of the throttle to see a cloud of white fumes (oil/water) coming from the exhaust, changed gears on the roundabout, the engine was pulling fine, so continued for another half mile or so, at the next roundabout same scenario, so I quickly found a layby and stopped, Checked the engine over, could see nothing obviously wrong (oil level was ok, did not check water because of the hot engine but temperature gauge was not indicating the engine was over heating), and the engine was still sounding fine. So I decided to get the car back home (right or wrong) which I did with no other problems. After letting the engine cool down I decided to pull the carbs and inlet manifold off, on close inspection of the inlet manifold I found that one of the gaskets had failed allowing water to be drawn from the manifold into the inlet track on de-acceleration, I also found some of the head to manifold studs were iffy. So I took all manifold studs out, fitted helicoil inserts, cleaned up inlet manifold joints, fitted new gaskets, and have had problems since.

I hope you are lucky and don’t have this problem.

Ken

[jleyton]

Hi Steve
So I took all manifold studs out, fitted helicoil inserts, cleaned up inlet manifold joints, fitted new gaskets, and have had problems since.
Ken

Yep Ken - ditto Failed inlet manifold gaskets are so often a heart stopping moment as we're all convinced it's going to be HGF.

Btw I hope there was a 'not' missing from that sentence !

Cheers

Julian

[jleyton]

That is reasuring so I can now go and smoke out the village without worry.

Thanks for the feedback on this issue

Don't worry Steve, you won't be smoking them out (well, not too much) - you'll be steaming them out

Cheers

Julian

[stag157.7]

Hi Steve
Interestingly I had a similar problem a few years ago with my Stag, in my case it was a nice sunny evening and I decided to go for a run, the car started up fine, set off and covered about ten miles. On approaching a roundabout, took my foot of the throttle to see a cloud of white fumes (oil/water) coming from the exhaust, changed gears on the roundabout, the engine was pulling fine, so continued for another half mile or so, at the next roundabout same scenario, so I quickly found a layby and stopped, Checked the engine over, could see nothing obviously wrong (oil level was ok, did not check water because of the hot engine but temperature gauge was not indicating the engine was over heating), and the engine was still sounding fine. So I decided to get the car back home (right or wrong) which I did with no other problems. After letting the engine cool down I decided to pull the carbs and inlet manifold off, on close inspection of the inlet manifold I found that one of the gaskets had failed allowing water to be drawn from the manifold into the inlet track on de-acceleration, I also found some of the head to manifold studs were iffy. So I took all manifold studs out, fitted helicoil inserts, cleaned up inlet manifold joints, fitted new gaskets, and have had problems since.

I hope you are lucky and don’t have this problem.

Ken

I also found some of the head to manifold studs were iffy. So I took all manifold studs out, fitted helicoil inserts, cleaned up inlet manifold joints, fitted new gaskets, and have had problems since.

should have done a better job then


alan

[Staghound]

I do like the dash clocks in your Stag SwissSteve,where can I get some like that?

Thanks Andrew.