YACT: smokey/visible exhaust on hot day - white

[FoBoT]

i am idling in a parking lot and i noticed the exhaust is very noticeble, smoke/highly visible coming from the exhaust pipe.

is this normal? am i burning oil? something else? it is about 82F outside, so it isn't from condensation of water vapor
it seems like a lot more smokey than the cars driving through the parking lot. it is white/normal color but it seems like there is more than there should be for a hot day


thanks

 

[DingDingDao]

What color is the smoke? White? Black? Blue?

 

[FoBoT]

white - normal
it just seems much more visiable than normal. shouldn't a cars exhaust be mostly invisible on a hot day?
maybe i just never noticed, i dunno

 

[DingDingDao]

Well, I'm pretty sure you're not burning oil--smoke from burning oil tends to have a bluish color. Does the smoke go away after you've driven for a little while?

 

[FoBoT]

i am sitting in a parking lot for an extended period. a breeze is blowing and i can see the stream of smoke from my exhaust drifting off across the parking lot. it seems like quite a bit. it is noticable. but maybe i just never noticed it before. i don't normally idle in parking lots for extended periods.

i don't know about while driving, i was following my wife driving the van yesterday and didn't notice anything.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Not normal. Coolant in the exhaust.

 

[FoBoT]

yeah, it seems like too much. i am going to get it checked. thanks

coolant in exhaust sounds like bad things inside the engine is happening. ugh

do i need it checked before a 3000 miles summer trip ? or just check the coolant level? ugh

 

[Malak]

Take it into shop, might have a leak somewhere.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Not normal. Coolant in the exhaust.

Yep, assuming the car is fully warmed up..

If you can take a 20 minute highway trip and it's still doing it.. that's a bad sign.

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: FoBoTdo i need it checked before a 3000 miles summer trip ? or just check the coolant level? ugh

Check your oil for consistency and color. You do *not* want to put 3000 miles on a car that has coolant getting into the oil.

 

[ajayjuneja]

coolant in exhaust = blown headgasket. Get fixed ASAP or engine shall blow!

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Not normal. Coolant in the exhaust.

get rid of it NOW,or head gasket,timing belt,water pump,and idler pulley quick.

Replace the radiator,unless new.too.

 

[Evadman]

Head gasket.

 

[iamwiz82]

A bad/no cat. will also do this.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: myusername

Originally posted by: FoBoTdo i need it checked before a 3000 miles summer trip ? or just check the coolant level? ugh

Check your oil for consistency and color. You do *not* want to put 3000 miles on a car that has coolant getting into the oil.

i changed the oil last week and have been checking it, it looks 100% normal

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A bad/no cat. will also do this.

thanks. if the oil is good maybe that is it
i'll get it checked, i finally found a garage i trust

 

[iamwiz82]

Smell the exhaust. Does it smell sweet or does it remind you of a 1975 Cadillac? I can't really explain an exhaust with no cat, but I can pick it out any time I smell it.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A bad/no cat. will also do this.

Not that I'm aware of

<--no cat

At least not after warming up and any condensation has burned off.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

OP you could test it with a radiator pressure tester but the tool would cost ~$80. Probably less to take it to your mechanic.

I would not drive it 3000 miles.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: ajayjuneja
coolant in exhaust = blown headgasket. Get fixed ASAP or engine shall blow!

That's what it sounds like.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i changed the oil last week and have been checking it, it looks 100% normal

Coolant does not always end up in the oil with a blown head gasket, however it is a very common occurance. You would know if coolant was in there as the oil would look like baby sh!t. Yes, that is a technical term

Generaly, White smoke is a sign of a blown head gasket. Check your coolant, and see if it is low. Just so you know, it doesn't take a whole lot of coolant to produce white smoke, so this perticular symtom may not show. In addition, a car will often overheat or run hotter than normal with a blown head gasket.

If it is the head gasket, it will only get worse until you are stuck somewhere.

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Smell the exhaust. Does it smell sweet or does it remind you of a 1975 Cadillac? I can't really explain an exhaust with no cat, but I can pick it out any time I smell it.

Stinky rich Although to be honest, I have never heard of a bad cat causing white smoke.

 

[NeoPTLD]

1. Keep an eye on coolant level
2. Pressure test the cooling system
3. Worn valve stem seal causes oil to burn. Pretty common on older cars with lots of miles.

 

[radioouman]

Which engine does this van have? I'd be surprised if you have a bad head gasket with the 3.3 or 3.8, but it seems more likely with a 3.0 or 3.5.

If you have gray/black smoke, it could be running too rich due to a bad oxygen sensor.

Check your coolant level and make sure that you aren't low on coolant.

Look at the bottom of your oil filler cap and see if there are bubbles on it. Coolant will boil inside the engine because it isn't under pressure. If it looks clean, then you probably don't have coolant in the oil.

 

[NeoPTLD]

excessively rich fuel mixture that gives off black smoke would definitely show up as reduced fuel economy.

 

[gooseman]

I'm with most of the others, sounds like blown head gasket or possibly cracked head. Check your oil. What color is it. If it looks like "baby shit" as someone put it or as I like to day, looks like chocolate milk, you've got problems.