Cheech & Chong Out my exhaust

[TXT]

I've noticed that sometimes my car lets out some faint white smoke when I turn it on. Doesn't do it all the time.

For example: Today i turned on the car after work to come home. Smoke out the back. I read yesterday about the method of an "Italian Tune Up" which makes sense. Being that this is an 8 cylinder and a car that just chugs gasoline, i figure carbon would build up a lot quicker and easier if I baby the car...which I do. My car never sees anything below 18.5 MPG but most of the time its above 20 MPG.

With that being said, I usually keep the car on for an hour a day idling during my lunch break at work, which is probably another way to build up some nice carbon.

I'm coming from a 3.2 Liter 6 cylinder to this and I don't have much experience with an 8 cylinder vehicle.

BTW, after work I accelerated Very hard to get rid of the carbon build I think is causing this smoke and sure enough, more smoke came out.

Is all of this just carbon build up? Is this common? Let me know guys so I can sleep well tonight.

Got oil change about a month ago at dealership and they didn't say anything about my car and didn't offer anything. I even asked if Anythingggg needed attention. They said the car was all fine.

[wingFeather]

Excessive idling is really hard on an engine. I'm not sure if it would contribute to carbon buildup, but definitely it affects oil circulation (or so I am told by every engineer type I know).

Here is a basic explanation: http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1h/bl151h.htm (I hate about.com in general, but this one article seems legit).

[KoMikeey]

well im not sure but i heard, that white smoke is bad, either your car is running very lean. but dont quote me.

[Ilya]

If it's really carbon, just run some Seafoam through the intake. There is HowTo guys in the FAQ thread stickied at the top of the M forum.

[seymore4]

why would you idle your car for an hour a day during lunch?...

[atlM35]

Keep an eye on your coolant and oil levels. Stand behind the car (not for too long) and see if it smells sweet.
You could have a blown head gasket if the smoke is white.

[TXT]

I forgot to say, it does go away after a minute or two and it doesn't happen every time I turn on the car.

I checked it this morning and nothing came out when I turned the car on. It didn't happen at all today. I would say maybe one time a week.

[atlM35]

If it's not all of the time, it could be oil getting past a valve every once in a while and making its way into the combustion chamber or a cracked piston ring.
Like I mentioned before, keep an eye on the oil and coolant levels for a while... it'll better help determine what's causing your hot box

[myother45isalesbaer]

Is it smoke or vapor. Smoke hangs around, vapor disapears quickly. White vapor is just burning off the water in your exhaust system that gets there from condensation. Nothing to worry about. Blue smoke is oil and black means you are running too rich. Running too lean there is generally no smoke. Pull a spark plug or two and compare them to the many charts available to determine how your engine is running. If they are light brown that's good.

I have not found any product on the market that completely gets rid of all carbon. Its a much worried about matter on this site, but all engines built up carbon deposits over time and there is nothing you can do about it. Obviously I am odd man out on this matter as I don't think much of additives. I never use them. Just my OP.

[TXT]

In my previous vehicle, carbon build up on one EGR port would build up very quickly and cause engine stress. This issue cause Acura to make it a public notice and offered permanent fix by enlarging this 1/4 inch port to something larger. These cars don't have this problem but I do see my back bumper and trunk with tiny black particles which leads me to believe this carbon build up is being produced much more on the 8 cylinder. I would rather it come out and stick to my trunk instead of it linger in the internals of the engine. I've come to the conclusion with the help of the responses on here and the way my car acts that this is nothing to worry about. I might put some seafoam in the gas tank before I change spark plugs to see if if there is any difference.