ka24de white smoke ((yes searched))

[Mr.Twister]

So yeah i have this problem with thick white smoke coming out of the exhaust at idle. My oil looks good and my coolant levels are good so it does not seem to be a head gasket.

I read in another post that it might be a MAF? Its not throwing any codes so im kind of confused.

What do you guys think?

[theother1wstolen]

MAF wont throw a code, check the connections related to it, and clean it out with some intake cleaner (not carb cleaner)

[Felipe]

depends how much smoke you pushing out...

alot = head gasket

lil = too rich

[Mr.Twister]

depends how much smoke you pushing out...

alot = head gasket

lil = too rich

Its actually quite a bit of smoke. DAMN im hoping its not a friggin head gasket.

[180fan]

Note: white smoke = water.

now with that said, it could be a head gasket, a simple gander under the oil cap with a flashlight should be enough to tell you. if it looks like coffee, you're in trouble. if not, be glad it's not that...but it raises other questions.

If it happens when the car sits for a while, it's possible that it's just moisture that's getting burned off (there should be enough moisture from combustion and also the water in the air) that can cause stuff like this.

I live right by the beach and it can puff white smoke for a good couple of minutes before it clears up. Does it clear up at all? Did you seafoam the engine recently? any details on what you've done in the past couple sessions of mods you've done and other stuff you've done like maybe overheated the car recently, etc will help paint a clearer picture and help troubleshoot your situation.

[Mr.Twister]

Note: white smoke = water.

now with that said, it could be a head gasket, a simple gander under the oil cap with a flashlight should be enough to tell you. if it looks like coffee, you're in trouble. if not, be glad it's not that...but it raises other questions.

If it happens when the car sits for a while, it's possible that it's just moisture that's getting burned off (there should be enough moisture from combustion and also the water in the air) that can cause stuff like this.

I live right by the beach and it can puff white smoke for a good couple of minutes before it clears up. Does it clear up at all? Did you seafoam the engine recently? any details on what you've done in the past couple sessions of mods you've done and other stuff you've done like maybe overheated the car recently, etc will help paint a clearer picture and help troubleshoot your situation.

Thanks 180fan.I have not seafoamed my car. The last job i did was all the belts in the front and a new water pump, and that was last week.

My car overheated about a year ago, but the problem just started. It seems like when i first start my car there is no smoke, but after its warmed up and then it idles POOF hella white smoke everywhere.

[Unnatural1]

As someone said earlier white smoke is usually coolant. It can also be caused by injector/fuel rail cleaners and upper engine cleaners. A bad head gasket or a cracked cylinder block are two things that can cause this. There are a couple simple things you can try:

As has been stated; start the engine and let it run for about a 1 min. Remove the oil cap and look for light brown, coffee with cream, color.

Remove the radiator cap and check the water level (do this COLD or you WILL burn yourself). With the cap off start the engine. You are looking for combustion gases escaping from the radiator. It would look like puffs of smoke or continuous bubbles in the coolant. If there is a leak that is big enough, water may shoot from the radiator like a geyser (so watch out).

For really small leaks, a block test can help. The kits are usually available at a local auto parts store. You fill a clear tube with a solution that changes color when there are combustion gases present. The tube goes over the radiator cap opening and you start the engine. If the solution changes color you KNOW you've got a leak.

If none of that has helped. Double check that the smoke doesn't have a slight blue tint to it. If it does then you are burning oil, not coolant. Then you may have worn valve guides or rings. To check that you need to have a leak down or compression test performed.

[Mr.Twister]

thanks for the repliesat some point this weekend i have to work on my car.

so from what im gettin is that its definitely not a maf but most likely a head gasket or bad valve.

[180fan]

Now we're getting somewhere. Well you overheated, how bad and how long? Sounds like something could be expanding from the heat and puffing the smoke. for sure check out that oil.

[Mr.Twister]

Okay about a year ago i was driving from Arden Mall to F.o.b. shopping center in S. Sac. It overheated all the way to the top of the heat gauge. It stayed hot for about 45 minutes. AFter it cooled all the way down i carefully drove it home and replaced my coolant and thermostat.

The wierd thing is i didnt see any smoke until just a couple months ago.

[180fan]

Hmm, I'd check out the head bolts first.

My reasoning: If you had cracked the block, it should have appeared earlier. Although it overheated, it could have caused the bolts to go a bit looseand just pulled them up even more. Now when it's hot, it could expand and let more stuff pass by. It's the easier of the two to check out and makes a decent amount of sense when I think about it. But in case it's not the case, get ready for a hg job I'd suspect.

[Mr.Twister]

Okay i will check those head bolts.I really really hope its an easy fix. If its not thats alrite.. i guess its a sign that i need to start saving for an SR20.