I started my car a few weeks ago and noticed a lot of white smoke coming out of the tail pipe at idle. I just disregarded it. Yesterday I started my car and again white smoke was coming out (it was freezing rain outside). There is no blue in the smoke, there is no black in the smoke. It is just white like clouds. I'm wondering a couple of things. Is it just condensation? Is it because it's below freezing weather? Is it the headgasket?
The 240sx isn't my everyday driver so I rarely drive it (because of winter). I only start up the car once in a while (i mean like every few weeks) and let the motor run for 5-10 minutes and shut of the car. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I do it because I don't want the battery to die. White smoke will come out at pretty thick and constant flow. The smoke will keep coming out even after 10 minutes.
My coolant tank seems to stay at the same level, the car doesn't overheat. People say smell the exhaust gas, if it smells sweet then it's your headgasket. Maybe I'm dumb but I took a smell of the exhaust and I don't know what a sweet smell is supposed to smell like. The exhaust smells like exhaust, I don't know how to describe it.
White smoke in cold weather
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s13drifterbabe
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- Car: s13 fastback
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Nissan_240sx
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:14 pm
- Car: 1992 240sx
Re: White smoke in cold weather (s13drifterbabe)
you will be okay.. its just condensation, mine does the same thing even after 20 minutes of it running. if ur not burning oil or coolnat then you are okay. Condensation also has a smell to it so ir ur smelling your tail pipe and ur not smelling oil or anti-freeze then the smell coming out with the smoke is the condenstation smell.s13drifterbabe wrote:I started my car a few weeks ago and noticed a lot of white smoke coming out of the tail pipe at idle. I just disregarded it. Yesterday I started my car and again white smoke was coming out (it was freezing rain outside). There is no blue in the smoke, there is no black in the smoke. It is just white like clouds. I'm wondering a couple of things. Is it just condensation? Is it because it's below freezing weather? Is it the headgasket?
The 240sx isn't my everyday driver so I rarely drive it (because of winter). I only start up the car once in a while (i mean like every few weeks) and let the motor run for 5-10 minutes and shut of the car. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I do it because I don't want the battery to die. White smoke will come out at pretty thick and constant flow. The smoke will keep coming out even after 10 minutes.
My coolant tank seems to stay at the same level, the car doesn't overheat. People say smell the exhaust gas, if it smells sweet then it's your headgasket. Maybe I'm dumb but I took a smell of the exhaust and I don't know what a sweet smell is supposed to smell like. The exhaust smells like exhaust, I don't know how to describe it.
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0wn3r
- Posts: 1669
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- Car: 1997 Nissan 240sx SE track car (SR20DET, caged)
Re: White smoke in cold weather (S13 240SX)
you must be new to driving and/or winter life. Everyone's car does it pretty much. It's just the weather/condensation/steam, what have you.
either that or your flux capacitor could be bad. if that's the case, I really recommend going to Doc's to get a new one.
either that or your flux capacitor could be bad. if that's the case, I really recommend going to Doc's to get a new one.
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LasVegas240sx
- Posts: 127
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- Car: 1991 Nissan 240sx SE
Re: White smoke in cold weather (0wn3r)
The plutonium levels might be low huh?
Na, your car will do that. It's cold outside and the exhaust coming out is hot. Just like when you breathe outside and steam comes out when it's cold. I wouldn't worry too much.
Na, your car will do that. It's cold outside and the exhaust coming out is hot. Just like when you breathe outside and steam comes out when it's cold. I wouldn't worry too much.
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s13drifterbabe
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Thank you for all the replies. I am new to the east coast, I've lived in Cali most of my life (I'm kind of a typical surfer girl) so I've never seen snow before. It makes me feel better knowing that it's normal for the clouds of white smoke coming from the car. I am going to get a compression test done just to make sure.
One question though, is it possible to have good compression test results and still have a headgasket leak? From my understanding, if the compression is good in all cylinders, than that means the headgasket and all the seals are fine.
One question though, is it possible to have good compression test results and still have a headgasket leak? From my understanding, if the compression is good in all cylinders, than that means the headgasket and all the seals are fine.
your compression will drop with the head gasket is blow, failing, or anything bad with the head gasket, ur compression will drop, and you would notice a bad head gasket because your car would over-heat in like 5 minutes, so im sure again your fine with ur head gasket.
compression will also drop low due to pistons rings and valves.
so if you ever wanna talk about things with me and need info I am online pretty much all the time. So if you wanna chat my aim s/n is Drift Legacy 240
compression will also drop low due to pistons rings and valves.
so if you ever wanna talk about things with me and need info I am online pretty much all the time. So if you wanna chat my aim s/n is Drift Legacy 240
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0wn3r
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Re: (S13 240SX)
^ lol... ASL *whisper me*
sigh...
you shouldnt need a compression test, but it's all your choice. Don't forget to let your car warm up for a good few minutes before driving. The same should usually be said about letting your car cool off before shutting it off.
It's like he said with the breath thing. Your car's exhaust is cold and you are passing through warm, thus there's usually always condensation and then white smoke from the heat passing through that condensation in the exhaust. After a little while of driving, you should notice that there's no more coming out or an extremely small amount.
It's all normal. You should be more worried if your exhaust is blue (typically oil) or black (typically fuel).
[edit: and welcome to your new world of ice, salt, and sand...]
sigh...
you shouldnt need a compression test, but it's all your choice. Don't forget to let your car warm up for a good few minutes before driving. The same should usually be said about letting your car cool off before shutting it off.
It's like he said with the breath thing. Your car's exhaust is cold and you are passing through warm, thus there's usually always condensation and then white smoke from the heat passing through that condensation in the exhaust. After a little while of driving, you should notice that there's no more coming out or an extremely small amount.
It's all normal. You should be more worried if your exhaust is blue (typically oil) or black (typically fuel).
[edit: and welcome to your new world of ice, salt, and sand...]
Re: (0wn3r)
ewwww SALT.....
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s13drifterbabe
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0wn3r
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Re: (s13drifterbabe)
no problemo... your next topic to tackle-- why the F doesn't New Jersey allow any U-turns. oh, and Jersey barriers suck.
catch ya later
catch ya later
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s13drifterbabe
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Re: (0wn3r)
haha yeah new jersey roads are different than cali. You can't make left turns on certain roads, etc. It's weird and I can't pump my own gas but hey the price is much cheaper than cali. I hate winter too lol
Re: (S13 240SX)
DON'T LISTEN TO THESE GUYS !!!
That white smoke is a sign that your flux capacitor is low on fluid - I'd pick some up ASAP!
That white smoke is a sign that your flux capacitor is low on fluid - I'd pick some up ASAP!
Re: (A34D4ME)
Don't listen to these guys,,, right most of us told her already that most likey nothing is wrong with the car.A34D4ME wrote:DON'T LISTEN TO THESE GUYS !!!
That white smoke is a sign that your flux capacitor is low on fluid - I'd pick some up ASAP!
Modified by S13 240SX at 3:12 PM 12/18/2005
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s13drifterbabe
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Re: (A34D4ME)
Thanks for the help @sshole.A34D4ME wrote:DON'T LISTEN TO THESE GUYS !!!
That white smoke is a sign that your flux capacitor is low on fluid - I'd pick some up ASAP!
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0wn3r
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Re: (A34D4ME)
*cough* original.. i didn't just say it like 3 posts into the thread or anything.A34D4ME wrote:DON'T LISTEN TO THESE GUYS !!!
That white smoke is a sign that your flux capacitor is low on fluid - I'd pick some up ASAP!
i was pissed at jersey for that gas pumping thing... i "pulled in from the wrong direction" and he told me to back and wait in a long @ss line. so i popped a 180, left my gas cover open, and heard him yelling at me as i got back on the highway and continued to go to NY for gas (on way to CT). the sweet part was there was this awesome guy on a sport bike who pulled up next to me and was signing me "1 minute" and he pulled up real close to my side and shut the cap for me. lol he was the sh*t.
what's w/ cali and their retarded economy/laws? f that..
Re: (s13drifterbabe)
Damn - nobody appreciates a joke these days.
Re: (0wn3r)
wow. pretty sweet, bro.0wn3r wrote:*cough* original.. i didn't just say it like 3 posts into the thread or anything.
i was pissed at jersey for that gas pumping thing... i "pulled in from the wrong direction" and he told me to back and wait in a long @ss line. so i popped a 180, left my gas cover open, and heard him yelling at me as i got back on the highway and continued to go to NY for gas (on way to CT). the sweet part was there was this awesome guy on a sport bike who pulled up next to me and was signing me "1 minute" and he pulled up real close to my side and shut the cap for me. lol he was the sh*t.
what's w/ cali and their retarded economy/laws? f that..
Re: (S13 240SX)
not only can you get most of your car problems solved here you can also pick up a date...almost like e-harmony but with 240'sS13 240SX wrote:LOL haha s13drifterbabe, hit me up with an IM or e-mail. it should be in my profile on here i think.
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RogerHinga
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Re: (RogerHinga)
lol, gotta love the net .RogerHinga wrote:its so funny... a girl post something and guys jump all over it and try to hook up..
Welcome to the East Coast ... enjoy the snow heh.
smoke
Mine does the samething. But a friend of mine told me even though the oil is clean it could be burning coolant. But after 10min I see very little smoke at the tail pipe. And my car doesn't overheat. I opened my hood and I see near the exhaust side some smoke. I can't pin point where its coming from though.
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cwalke32477
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- Contact:
Re: White smoke in cold weather (s13drifterbabe)
As others have stated in this thread, cars overheat with blown head gaskets! NOT ALWAYS TRUE! If your head gasket has a small pin hole leak, you may not overheat at all, but you would notice a power lag and a or a rough idle.
One thing I do to check intake/head gaskets is to do an HC test in the coolant. Many auto shops don't know how to do this, so here are the instructions on this. It's very simple.
1. Remove the radiator cap while the engine is cool.2. Start and run the engine for about 5-10 minutes, but don't let the coolant expand so much that it leaks out the top of the radiator. (If car shows signs of overheating STOP!)3. TURN OFF ENGINE for the next step.
Now the part that requires a shop...
4. Using a SUN diagnostics computer (with emissions probe) or any state emissions machine, stick the probe in the neck of the radiator. (DO NOT STICK THE PROBE IN THE COOLANT) Keep the probe about 1/2 to 1 inch above the level of the coolant.5. Cup your hand around the neck of the radiator and the probe to seal out outside air while doing the test. (you can also use a shop cloth)6. REMEMBER, DO NOT DROP THE PROBE INTO THE COOLANT!!!
7. Now look at the computer screen to view the levels of HC's.
Anything above 5 or 6 ppm could indicate a problem. If you hit high double or triple digits or above you definitely, without any doubt, have a problem.
However this test doesn;t always mean it's a blown head gasket. That is just the most likely problem. There are also, generaly, Intake gaskets wich could leak HC's into the coolant. Also this test could indicate a crack in the block or head.
Any way, hope that helps anyone who may question if they have head gasket problems.
One thing I do to check intake/head gaskets is to do an HC test in the coolant. Many auto shops don't know how to do this, so here are the instructions on this. It's very simple.
1. Remove the radiator cap while the engine is cool.2. Start and run the engine for about 5-10 minutes, but don't let the coolant expand so much that it leaks out the top of the radiator. (If car shows signs of overheating STOP!)3. TURN OFF ENGINE for the next step.
Now the part that requires a shop...
4. Using a SUN diagnostics computer (with emissions probe) or any state emissions machine, stick the probe in the neck of the radiator. (DO NOT STICK THE PROBE IN THE COOLANT) Keep the probe about 1/2 to 1 inch above the level of the coolant.5. Cup your hand around the neck of the radiator and the probe to seal out outside air while doing the test. (you can also use a shop cloth)6. REMEMBER, DO NOT DROP THE PROBE INTO THE COOLANT!!!
7. Now look at the computer screen to view the levels of HC's.
Anything above 5 or 6 ppm could indicate a problem. If you hit high double or triple digits or above you definitely, without any doubt, have a problem.
However this test doesn;t always mean it's a blown head gasket. That is just the most likely problem. There are also, generaly, Intake gaskets wich could leak HC's into the coolant. Also this test could indicate a crack in the block or head.
Any way, hope that helps anyone who may question if they have head gasket problems.