white steam from engine and tail pipes

Nissan 300ZX technical discussion forum: Maintenance, performance, installations, modifications, how-to's and troubleshooting.
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socialmoth
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:08 pm
Car: 1990 300zx pearl yellow
Location: topeka,ks

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I have a 1990 300zx nonturbo, its got about 170,000 miles on it
It has not over heated, none of the fluids are mixing and its good on fluid levels.

It got new fuel injectors a few months ago, got a oil change a while back.

So I went to drive it one day and it did not over heat but there was white steam with a semi burning smell coming out of the engine, most the smoke was coming up from the fire wall near the oil dipstick area. THen white steam smoke started to come out of the tail pipes, I let the car sit for a bit and it never over heated it just continued to steam/smoke

I parked the car and left it alone for a few months and took it out today (it was a bit chilly) took the car out for a drive she drove fine once we got up and going, drove for about 10 min got out and noticed white smoke coming from the engine, opened the hood and the white smoke was back coming from the same area and then the smoke came out of the tail pipe...

The car is always garaged and other then a few little oil puddles there is nothing on the ground to show there is a major leak and all fluids are at the same level.
anyone have any idea before i drag it to a mechanic...Image
hopefully the pic will open its on my facebook took a pic of the steam/smoke


robomatic12
Posts: 672
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:05 pm
Car: 1990 300ZX TT

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There are a bunch of coolant lines that run along the back of the engine block, depending if you have deleted it you will also have coolant lines running into your intake plenum.

Coolant leaking onto a hot exhaust will appear as steam.

As far as the white smoke coming out of the tailpipe, that is not good normally. That's indicative of a head gasket leak. Unless you are mistaking it for condensation burning off from the exhaust, what you would normally see when first starting it in the morning.

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Ace2cool
Posts: 11650
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:21 pm
Car: 1991 Nissan 300ZX TT
1966 Datsun Fairlady 1600
2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600
1974 Honda CB550 Four
2009 Ford F150 Lariat
Location: Murfreesboro, TN

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+1 to what robo said.

What does it smell like? If it's sweet, it's coolant, oil and gas have their own distinct burning smells as well.


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