White smoke - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 03:28 PM

Every time I start going in first gear from a total stop, it will leave a medium sized cloud of white exhaust in the air where I started from.

It doesn't do this after I get going, so I dont beleive it to be a head gasket.

Any ideas on what this could be or is this somewhat normal for an aftermarket exhaust?

94cylcamry · 07-21-2008, 03:30 PM

Are you running a catalytic converter or not?

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 04:37 PM

Yes. Do you think it might just be gunked up?

uibalnme · 07-21-2008, 04:39 PM

The catalytic converter really wouldn't have anything to do with the color of the smoke. Is it thick, pure white smoke or thin, bluish-white smoke. If it's thick, pure-white, it's coolant. If thin, bluish-white, it's oil. Since you said it's not puffing it out constantly, it's probably a small leak into the cylinders of either oil or coolant. if it's oil, then it's leaking past the valve guides, if it's coolant, the head gasket needs to be replaced.

bigbird · 07-21-2008, 04:42 PM

white can mean coolant leak too. hows the coolant level? any changes in performance or engine temp?

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 04:53 PM

It's thick...ish and pure white. I haven't checked the coolant levels, but lately the temp spikes up pretty fast. It never goes past normal, but it seems like I turn the car on and by the time I am on the road, it's all ready at normal.

uibalnme · 07-21-2008, 04:55 PM

Yup, small coolant leak. The head gasket is getting ready to go.

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 04:56 PM

Do you think it will be able to last another month and a half?

I guess it's gonna have to. I can't do something major like a head gasket until I'm back in school.

Also, how much would this job run me in parts and how labor intensive is it?

uibalnme · 07-21-2008, 05:00 PM

It'll last for a little while as long as you don't rev the engine too high. As far as cost to fix, it'll be a few hundred or so, and maybe a day or two at a good shop.

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 05:50 PM

Well I was planning on doing this myself once I get back in school and have access to a shop and tools.

bigbird · 07-21-2008, 07:52 PM

thats what i though it might be. if your not goin to get it fixed soon then jsut be prepared for it to blow. in my experiance its not somthing that breaks to gradually.

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 11:32 PM

When it blows, how will I know?

And how much time will I have before my engine seizes?

Are we talking slam on the brakes, cause a pile-up and pull off to the side of the road and flash some people to give me a tow home or are we talking get a whopper at Burger King then cautiously make my merry way home?

uibalnme · 07-21-2008, 11:46 PM

You will know right away when it blows. The tail pipe will be puffing out more white smoke than snoop dogg at a pot party. Get it fixed a.s.a.p. while the cost is somewhat low and the car is still running or you can replace the whole engine. Your choice. Because if it blows, coolant could flood the cylinders, the piston will try to compress the coolant, which can't, you could throw a rod, bend a valve, crack/warp the cylinder head, ruin the catalytic converter(s), egr system, and so on...

Chris Crash · 07-21-2008, 11:50 PM

So we're talking option A then. Cool. That's more exciting than Burger King anyways.

Thanks for your help.

P.S. Is it possible for oil to be leaking out of this? Because I've got an oil leak somewhere but I just can't find it!

uibalnme · 07-21-2008, 11:59 PM

Yeah, maybe, the HG deals with both oil, and coolant passages.