White Smoke = Water?

[Crazy Dazz]

So, after sitting all day in the car park, when started, my daughter's car starts billowing white smoke.
However, after being idled for a while, then left to cool, and re-started, no sign of anything unusual.

To me, white smoke means water (coolant) being burnt.
So I'm thinking: Car driven to work, gets nice and hot, under pressure head-gasket starts to leak. When car is parked, continues to leak under pressure and builds up in cylinder. Car is started, burns off coolant and eventually purges all from exhaust. Engine turned off, not too hot, so no further leakage. Starts fine next time round.

The coolant looks fine, as does the oil. The coolant level was still ok.

So, with the engine cold we have topped the coolant to a precise level. Will drive the car to work, park it up, then check the level in the evening when its cold again.

It's also possible that it was simply a bunch of condensation after being driven and then parked on a cold day.

Am I missing anything?
Any other possible culprits for white smoke?

NB: It is a Nissan Tiida, with a typical, disposable, Thailand engine. So it's not improbable that the gasket or head has started to dissolve.

[russellw]

I think you are on the right track for the initial diagnosis although if it is using neither water or oil then it is going to be harder to diagnose.

Cheers
Russ

[whitelion65]

Auto-trans fluid?? Pulled in via the manifold vacuum line.??

[11ford11]

does it disappear quickly (water) or hang in the air for awhile (oil) -
trans. oil as mentioned by whitelion65

[falconhell74]

How cold is it out side temp? It just sounds like condensation in the exhaust as you haven't mentioned that it is hard to start or runs rough till it dissipates.
If it was a head gasket issue it would run rough and have bubbles in the cooling system .

[Silver Ghia]

Most likely just condensation in the exhaust system.

[Pis-ton broke]

might be the valve stem seals/guides. take it down a big hill and see if it blows smoke then. if it does, might need to look into getting them replaced

[Olbucko]

Most cars blow clouds of condensation from the exhaust on a very cold day when they are dead cold, it's only water vapour.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So, after sitting all day in the car park, when started, my daughter's car starts billowing white smoke.
However, after being idled for a while, then left to cool, and re-started, no sign of anything unusual.

To me, white smoke means water (coolant) being burnt.
So I'm thinking: Car driven to work, gets nice and hot, under pressure head-gasket starts to leak. When car is parked, continues to leak under pressure and builds up in cylinder. Car is started, burns off coolant and eventually purges all from exhaust. Engine turned off, not too hot, so no further leakage. Starts fine next time round.

The coolant looks fine, as does the oil. The coolant level was still ok.

So, with the engine cold we have topped the coolant to a precise level. Will drive the car to work, park it up, then check the level in the evening when its cold again.

It's also possible that it was simply a bunch of condensation after being driven and then parked on a cold day.

Am I missing anything?
Any other possible culprits for white smoke?

NB: It is a Nissan Tiida, with a typical, disposable, Thailand engine. So it's not improbable that the gasket or head has started to dissolve.

You have answered your own question. It's just condensation in the exhaust burning off, all cars do it, second time around no condensation so no white smoke.

[ea90gl]

Hopefully for your self it is only just a matter of water evaporation due to the colder weather.

In saying this, and I don't mean to worry you, I once repaired a 92 Ford laser which had similar symptoms as you have described. It would blow white smoke on start up after being stationary for a while with no other symptoms of any head issues (rough idle/ running, milky engine oil, bubbles in radiator whilst running etc).

Once the head was removed it definitely revealed that the head gasket was faulty so that ended up having to be replaced and finally resolved the issue.

However as you have mentioned, just top up all relevant fluids and see how things go over time. If you notice that no fluids are getting low down the track then you should be fine

[castellan]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

You have answered your own question. It's just condensation in the exhaust burning off, all cars do it, second time around no condensation so no white smoke.

Running E10 seems to do that more so as well on cold days.

[Crazy Dazz]

Thanks everyone.
So far, it has impossible to substantiate any coolant loss, or replicate the problem to any significant degree.
Will keep monitoring the coolant, but fingers-crossed it was just some freak confluence of weather and condensation.

[arronm]

Best sell it and get her a ford.