Just Curious if you all have ever heard of this problem, I have a 91 accord ex it has 150,xxx miles on it. Every morning i get up to start it to warm it up and it lets a great amount of white smoke out the muffler until warmed up. What do you all think that causes this? I thought maybe i should adjust the valves, to me it sounds like the oil seeps through the valves into the cylinders and then when it gets started it has to burn it up. But you know i could be totally wrong. Let me know what you all think. Thanks

 

When it is cold out there is a lot of condensation coming thru on start up, until the exhaust pipes all get warmed up, you could go have a sniff of it if you think it might be oil or coolant; but this sounds fairly normal for this time of year

 

Hondadude's got it nailed. What you're seeing is (Literally) steam as the exhaust (of which a by-product of combustion is.....water) condenses on cold (but rapidly heating) exhaust pipes. That's why, as the engine (and subsiquently the exhaust) heats, the pipes reach a point where the water stops condensing, and the steam (white smoke) stops.

P

 

if it was oil it would be like a blueish / gray color .. Dude is right

 

I appreciate the info, but I think it is a little more severe because it started doing this at the end of the summer. Its not just a little bit of smoke, Im talking that it is a but load of smoke pouring for about 10-15 minutes. Say it is the condensation what could i do to stop it. Thanks for your alls info

 

Also dont know if this helps but the white smoke is thick. I dont know just thought of it. Appreciate it.

 

Wait, so this doesn't only happen in cold weather? Just sort of wave your hand through it and smell it (don't stick your head up to the muffler). What does it smell like?

Any chance you can take a picture and post it?

And for what it's worth this time of year is a great time to check your exhaust for leaks. Start the car after it's been sitting in the cold, then look for white puffs of smoke coming from wherever. Helped me fix a leak in an exhaust system I just put on my daily commuter (a Volvo).

 

Cracked head or blown head gasket. If it smells 'sweet' it's antifreeze you're looking at. What confuses the diagnosis is that you don't complain of an engine skip. .....

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cracked head or blown head gasket. If it smells 'sweet' it's antifreeze you're looking at. What confuses the diagnosis is that you don't complain of an engine skip. .....

P</TD></TR></TABLE>

It does sound like antifreeze/water getting into the combustion. Possibly a very small crack, where after sitting over-night, allows enough coolant into the cylinder(s) to produce a visible amount of smoke. Once it's burnt off, the amount of leakage could be minimal enough not to cause any obvious issues.

 

pressure test when cold and that will let you know if the leak is internal.

 

So do you think that if I had a new head gasket put on it could possibly fix the smoking problem, cause i do have to add antifreeze ever so often cause it magically disppears. thanks

Also, i did take picture of it but i cant get them to my computer right now because my software is screwed up and it is not recognizing my dgital camera. But i will if i can ever fix that.

 

If I was to possibly let this go for a while and it was the cracked head gasket, would if cause any serious damage as long as it didnt blow. LOL just thought i would ask. thanks

 

Im going to bump it up, so i can find more info.

 

The danger of internal Coolant leaks is if it should start mixing with the engine oil, you're going to be in big trouble. I harken back to experiences I had as a GM s/manager and as a Warranty Admin, with bottom end failures on 2.8L 60d V6's caused by no more than an intake manifold gasket failure.
Antifreeze destroys the lubrication properties of engine oil, and will guarantee the failure of both the rod and main Crankshaft bearings if the two should get together.
It will also cause Piston scuffing.
I would be irresponsible to not recommend the immediate repair, cuz for probable damage it could cause additionally. But hey, if you're short of cash; I'd understand.

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AFAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It does sound like antifreeze/water getting into the combustion. Possibly a very small crack, where after sitting over-night, allows enough coolant into the cylinder(s) to produce a visible amount of smoke. Once it's burnt off, the amount of leakage could be minimal enough not to cause any obvious issues.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Interesting, and when the engine heats up and the metal expands, the crack is sealed until the car sits overnight and cools again.

Anyway, yes, this is something you need to get fixed. And if you were to smell the exhaust right after it starts up, I'd bet that you'd be smelling a sweet smell (the antifreeze). I know that I mentioned a picture before but I don't think one is needed now, unless you want to post one anyway. Just smell the exhaust right after you start it up - just stand near it and wave your hand through it.

 

the reason you want to pressure test when cold has to do with the fact that metal expands when heated and the expading metal may be closing the gap that the coolant is flowing through. After pressure testing it cold, start the car and smell the exhaust if it is sweet smelling and has an oily film to it, you know that your gasket failed, then pressure test it after it is warm it it holds then you know where the problem is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Heat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Interesting, and when the engine heats up and the metal expands, the crack is sealed until the car sits overnight and cools again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly what I was getting at.

 

I really appreciate your alls help, Im just a broke college kid, i am saving right now for a new motor or atleast a better motor that will last me through college until i get that job in about 2 years to pay for a new car. I only have 2 years of school left so if i can get another 6-8 months out of this motor i will be able to put either a F22 DOHC or the H23 in it. but anyways thanks so much for the help. Merry Christmas

 

i always see cars with phatty loads of antifreez smoke comin out they pipes. but i have a question related to this...

when the smoke is thick and/or dense and you see it kinda chill on the ground, is that something different and/or worse than just normally seeing white smoke disipate

 

You'll see basically four types of smoke from the exhaust (three if you don't live where it gets cold)
1) Black smoke (soot) unburned hydrocarbons - engine running Rich
2) White smoke (steam) dissipates quickly (usually within a few feet of the pipe) - Formed from warm (Moisture laden) exhaust gasses against cold exhaust pipes.
3) White smoke (Anti-freeze) Thick acrid smoke which lingers and takes it's good time dissipating. Described as "sweet" smelling. - Blown Head Gasket or Crack in head.
4) Gray smoke (engine oil) Thick acrid smoke which lingers and takes it's good time dissipating. - oil getting past either Piston Oil Control Ring(s) or Valve stem seals.

Hope you find this helpful

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
...
3) White smoke (Anti-freeze) Thick acrid smoke which lingers and takes it's good time dissipating. Described as "sweet" smelling. - Blown Head Gasket or Crack in head.
...</TD></TR></TABLE>
It looks like either a blown head gasket or crack in the head. He's wanting to drive it for another 6 or 8 months. What could happen if he were to keep driving it?

 

If it leaks (and continues to leak) into the combustion chamber alone, it could eventually score the cylinder walls and ruin the rings. Along with what repairs for the leak, he's be looking at re-sleeving the block and new pistons.
If it leaks and progresses to the point that antifreeze gets in the oil; it will damage everything previously mentioned, but will also include Crankshaft, Bearings and possibly Camshaft and Cylinder Head (Cam bearing surfaces). Anyplace that would be effected by sudden lubrication loss.

P

 

I appreciate all this info, i know it sounds bad but im not to worried about it right now just trying to get past the christmas season. Im going in a couple weeks to get it looked at. Because here soon it will have a h23 or f22b in it. Thanks Merry christmas

 

Hey you are very welcome..ya get on here with your question and didn't tell the whole story about the coolant loss; then when everybody tries to help you out you kiss em all off saying you're swapping motors soon!!! No damn wonder good techs quit trying to help folks around here, when all they get is a slap in the face for their efforts!