Ok so i recently turbocharged my 1996 accord. I just finished the catback and I noticed on two occasions, the car had white exhaust smoke. However, this only occurred when the engine was started cold. After it's warmed up, there is no smoke at all and non that i have seen while driving. I know that usually a failing headgasket/antifreeze leaks will lead to a whitish blue smoke. Then again, it may be just the water vapor burning off. I do not think it is oil related either. But in the morning i'm going to check the filler cap for that weird substance you can get from oil related problems (the gooey, milky stuff). I have been keeping an eye on my engine temp. and the gauge has stayed normal the whole time. I have not over heated in the car ever. I got rid of my catalytic converter also, which i heard can lead to some smoking.

Since it does not keep smoking while driving and it is only during a cold start that i see smoke, I think i may just be seeing water vapor burning off. Please let me know if i'm wrong. thanks

 

It nothing abnormal for your vehicle to smoke a little white smoke on a cold start. Now, if it's a constant thing and your vehicle is constantly blowing out exsessive white smoke--than you probably have a problem.

 

well i noticed it only has white exhaust smoke when it rains so it's just steam. Not a drop of coolant is missing, and their is no 'milky' residue on the oil cap.

 

If the smoke has a bluish tint. That's oil leak. White smoke is water.

 

White smoke occurs mainly during cold starts. the smoke usually consists of condensed fuel particles. the cold engine parts cause the fuel to condense into a liquid which will not burn. the most common reason for white smoke out the exhaust are spark plugs, low engine compression, thermostat stuck open, bad injector spray pattern, late injection timing, and head gasket issues. White smoke can also be caused by coolent leakage into the combustion chambers. The engine may have a leaking head gasket, cracked cylinder, or even cracked block.

If you're seeing blue smoke Its due to the oil consumption from work piston rings, scored cylinder walls, or leaking valve seals.

And for future reference black smoke is too much fuel. A rich air-fuel mixture allows carbon to blow out the exhaust. Black smoke may be due to problems with fuel pump, timing, air filter, injectors, fuel itself, or even a bad tune.