Is it possible to overheat your engine, have white smoke coming out of the tailpipe and engine be okay?

that's what happened to me, and i took my 97 prelude to the Honda dealer.... said the chemical test came back negative and that my head gasket is okay,, or rather, there is no oil and water mixing (i assume thats' what the chemical test is for). Just seems like that's impossible. must have had some good oil on there.

they also did a pressure test. to me, i'm just skeptical that its okay. all the signs of a BHG were there... the smell, the white smoke, the surge in idling. now, everything seems okay, besides the smell of coolant coming through my vents.

 

I had a problem similar to that but it was the freon for the a/c that i smelled, the white smoke might be your cat.

 

It's possible, but I would definitely keep an eye on your temperature in the near future. Are you sure it was smoke or vapor from your exhaust on a cold day? If they performed a pressure test on the coolant system and it was okay, as well as no coolant making "chocolate milk" in the oil pan, then mechanically speaking it should be good to go.

 

Like the other guy said yes your engine can be okay but you have to find out what is causing it to overheat because in the long run it is going to mess your engine up. the white smoke is normal in the morning or when temperature is really cold. if they said your head gaskets ok then the overheating could be a number of other things. timing,stuck closed thermostat, clogged radiator, bad water pump, and bad radiator cap. check your coolant level if it goes down and you dont see leaks then the cap is not pressurizing the system and it could cause overheating. As for the surging in idling it could be a vacuum line.

 

hey thanks for the responses.

since the Honda dealer checked everything, i have not had any overheating problems. the initial problem was that the hose to the heater core burst.

they replaced that hose and the hose from the radiator to the cam. thermostat was replaced as well, and knock sensor (i'm being redundant :O)

the only thing i noticed now (which could just be me being paranoid) is that i think it smokes a little more (tail pipe). but after i have driven it a few miles, i get out and check the tailpipe and don't see any.

i had some friends of mine that work on cars take a look and they say i'm being paranoid (which i have a right to be). engine runs fine, VTEC kicks in, it still pulls, feels like the engine is a stronger as i put castol syntec in it.

 

I have a question though... what would cause my hose to the heater core to burst? old age, dried out, or could there be a problem with the heater core getting too hot.

i don't know much about all the technical aspects of cars... i just drive, check fluids. i want to learn more, though.

 

you sure it was smoke and not vapor?

 

thats the thing... i'm confused. at times i will get out and watch the tailpipe, see no smoke, just smells bad (which is significant because i don't recall my previous 91 Integra and 98 Integra GSR smelling like that). this is a 97 prelude, so it may be different.

but this puff of smoke happened as i was parking. i put it in reverse, then as i pressed the gas pedal i saw a puff of white smoke come floating by. i got out and looked, didn't see anymore.

its like its haphazard, every now and then.

I think i better start saving for a new engine.