Started er up this evening. Turned around to back up and noticed a sizeable cloud of smoke off the rear end. This is the second time I've seen this. I saw a cloud last summer and kept watching for it a few weeks after that but never have seen it, again, until tonight.

As the weather has been rainy and cool, this past week, I hadn't started er up for about 3 days and then I started it last night to back er out of the garage so I could have some room. In about 30 minutes, I started er up again and moved it back. Then tonight, it was a nice evening and I thought I'd take a spin and that's when I noticed the cloud.

It doesn't use any oil and I've never seen any smoke except twice on a start up. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

White, Grey or black?

 

Mostly white.

 

I would say a cold day and maybe higher humidity would cause any engine to emit a white vapor. Probably nothing to worry about, unless the car was still smoking after the engine was warmed up.

 

No, it never smokes when running and, the two times, I noticed it, it was right at start up. By the time I could get back to the rear, I couldn't notice anything. You may be right about the cool and humidity as it has been damp and cool. I wonder if the short start up, the day before, might have left some moisture in the block or manifold??

Thanks

 

OK. You are probably fine. Water will build in the exhaust system, this especialy after a short drive in cold weather. Later, when you restart, steam will emerge. It will be white.

This is rare and usually in cool humid nights.

It is why your exhaust pipes must be SS or they will corrode in about a year.

Drive it like you stole it. cause unless you bought new in 2004, you probably did.

roadster with a stick

 

Our olds had a cracked head and the smoke was ungodly amounts of white. Check your fluids. It cracked cause of a manifold gasket failed and if I had been on top of things (resivoir) I would of caught it.

Like Franc said moisture can play tricks too. My sentra seemed to be blasting out white smoke on the highway as I started my commute. As I looked around I saw a few other cars doing it too.

If your not sure you could put a code reader on it as well

 

When I saw your caption my Chaplain's hat appeared! Having served in various climates I would go with what Franc sez. I have seen all kinds of exhaust from Alaska to Miami. Humid mornings with cool air always brings out the white condensate. Glad we're not dealing with anything that needs exorcism.

 

I'm feeling better already. Almost had a heart attack when I saw it.
Thanks for your input.

 

I'll be keeping a close eye for sure. Thanks. I remember having an old Chevy pickup, years ago, that would smoke on startup and they said it had rubber grommets on lifters or something that wore and would allow oil to drip down while it sat. I don't think these engines would have something like that.

 

LOL! Thought I might need something like that but then I remembered the Forum and thought I should get some counseling first. Nice to have a Forum like this to get some feedback. Thanks.

 

In the winter my A6 regularly puffs white condensation, especially when idling or accelerating hard. It never uses oil or water. It's just a function of humid exhaust gas hitting the cold air and...condensing! Water is one of the byproducts of combustion.

 

mine dose this time to time , win washing it and start it up and move it around in short on and off ,moving back inside mine will do the same thing even my 300c SRT 8 dose it time to time , kind like Franc it get alot gas and has to blow smoke time to time lol !!!!!

 

I've seen this on my car too, but only under the circumstances you describe - start it up, move it a very short distance, shut it down, then start up again a short time later - smoke. Not much, but some. But ONLY following that specific sequence. There was a discussion here a couple of years back and a couple of other owners had experienced the same thing, again just following that specific sequence. I've never seen it happen other than that, regardless of temperature, humidity, or time spent sitting in the garage. Sometimes I drive the car every day for a week or so, sometimes it doesn't move for upwards of a month. Even then, never any smoke with that sequence.

I don't think you've got anything to worry about.

 

Thanks Mike. I'm beginning to feel a lot better about it with all the feed back. Like I mentioned, I've only observed this twice. And I agree, I think it coincides with a short startup. I was hoping some others could offer some like experiences and put my mind to ease.

 

Hey!!!!!!!
My gas is clear.

Smelly, I'm told, but clear.



roadster with a stick