Hi guys,

Just want to run something by you.

Yesterday im sitting idle outside a Starbucks waiting for my GF... and my S started to throw white smoke. It lasted about 10 seconds, and then went away. It wasnt exhaust smoke like when its cold out, it was white smoke and was kinda heavy. I drove the car right home and on the way home the smoke was gone. When i got there, i let it sit some more at idle, no smoke. Hit the gas, reved the motor, no smoke. I took the car back out the rest of the day running errands, didnt see the smoke again.

But i know that wasnt normal so im looking for the cause. Here is what i know..

Car never overheated in the 4 years ive had it, temp gauge normal.

Car throws heat fine, nice and hot.

Coolant level seems fine.

No leaks i can see anywhere, no drips under the car.

Oil was changed saturday after sitting all winter. Car didnt get driven much during the cold months.

oil shows no signs of coolant. No bubbles and smells clean.

Car operates normally, VTEC fine.

I never beat on the car, i baby it.

Do hear a slight chirping noise coming from the drivers side of the motor under load, but at idle motor sounds fine when reved up.

Billman replaced TCT already, so chirp cant be TCT and TCT doesn create white smoke.

Anyone every have this happen??

 

Sounds like water condensation, in the exhaust system, blowing out as steam --- as the car warms up from a cold start.

The radiator water level has been fine, correct?

 

Yes from what i can tell, but this sure didnt seem like steam. It seemed more like smoke but im no expert maybe it was steam. I wasnt able to check the actual radiator as the motor was hot but the overflow tank had coolant in there. Im dont drive car during the week much anymore, but maybe i will later this week. When i open up the radiator i should see coolant at the top right?

In my experience with other cars, i know when my coolant is low because the car stops throwing heat. Maybe the S is different, but the heat is real hot as it always is and the temp gauge is at 3 bars and stays there.

 

White usually is water vapor. Maybe, since you haven't had a chance to fully warm-up the car, you aren't fully evaporating whatever condensation is in the exhaust system.

I'd check the level of coolant in the overflow tank. No need to open the radiator cap. This is to be sure that the head gasket is ok. You aren't blowing water into the exhaust from water galleys in the head.

 

The overflow tank has coolant, although its at or below the MIN mark. But when i pull out the cap i see coolant and it drips from the hose about half an inch up the hose. The overflow tank is not dry.

The white smoke didnt smell like that fishy coolant smell when it burns, it smelled very potent and exhaust like. But it created that lingering cloud in the air and behind the car for a bit before going away. It was like when you see a car smoking bad on the highway, you can see the smoke linger in the air for a while behind the car. Even my GF who knows nothing about cars was alarmed and asked me where all the smoke was coming from.

I did clean the motor about 2 weeks ago and used water, and also cleaned the K&N filter with hot water and soap so i guess its possible water hung around for 2 weeks even after driving it on and off and somehow got into the combustion chamber.

I guess ill just have to keep an eye on it and see if it happens again. She is due for a once over by Billman and i just emailed him to set up a time.

 

I have the exact same issue. White smoke about 10 seconds after I start the car when idling, and sometimes about 10 seconds after I close throttle and idle, such as when sitting at a stoplight or reversing. I never noticed it before. It isn't blue smoke, I don't think it is oil going past the valves/seals. I never get smoke on start-up.

Mine started when I changed to a High flow cat, I've heard of guys with test pipes describe the exact same thing, I think my high flow cat is flowing like a test pipe or close to it, as it smells the same most of the time without much of cat-like smell, more like a test pipe. I think it could be water vapour and the oem cat was better at dealing with it.

 

You made me feel a bit better. I have a test pipe too, for almost 3 years now. Im also not normal when it comes to my car, in the sense that i act like this if i think she has a problem.

I just paid it off today too, 6 months early i might add


So i guess if something does go wrong, at least im not paying on it anymore...

 

The inside of your exhaust isn't clean, not by a long shot, especially without a cat, or a high flow one, so any condensation and water that gets into the exhaust can pool up at that U that goes under the rear axle shafts, over time it can form a bit of sludge, and the exhaust heat can vaporize any of the sludge that has retained a fair bit of water due to dirt and dust mixing in it. It's not engine oil, the valve seals are very good on this car, it's exhaust byproducts that have solidified mixed with dirt and condensation then getting vaporized by heat.

 

If it is only on idle it is just condensation. If it was oil it would be more obvious at high revs. Enjoy your car.

 

Oil out the exhaust should be more of a gray-blue color. Different texture than steam.