White smoke from exhaust-sometimes

BRUNO1953

MEMBER
CADILLAC ELDORADO

I have a 97 Cadillac Eldorado, V8, 4.6 Northstar engine.
last week the Service Engine light came on. I noticed some white smoke from exhaust.
It's been 3 days, no more white smoke, light still on.

No overheating, no coolant low message, oil seems fine.

Is this a gasket problem?
Thank You.

5 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

The Northstar engine is common for headgasket troubles. Are you losing coolant?

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Saturday, June 9th, 2007 AT 9:37 AM

BRUNO1953

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1 POST

No coolant loss noted.

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Saturday, June 9th, 2007 AT 9:51 AM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Well thats a good sign. You need to get the codes pulled to see what's up with the CEL

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Saturday, June 9th, 2007 AT 11:46 AM

CHARLESTMOSS

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Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 AT 6:37 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Different ways to go about it. Leak is internal of external. You can pressure test it, where the system is put under pressure and monitored for pressure loss and visual checking externally. You can pull the plugs at this point and see if coolant is leaking into the cylinders, if no external leak was found that is. OR you can use a chemical that is added to the cooling system and will change colors of exhasut fumes or in cooling system.