Excessive exhaust steam

JMF2017

MEMBER
2011 MAZDA 3
2.5L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
130,000 MILES

My car is in the shop and they are having trouble confirming head gasket issue. I am experiencing excessive white exhaust steam. Both at startup and driving for over twenty minutes. Also sputtering cold starts. The shop observed the smoke and ran a compression test and the chemical gas test testing the overflow reservoir gases. Both are normal. Also, no coolant loss observed. Can it still be a head gasket issue? Can it be a fuel injector? The shop has been around over thirty five years. Are there other tests to be run? They do not want to remove the cylinder head on a guess. Please advise. Thanks!

Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 AT 3:01 PM

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

White smoke from the exhaust is indeed a sign of burning coolant, but it is hard to believe there has been no loss of coolant. To verify if it really is coolant that is being burned, consider adding a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, then search a day or two later with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain. If you find the dye inside the tail pipe, it has to be coolant.

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Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 AT 3:14 PM

JMF2017

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thanks for the help! What type of dye should be used? Quantity to be used?
Should I mention to the auto shop? Is this a common procedure used in auto shops for analysis?

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Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 AT 3:27 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

Very common. Auto parts stores have the dye in tiny bottles. They will ask what fluid you are testing and will give you the right dye. I just use half a bottle, and save the rest for the next job. Most shops already have a black light, but if not, you may find one at an auto parts store that rents or borrows tools.

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Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 AT 3:42 PM