White Smoke or Steam?

I would pay attention to my coolant level, if you have to keep putting coolant in it every couple of days/or a week then you may have a bad head gasket or warped head, flushing the radiator sounds like a good idea, do that and get your 50/50 coolant and see what happens, but I dont think that will cause a puff of smoke when u start your car, but its a good measure to flush your coolant system anyway. Check out this guide will tell you more if it is normal or you have a problem

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/white-smoke-or-steam-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

Please run down this guide and report back.

Engine Performance problem
2003 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Automatic 68000 miles

What would cause my car to release white exhaust smoke? I have only noticed this when I start my car in the morning after it has sit over night.

White smoke on a cold starts normally happens due to condensation but when the engine comes up on its normal operating temperature and it shows up again-could mean a blown headgasket/cracked head or block.

2003 Toyota Camry 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

White smoke comes from my exhaust in the morning when I first start my car.

It often means that you are burning antifreeze. Sometimes when the head gasket goes it will produce a passage for the antifreeze to pass from the capillaries into the combustion chamber. You need to have gasket checked. Check compressions in heads at each spark plug. You may also have a cracked head. Heads can be tested for cracks at most major repair shops.

Also check your oil for discoloration. If it is a brownish color it could mean your oil and antifreeze are mixing and has the potential to damage your bearings.

2001 Camry, auto, 4cyl, 177,000 miles. Heater only worked one time today, and there was a strange odor, after 15 miles, car overheated, and white? smoke/steam came from under hood. I pulled over, let it cool off, and put water in the radiator...about 1/2 gallon. Drove 4 miles, and it was fine, with the thermostat needle in the middle between hot and cold. Afraid to drive it now, not knowing what the problem is.

Hi there,

You first must investage the coolant loss, A pressure test will show up a failed hose or radiator core. 1/2 Gal or 2 litres of water is a fair amount to loose so a leak should not be that hard to locate.

Mark (mhpautos)

Ok so last night in Somerset KY is was like -2 degrees and I knew my car would be cold when I started it in my garage the next morning so I went out and started it and my 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. They both started excellently but I noticed on my Camry there was a buttload of white exhaust smoke coming out the tail pipe and hardly any coming out of my suburban's tail pipe. I know when it is cold white smoke will come out. I have noticed this problem for a while well about 2 months. It usually is still putting out the same out on my 40 minute drive to work. All the way there and when I get there. The check engine light come on and Auto Zone said i needed a new oxygen sensor. But I could go without it. I am going to put one on in the next week or so. Is that the problem or is there a more serious problem?

An oxygen sensor won't do that-sounds like your burning coolant- other then the condensation get it block and pressure tested to rule out a blown headgasket

Are you still getting the white smoke after the engine is fully warmed-up?

When I start my car in the morning and after being parked all day I noticed it throws out white smoke. What is it? It does not misfire, it runs good. I do not smell oil. Please help

Most likely the beginings of a headgasket failure keep eye on oil if it starts to turn like chocolate malt stop driving and get this repaired. Also check coolant level

Transmission problem
1996 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My son was driving the other night and his engine light came on and the car started emitting white smoke. He pulled off the road and found that he could no longer get it into any gear. Had to have it towed. I started it up once it was at home as I wanted to check the fluid level. I notice fluied underneath car after that on both sides. He recently had an oil change. Where is the place where you fill it with fluid. I am wondering if something is loose or ???
Any ideas on what to check first? What could it be? I am trying to pinpoint more as I do not want to pay to tow it somewhere to find out it is a major expense that we cannot afford right now. Also, could the transmission issue cause the engine light to go on? Any advice is appreciated!

Unfortunately it sounds like you should tow it to a shop. To fill up the oil, you remove the oil cap located on the valve cover. I have circled the area that the cap will be in red.

if you meant where to top up the transmission fluid, you will have to remove the red dipstick that is in the front driver side of the engine compartment. You remove the dipstick and the oil goes down that thick tube. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground when checking oil level. Also, to check transmission fluid level the vehicle must be turned on.

my car is smoking a white smoke some times and it is alot exactlly at morning ? and it is eaten oil much ? so what wrong with it

Hi there,

Is you car using coolant and running hot or over heating, dose it have a miss fire or run rough?

mark (mhpautos)

Yesterday a plume of white smoke came from the exhaust pipe but only for a short period of time. What would cause this smoke?

--You're burning coolant in the cylinders-possibility here could be a blown headgasket, cracked head or block-intake manifold leak-Get it block and pressure tested

If the smoke is slightly grey (blue) you have a problem of oil being burnt in the cylinders or being discharged into the exhaust from the exhaust valve seals.

Check you engine oil level.

KJLow2008,

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!!!!!

The car had over 3 quarts to much oil which was causing the smoke. Once the oil was removed and the appropriate level of oil was achieved, the smoke went away and the car has been running like a gem ever since!!!!!

Thank you for your assistance!

Yesterday A Plume Of White Smoke Came From The Exhaust Pipe

You're welcome.

Have a nice day.

Hi,

What is the cause and how to repair ?

When i start the camry, A white smoke blow out from the mufflers, during 3 to 5 minutes. Oil is new, 5w10. It happens from time to time, not every day ??

Hi there,

white smoke is often a sign of coolant in the combustion chamber, are you loosing any coolant ? Or is is this just condensation in the cold exhaust first thing in the morning, get a head check done to prove the engine is not burning coolant. start here.

Mark(mhpautos)

My car has started to expell white smoke from the exhaust but only when warming up and never while i'm actually in route with the car. it does shake a little but never smokes while i'm driving. doesn't over heat but has been leaking coolant and have to refill daily. havn't taken it in to shop yet but looking for some possibilities as to what is could be.


thank you

If its not due to condensation, retorque the cylinder head and see what happens, if it continues get it block and pressure tested.

Inspect oil if its milky in color-

Engine Performance problem
1993 Toyota Camry 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

When I start the car, it has no problem. after a few minutes, alot of white smoke will come out of the muffler. also, when I put it in drive, it is very weak. what seems to be the problem? I was told it could be alot of things.

Hi there,

The white smoke could be an indication that you have a coolant leak into the inlet manifold or a head gasket problem, i would be checking this out if you are having coolant loss problems, i would also do a scan as some fault wont set the engine check light on, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)

When my wife was driving there was no real sound and the car just started steaming massively from the engine. The car sat for a while and I finally put water in the radiator and saw it was leaking. I made sure to fill the radiator and reservoir and tried to start the car and it would not start. I replaced the radiator and the car starts just fine and sounds okay. No misfires and seems to run fine. But, now there is heavy White smoke coming from the tail pipe when cold or warm. After some time it is overheating and the radiator fluid is low or gone. The reservoir is at the same level though

Thought she could have blown the head gasket but,

I do not see bubbles or exhaust gas in my radiator.
There is not coolant flowing out of my coolant reservoir.
There is no white milky substance in my engine oil or around my oil cap.
There is no loss of power.
Engine is overheating after some time.

I am not a mechanic. What else could it be? Is there a easy way to test as money for a shop is not something we can afford right now.

I would be super grateful for any advice/help.

Hi Donny,

Unfortunately, you are correct. This is a head gasket. Not all the time do they fail and cause the coolant and oil mix.

The white smoke is coolant burning in the combustion chamber and coming out the tailpipe. This is also why your coolant is disappearing.

I attached a test that you can perform but in my opinion it is not needed. You have stated enough proof for me to feel confident that it is the head gasket. What happens is when the engine overheats it warps the head and this causes the combustion pressure to push out the gasket. There is no telling where the weakest point will be but if the head gasket opens a path between the oil and coolant passages then they will mix. In your case, it sounds like the path is just from the coolant passage to the combustion chamber. This will allow coolant into the combustion chamber.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let me know if you need more information. Thanks

92 camry LE v6. heavy white smoke and clear liquid coming from tailpipe. Strong smell of gas(not oil or coolant sweet smell). Liquid seems to be raw gas or a gas water mixture. Oil and coolant levels are stable and no water present on oil dipstick. Engine runs fine but idles a little rough. No overheating. No other issues occurred before smoke began coming out. Is this a blown head gasket or a fuel system issue(pressure regulator, fuel injectors, electronic issue)?

Hello,

This sounds like a blown head gasket. It only takes a cup full of coolant to make the white smoke and the system has an excess of it as well. Not all head gaskets go into the oil, some drop intake the combustion chamber only while it runs. Run this test to confirm the gasket failure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

i have a 92 Camry with a 3.0 it has alot of white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe and can smell raw gas

Are you using any coolant? is there a misfire at idle or under load?

I have a 1992 toyota camry xle with a v-6 engine. my car is burning a lot of gas when it is being driven, there is white smoke coming out of the tail pipe at the same time. I had the cadalic converter detached and put a straight pipe on goin to the muffler, and I tried to change the fuel injectors even though the mechanic broke one and broke one of the wires going to the fuel injector.

Checkc the oil if it smell like gas if so check the injectors and fuel pressure regulator if its leaking also for excessive fuel pressure

Hello,

Ok, the white smoke is in most cases a very good sign of a Blown Head Gasket. Pull each plug and look at its condition compare to pics at bottom of page at the following link....

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

.

my camry is hard to start after sitting overnight and white smoke comimg from air intake while tring to start smells like gas

You need to check for spark quality in themorning as well as fuel pressure. If it has an injector bleeding sown thefuel pressure it will make it difficult to start. Check out these videos as a place to start

https://www.2carpros.com/dia/test_fuel_pressure.htm

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_an_ignition_system.htm