1990 Lexus LS 400 White smoke at start up

BHOEFE

MEMBER
1990 LEXUS LS 400
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

When I start my car after it has been setting for a while it produces a large white cloud of smoke and it smokes until it gets warm (5 minutes). I am not losing ang oil or fuel but I am losing steering fluid. I changed out the high presure line and I think the pump is bad also but could there be any way this fluid is getting into the exhaust manifold. What could be causing the white smoke?

6 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

No low coolant level? Does it come out of the exhaust pipe or just from the engine?

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Monday, July 7th, 2008 AT 7:34 PM

BHOEFE

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6 POSTS

Coolent level is good. The only fluid I am losing is steering. I do not have anything dripping from under the car. I noticed another blog where someone said they were losing steering fluid through the vacume system into the fuel injectors. Is that possible?

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Monday, July 7th, 2008 AT 7:47 PM

BLACKOP555

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10,371 POSTS

Fluid shouldnt be getting with the injectors, only if it is coming in from the manifold but there shouldnt be enough to turn exhaust white, your transmission fluid staying high? Check at same speed and distance traveled.

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Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 AT 8:33 PM

BHOEFE

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6 POSTS

No transmission fluid loss but just for the h. Of it I pulled the 2 vacume lines from the bottom of the steering pump that go to the intake manifold and plugged them. The car runs rough and now I get a little blue smoke but white smoke has stopped as well as the fluid leak. Is there some type of check valve in the pump?

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Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 AT 8:50 PM

BHOEFE

MEMBER
6 POSTS

This turned out to be the air flow sensor attached to the bottom of the steering pump and has two hoses that connect to the intake manafold. When they go bad, they allow steering fluid to leak into the sensor (control valve) and then get sucked into the intake. Cost is between $74.00 and $144.00.