White Smoke from Exhaust

MIA

MEMBER
MAZDA PROTEGE

Hello! I have a '00 Mazda Protege. It has started to billow white smoke out of the exhaust pipe when I start my car. When I start it the morning, if it has sat at work for a few hours, it smokes and then again in the afternoon when I go home. I live in a relatively warm to hot and low humidity place. At first I thought it was because it was winter, and now it is the spring. After my car gets to running temperature it stops smoking. It never overheats, has a slite occasional hesitation. This is making crazy, my car has 58k miles on it, therefore it is still under the emission control warranty. I have done research and some say it is a head gasket, some say it is moisture in the exhaust, and then I have heard that it could be the catalytic converter. Please help! MIA

3 Replies

SEVENS

MEMBER
8 POSTS

Count out moisture in the exhaust. You say it blows out white smoke (steam) when you start it? Well, you're exhaust doesn't get hot enough at start to make steam. Anyhow, its probably coolant leakage related. Its not something that someone can pinpoint from there desktop. There are a lot of ways this can happen. I would have a mechanic dig into it.

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Saturday, March 25th, 2006 AT 12:26 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Sometimes you don't get the smoke when engine is warmed-up, but when you cold start it-a minute crack in the combustion chamber wiil leak when the metal contracts when heated up it will expand and seal the leakge. This a two fold problem.

Also try checking the PCV Valve.

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Saturday, March 25th, 2006 AT 9:51 PM

MENDOZA__

MEMBER
20 POSTS

If there is indeed white smoke it is happening from the combustion chamber itself. This means that water or antifreeze is getting into the chamber and is burning with the air fuel mixture inside the block. It evaporates and causes that white smoke to apear from the exhaust pipe, which is just evaporated water.

If this sympton is happening the cause is a head gasket. One thing you can do to know for sure is check to see if the radiator fliud level is running low or has been a little more quicker than usual. Also another thing you can do is check your oil dip stick and look at the quality of the oil, if there is a creamy look or unfamiliar look to the oil, antifreeze will be present in the engine oil.

Hope this Helps!

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Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 AT 12:33 AM