Thin white smoke even after engine warm from ehaust

SON 1

MEMBER
1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
4.6L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
163,000 MILES

At start and after engine warm white smoke from tail pipe. No engine light comes on. No overheating. No coolant loss. No misfires. Drops of water from exhaust smoke is thin and wispy but lingers in air a few moments. Does not smell sweet, actually has no strong smell of anything. Car does not run rough. One odd thing is this started after I had new brake pads installed.

3 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

This could just be steam coming from your exhaust system. During the catalytization of the engine exhaust by the catalytic converters one of the intended by products is H2O. Water. A healthy, modern exhaust system should have water coming out of the tail pipes. Given that you have no coolant loss I believe that your vehicle is okay. Putting new brake pads on probably would have nothing to do with this.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Wednesday, February 27th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM

SON 1

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Okay. But white smoke continues even after driving over twenty or thirty minutes. It is not cold outside either. But thanks for your quick reply to my question.

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Wednesday, February 27th, 2019 AT 12:03 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,512 POSTS

You could have a fuel additive that makes the exhaust turn white, have you fueled up in Mexico by chance?

This guide can help as well:

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

Please run down this guide and report back.

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Friday, March 1st, 2019 AT 2:20 PM