White Smoke or Steam?

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
You're welcome.

Have a nice day.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN5599
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
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?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
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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)
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KTREJO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 167,000 MILES
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
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
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-
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NORMAJAE08
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
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.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
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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)
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DONNY SMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 239,000 MILES
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.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
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
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIAN2424
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
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)?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,274 POSTS
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

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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 150,000 MILES
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
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Are you using any coolant? Is there a misfire at idle or under load?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHECKONIT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 198,300 MILES
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.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
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
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
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

.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADAMMUTTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 189,000 MILES
My camry is hard to start after sitting overnight and white smoke comimg from air intake while tring to start smells like gas
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
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
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:57 PM (Merged)

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