White smoke on idle

[grahams81]

It's amazing how many newbie drivers see steam from their exhaust on an autumn/winter morning and go jumping to conclusions of blown turbos and head gaskets. The internet is mostly to blame for this I think. Just look at the first few replies to this thread.

I agree with this man +1

It takes ages for things like exhausts etc to get up to temp to dry off any condensation that has developed overnight, a car sat idling will take ages to get all the parts up to normal operating temperature, (even if the coolant gauge is reading normal the exhaust etc won't be), they may never get properly hot... not like driving the thing.

Also when starting from cold your car starts differently than from a warm start.... the SAI system circulates warm air from the exhaust back into the intake.. it also changes the camshaft timing to help cold running / bringing the cat up to temperature more quickly (which makes it more efficient)
The SAI system doesn't work at every start, mostly just cold mornings etc, you may notice a fan noise / rumbling from behind the radiators.

If it's not using coolant / oil then it's probably fine.

 

[Mattyboy1]

heres a video of when the car is first started from cold. at first there is nothing but then at 33 seconds into the video the engine and exhaust note change and it starts to smoke. it looks like condensation at first. then at 2 mins 55 the engine and exaust note change again and it starts to smoke even more and stinks of fuel.




http://youtu.be/cMJwR6rqmaM



this is when the car has reached temperature on tickover havent been out in the car.



http://youtu.be/jJWvygYhO88

then went for a run around the block less than a mile not booting it just a little bit of boost. when come back no smoke at all stills smells like its running rich but you can leave it running as long as you want and it wont start smoking again


http://youtu.be/pBWD1ShfNeA

 

[Nath.]

LOL,,,,,,Mate, that is perfectly normal. it is just steam. You can tell it's not smoke because it's all whispy and see through. The change in engine note is the ECU adjusting the choke as the engine temp comes up. It's totally normal.

Your engine compresses air and makes hot gasses, these gasses travel through the exhaust and start to cool down, they then condensate and moisture is formed, this moisture comes out of the exhaust as steam. Only when the exhaust is fully hot does the steam stop.

It's exactly the same as your breath on a cold/damp day.

If you are not loosin g coolant or oil don't loose any sleep.

Check out almost every other car in your street on a cold start, they will do exactly the same.

 

[blackcupra180]

Lol mines is the exactly the same reeks like a mofo. The girl gets embarassed with it because people stare lol.

 

[llinzi85226]

did u find out what was causing it? mines the same now, only started a few weeks ago.

 

[blackcupra180]

Mines not doing it now as its the outside temp is up now.


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