What does it mean when my exhaust is blowing white smoke?
White smoke from the exhaust: This could be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious issue caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure.
Why does white smoke come out of my car when I accelerate?
If you continue to see white smoke coming out of the pipe after the engine has had a chance to warm up or while accelerating, then your coolant might be leaking internally. This is how the exhaust smoke ends up turning white. The combination of the coolant and engine oil will create a milky appearance in the smoke.
Why is my Nissan Maxima smoking?
If there is a problem within the engine that produces smoke, that smoke will exit the engine through the exhaust. A leaking valve cover gasket might produce smoke caused by oil dripping on a hot manifold. If the leak is large enough, you will likely see the oil dripping on your driveway or garage floor.
Can a bad 02 sensor cause white smoke?
When operating properly, the O2 sensor cannot cause your engine to smoke. If your car runs excessively lean for an extended period of time, you could cause serious engine damage, resulting in black, white or blue smoke from the exhaust, but usually you will be alerted to other symptoms first, such as rough running.
What causes smoke from under hood?
The most common cause of smoke under the hood is small amounts of motor oil or other fluids accidentally spilled or leaking from a bad gasket or seal onto a hot engine or the exhaust system. Those other fluids may include engine coolant, power steering, brake and transmission fluid, even window washer solvent.
Can a bad radiator cause white smoke?
White smoke from the tailpipe indicates coolant from a bad head gasket or another failed internal engine part is burning in the combustion chamber. A blown radiator hose spraying coolant onto a hot engine will also produce wispy white smoke that looks like steam.
Is white smoke always a blown head gasket?
If you check your dipstick and discover a pasty white substance, you definitely have head gasket damage. White smoke billowing out of your exhaust means that coolant is likely leaking into the cylinders.